Board of Directors

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The Company hereby announces insiders´ dealings as at 25th June 2008....
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Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Johari bin Mat
Chairman, Independent, Non-Executive Director

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Ho Dua Tiam
Senior Executive Director (CEO), Inspector-General, Estates, Non-Independent

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G. Peter Selvarajah
Independent, Non-Executive Director

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Dato´ Carl Bek-Nielsen
Vice Chairman, Executive Director, Non-Independent

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Ahmad Riza Basir
Independent, Non-Executive Director

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Jeremy Derek Campbell Diamond
Independent, Non-Executive Director

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Martin Bek-Nielsen
Non-Independent, Executive Director

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Mohamad Nasir bin Ab. Latif
Non-Independent, Non-Executive Director

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Brian Bech Nielsen
Non-Independent, Non-Executive Director

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Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Johari bin Mat
Chairman, Independent, Non-Executive Director

Ybhg. Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Johari bin Mat, born in 1944, a Malaysian, is Chairman of United Plantations Berhad.

He obtained his B.A. (Hons) from the University of Malaya and PhD from the University of Southern California (USC), USA and completed the Advanced Management Program from Harvard University in 1997. He is a Chartered Member of the Malaysian Institute of Planners.

He has 33 years of work experience in the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Services, which includes positions as Director of INTAN and the Klang Valley Secretariat in the Prime Minister’s Department, and as Secretary General of the Ministries of Social Development, Domestic Trade, and Education.

Held various positions in several national and international organizations, such as UNESCO, UNCRD, APDC, SEAMEO, ASCOE and COL (Commonwealth of Learning) based in Vancouver, Canada.

Currently he is on the Board of a number of private companies which include In-Fusion Education Sdn. Bhd., Airebus Sdn. Bhd., Soho Suite Sdn. Bhd. and Spatial Consult Sdn. Bhd.

First appointed as director of United Plantations Berhad on 9 October 2001. He is Chairman of the Company´s Remuneration and Nomination Committees.

Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Johari bin Mat does not have any family relationship with any director and/or major shareholder of United Plantations Berhad, and has no conflict of interest which involves the Company and/or its subsidiary companies.

 

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Ho Dua Tiam
Senior Executive Director (CEO), Inspector-General, Estates, Non-Independant

Mr. Ho Dua Tiam, born in 1943, a Malaysian, is the Senior Executive Director (CEO)/ Inspector General, Estates of United Plantations Berhad.

After completing his study at the Serdang Agricultural College, he started his career with United Plantations Berhad in 1964 as a Cadet Planter. He served the Company in various positions before his appointment as Senior Executive Director on 21 June 2003.

First appointed as director of the Company on 1st January 1995 when he was promoted to the position of Executive Director (Planting). He is also a director of United International Enterprises (M) Sdn. Bhd. (UIEM) and Maximum Vista Sdn. Bhd. (MVSB). He is not on the Board of any other public listed company.

He is a Council Member and Deputy President of the Malaysian Agricultural Producers Association (MAPA) and a member of the National Labour Advisory Council.

Mr. Ho Dua Tiam does not have any family relationship with any director and/or major shareholder of United Plantations Berhad, and has no conflict of interest which involves the Company and/or its subsidiary companies.

 

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G. Peter Selvarajah
Independent, Non-Executive Director

Mr. G. Peter Selvarajah, born in 1942, a Malaysian, is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is also a member of the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

He retired from the Company in April 2000. He joined the Company in 1975 as Financial Controller, promoted to the positions of Group Company Secretary and Group Financial Controller in 1980 and to Executive Director (Finance) in 1995, a position he held until his retirement in 2000. During the period 1971-1975 he worked in Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF) where he held the positions of Accountant and Manager, Securities Marketing Department. Prior to MIDF, he served as Internal Auditor/Accountant of Eastern Mining & Metals Co. Sdn. Bhd.

First appointed as director of the Company on 1 January 1995. He is a member of the Company´s Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees. He is not a director of any other public listed company.

Mr. G. Peter Selvarajah does not have any family relationship with any director and/or major shareholder of United Plantations Berhad, and has no conflict of interest which involves the Company and/or its subsidiary companies.

 

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Dato´ Carl Bek-Nielsen
Vice Chairman, Executive Director, Non-Independent

Dato´ Carl Bek-Nielsen, Vice Chairman, born in 1973, a Danish citizen. He is the Executive Director (Corporate Affairs) of United Plantations Berhad and Director In-Charge of Unitata Berhad.

Graduated with a B.Sc. degree in Agricultural Science from the Royal Veterinary and Agriculture University of Denmark in 1997. He also holds a Malaysian Private Pilot License.

