foster the growth of several plantation giants over the years, many of which have become established names on the global corporate scene today. In 2007, three great companies - Golden Hope Plantations Berhad, Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad and Kumpulan Sime Darby Berhad - came together in a landmark merger that would eventually create Malaysia’s largest listed company. Commencing operations as a new legal entity on 27 November 2007, the new Sime Darby saw a successful return to being listed on Bursa Malaysia on 30 November 2007. It marked the end of a year long journey that resulted in the new entity, made up of nearly 100,000 employees with six core businesses in over 20 countries. The merger combines more than 400 years of rich history, tradition and invaluable business experience that has created a truly unique Malaysia-based diversified multinational. The new group’s business portfolio comprises plantation, property, industrial, motors, energy and utilities. It also has a growing presence in healthcare. The Group’s portfolio is carefully designed to balance and reflect the industry and market cycles which is regularly reviewed against strategic and financial objectives in ensuring optimisation of profits and maximisation of shareholders’ returns. The merger will allow the Group to harness potential synergies that will enable it to deliver greater value to its stakeholders through greater integration and consolidation of key business value chains. Sime Darby’s management remains focused on achieving the targeted merger synergies of between RM400 million and RM500 million in cost and revenue synergies, driven by integration of core businesses, particularly in the plantation and property business. For FY2007/08, about RM210 million in merger synergies have been achieved, well ahead of schedule and was largely contributed by plantation synergies. As the current financial year draws to a close, the merger’s completion marks not the end of a journey but heralds the beginning of a new era for Sime Darby. The challenges ahead are ensuring that the merger thesis remains intact and that synergies are delivered as promised. It is a challenge that e