Bakrie to raise stake in units

The widely diversified group PT Bakrie and Brothers, is setting its sights on increasing its stake in several key subsidiaries, including PT Bumi Resources, Asias largest thermal coal exporter. Bakrie is planning to add stake ownership in Bumi and PT Bakrieland Development by the end of this year through a combination of its partners, and by buying a stake owned by public investors, Dileep Srivastava, the director for investor relations at Bakrie, said Tuesday. Srivastava said that Bakrie has the option to buy back 7.78 percent of Bakrieland shares from lenders and has decided to exercise the option this year. Currently, it owns a 48 percent stake in PT Bakrie Telecom and 42 percent in PT Bakrie Sumatra Plantation. / The Jakarta Post, pg 14, Investor Daily, pg 9, Kontan, pg 4, Media Indonesia, pg 16, Republika, pg 5