Started his career with the Company in 1993 as a Cadet Planter which included a stint in United International Enterprises (M) Berhad (UIEM).  Left Malaysia in 1994 to pursue his tertiary education in Denmark and upon successful completion of his university education in 1998 he returned to resume his career as a Corporate Affairs Officer with the Company. Promoted to his present position of Executive Director (Corporate Affairs) on 1 March 2000, appointed Vice Chairman on 8 March 2002 and Director In-Charge of Unitata Berhad, a subsidiary of the Company on 9 November 2004.

He was first appointed director of the Company on 1 January 2000. Dato´ Carl Bek-Nielsen is the Chairman of United International Enterprises Limited (UIEL), a public listed company on OMX Nordic Exchange Copenhagen A/S and the Vice Chairman of Aarhus Karlshamn AB (AAK), a public listed company OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm AB.

On 19 April 2008, he was conferred Darjah Dato´ Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP) which carries the title "Dato´", by Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri, Sultan Perak Darul Ridzuan, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah.

Currently he is a Council Member of MPOA and MPOC and a member of the R&D Committee of the MPOA. He is currently the Chairman of the MPOC Regional Marketing Committee for Europe. Carl Bek-Nielsen is currently serving as a member of the Programme Advisory Committee to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

Brother of Mr. Martin Bek-Nielsen, Executive Director (Finance and Marketing) and a Board representative of the Company’s two largest shareholders, UIEL and  Maximum Vista Sdn. Bhd. (MVSB). No conflict of interest other than the interest disclosed in the Circular to Shareholders dated 21 May 2008.

He attended all five (5) Board Meetings held during the year ended 31 December 2007.

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Ahmad Riza Basir
Independent, Non-Executive Director

Mr. Ahmad Riza Basir, born in 1960, a Malaysian, is a lawyer by training.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Law (Honours) degree from University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and Barrister-At-Law (Lincoln’s Inn), London in 1984 and was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1986.

Currently, he is the Chairman of Fima Corporation Berhad and the Group Managing Director of Kumpulan Fima Berhad and has directorships in other public listed companies including KESM Industries Berhad, Jerneh Asia Berhad and Manulife Insurance (Malaysia) Berhad (all listed on Bursa Securities). Mr. Ahmad Riza Basir is also a member of the Board of Directors of several other private limited companies in Malaysia.

First appointed director of the Company on 17 June 2000 and currently is a member of the Company´s Audit Committee.

Mr. Ahmad Riza Basir does not have any family relationship with any director and/or major shareholder of the Company, and no conflict of interest other than as disclosed in the Circular to Shareholders dated 15 May 2007.

 

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Jeremy Derek Campbell Diamond
Independent, Non-Executive Director

Mr. Jeremy Derek Campbell Diamond, born in 1940, a British citizen with Permanent Resident status in Malaysia, graduated from Durham University with a B.Sc. Honours degree in Agricultural Economics and Management in 1963.

Commenced his career in Malaysia in 1963 as a Planter with Socfin Company Bhd, a long established plantation company. He served in that company in various capacities until his appointment as General Manager/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 1977. He held that position for 24 years until his retirement in 2001. Currently, he is on the Board of a number of private companies which include Jedecadi Sdn. Bhd. and Bubblegum Development Sdn. Bhd.

First appointed director of the Company on 31 July 2001. He is currently the Chairman of the Company´s Audit Committee and a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

He served as a Council member of the Malaysian Agricultural Producers’ Association (MAPA), United Planting Association of Malaysia (UPAM), Malaysian Oil Palm Growers’ Council (MOPGC) and Malaysian Rubber Producers’ Council (MRPC). He also served as an alternate member of the Board of the Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia. He was a member of the General Committee of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) for 15 years.

Mr. Jeremy Derek Campbell Diamond does not have any family relationship with any director and/or major shareholder of United Plantations Berhad, and has no conflict of interest involving the Company and/or its subsidiary companies.

 

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Martin Bek-Nielsen
Non-Independent, Executive Director

Mr. Martin Bek-Nielsen, born in 1975, is a Danish citizen. He is Executive Director (Finance and Marketing) of United Plantations Berhad and Commercial Director, Unitata Berhad.

Graduated from the Royal Danish Agricultural University of Copenhagen in 1999 with a B.Sc. degree in Agricultural Economics.

