14/04/2011 (The Star) - Plantation group KL Kepong Bhd has estimated its capital expenditure for the current financial year ending Sept 30, 2011 at RM600mil.

It said the expenditure consisted of new oil palm plantings in Indonesia and supporting infrastructures such as palm oil mills.

“Oleochemicals capital expenditure consist of adding new capacities at Westport, Europe and China,” KL Kepong said in its corporate presentation at the Invest Malaysia 2011 conference yesterday.

Between financial year 2007 and 2010, about 95% of KL Kepong’s capital expenditure was invested in plantation and oleochemicals.

The company also said that it would continue to focus on land acquisition in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Going forward, it hoped to maintain an attractive dividend payout to shareholders, taking into consideration, operating cashflow and acquistion opportunities.

Since 2005, about RM2.5bil was returned to shareholders through dividend payouts of above 50%. — Bernama.