Astra to pay dividend from profit

Astra to pay dividend from profit

JAKARTA: Indonesia's largest automotive concern PT Astra
International wants to pay out 50 percent of this year's net
profit in dividend payments to its shareholders, an official with
the company said late on Thursday.

Astra's President Director Budi Setiadharma told reporters
that he's optimistic creditors will approve the dividend plan by
December.

Astra's creditors, mostly foreign lenders, only allowed the
company to pay out about 20 percent of last year net profit in
dividends, he said.

Singapore's Cycle & Carriage Ltd. owns a 34.3 percent stake in
Astra. --DJ