Received his initial training in 1994 as a Cadet Planter in United Plantations Berhad and thereafter in United International Enterprises (M) Berhad (UIEM). Left Malaysia in 1995 to pursue his tertiary education in Denmark and after his graduation in 1999 he returned to Malaysia to take up the position of Corporate Affairs Officer. In 2001 he was appointed to the position of Executive Director and on 20 February 2003 was promoted to his current position of Executive Director (Finance and Marketing). On 9 November 2004 he was appointed Commercial Director of Unitata Berhad, a subsidiary company of United Plantations Berhad.

During the period 1995 – 1996 he was in the National Service of Denmark under the highly respected, “Jutlandic Dragoon’s Panzer Regiment”.

He was first appointed to the Board on 29 August 2000. Mr. Martin Bek-Nielsen is a Director of United International Enterprises Limited (UIEL), a public listed company on OMX Nordic Exchange Copenhagen A/S and AarhusKarlshamn AB (AAK), a public listed company on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm AB.

Currently he is the Vice Chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) Working Committee-Marketing and Promotion.

Brother of Dato´ Carl Bek-Nielsen, Vice Chairman and Executive Director (Corporate Affairs) and is a Board representative of the Company’s two largest shareholders, UIEL and Maximum Vista Sdn. Bhd. (MVSB). No conflict of interest other than as disclosed in the Circular to Shareholders dated 21 May 2008.

He attended all five (5) Board Meetings held during the year ended 31 December 2007.

 

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Mohamad Nasir bin Ab. Latif
Non-Independent, Non-Executive Director

Encik Mohamad Nasir bin Ab. Latif, born in 1958, a Malaysian, is Senior Manager, Company and Intermediary Supervision Division, Investment Research and Supervision Department of the Employees Provident Fund.

He graduated in 1989 with a Bachelors degree in Social Science (Major-Economics), Universiti Sains Malaysia and obtained a Certified Diploma in Accounting & Finance from The Chartered Association of Certified Accountants in 1996 and Master of Science in Investment Analysis from University of Sterling, United Kingdom in 1999.

Started his career with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) in 1982 and held several positions including State Enforcement Officer (1990 – 1995), Senior Research Officer, Investment & Economics Research Department (1995 – 1998) and Manager, Investment & Economics Research Department (1998 – 2003) and promoted to his current position of Senior Manager in June 2003.

First appointed director of the Company on 28 July 2004.

Encik Mohamad Nasir bin Ab. Latif does not have any family relationship with any director and/or major shareholder of the Company, and has no conflict of interest which involves the Company and/or its subsidiaries.

 

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Brian Bech Nielsen
Non-Independent, Non-Executive Director

Mr. Brian Bech Nielsen, born in 1957, is a Professor of Physics engaged in scientific research, at the University of Aarhus, Denmark. He obtained his Bachelors degree from the University of Aarhus and thereafter a doctorate in Physics in 1987 from the same University.

Mr. Brian Bech Nielsen was employed for one year (1983-1984) as a Research Assistant at The Interuniversity Reactor Institute in Delft, The Netherlands. In 1987, after receiving his doctorate he moved to Sweden for one year where he held a post doctoral position at the University of Lund. In November 1988, he obtained a permanent position as Associate Professor at the University of Aarhus. Mr. Brian Bech Nielsen’s research interests are focused on nanotechnology and nanoscience together with the properties of semiconductor material with emphasis on optical studies and magnetic resonance techniques.

Mr. Brian Bech Nielsen was on the Board of Directors of Aarhus United A/S (1994-2005) and International Plantations and Finances Limited (1996-2000). In 2005, Brian Bech Nielsen was appointed a member of the Danish Research Council for Natural Sciences.

First appointed as Alternate Director to the late Ybhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri B. Bek-Nielsen on 20 August 2005 and subsequently a full director on 19 November 2005.

Mr. Brian Bech Nielsen is a Director of United International Enterprises Limited (UIEL) a public listed company on OMX The Nordic Exchange Copenhagen A/S. He is a cousin of Dato´ Carl Bek-Nielsen and Mr. Martin Bek-Nielsen and by virtue of the family relationship is deemed to have an interest in the shares held by the Company’s two largest shareholders UIEL and Maximum Vista Sdn. Bhd. (MVSB). He has no conflict of interest other than as disclosed in the Circular to Shareholders dated 21 May 2008.

He attended all five (5) Board Meetings held during the year ended 31 December 2007.

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Latest Announcement
Insiders´ Dealing
Date: 2008-06-26

Latest Interim Report
First Quarter Report 2008
Date: 2008-05-14

Latest Annual Report
Annual Report 2007
Date: 2008-05-21

Links:

United International Enterprises

OMX Nordic Exchange in Copenhagen

Bursa Malaysia