智利北部沿海昨日發生強震 恐有海嘯險情

Here is a deal that is bound to shake up the global agricultural market.

這是一起註定會震撼全球農產品市場的交易。

Singapore trading house Noble has confirmed a long-awaited plan to sell 51 per cent of its agricultural unit to Cofco, the Chinese state-owned company.

新加坡交易商來寶集團(Noble)已對一份人們期待已久的計劃予以確認，該公司計劃將其農產品部門51%的股份出售給中國國有企業中糧集團(Cofco)。

The final price for the deal is not yet determined.

交易的最終定價目前仍未確定。

Cofco said it would make an initial payment of $1.5bn cash when the transaction completes. The price tag will then be adjusted at the end of Noble's 2014 full year, with a valuation of 1.15 times book value.

中糧集團表示，交易結束時該集團首期或將支付15億美元。這一價格是來寶農產品部門賬面價值的1.15倍，該價格在來寶集團2014年財年結束時將予以調整。

Noble said its agricultural unit currently has shareholders' equity of $2.8bn and net debt of $2.5bn.

來寶集團表示目前其農產品部門的股東權益爲28億美元，淨債務爲25億美元。

China is one of the world's biggest agricultural consumers, but until now had been content to buy from the global agribusiness giants.

中國是全球最大的農產品消費國之一，不過到目前爲止中國對於買入全球農產品企業巨頭的股份始終樂此不疲。

The deal with Noble could help the country secure cheaper access to agricultural resources, and places Cofco in direct competition with China's global soft commodities suppliers, such as Cargill and Bunge.

與來寶的交易可能有助於中國確保獲得廉價的農產品資源，並將令中糧(Cofco)與嘉吉(Cargill)和邦吉集團(Bunge)這些全球軟商品供應商正面競爭。

A consortium of international investors including Hopu, a Chinese private equity fund led by former Goldman Sachs rainmaker Fang Fenglei, are joining Cofco in the deal.

一個由國際投資者組成的財團也和中糧集團共同參與了這一交易。該財團包括由前高盛(Goldman Sachs)“造雨人(rainmaker)”方風雷領導的中國私募股權基金厚朴基金管理公司(Hopu Investment Management)。

Richard Elman, the founder and chairman of Noble Group, will become deputy chairman of Noble Agri.

來寶集團創始人兼董事長艾禮文(Richard Elman)將擔任來寶農業(Noble Agri)的副董事長。

Cofco chairman Frank Ning will lead the business.

中糧集團董事長寧高寧將擔任該企業董事長。

The FT reported Tuesday that the deal was set to be announced.

據英國《金融時報》週二報道，該交易不久將予以公佈。