Bentoel to boost cigarette production by 25 percent

Bentoel to boost cigarette production by 25 percent

JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Bentoel International
Investama Tbk plans to increase its cigarette production by 25
percent to 10 billion cigarettes this year from 8 billion last
year, a senior executive announced on Friday.

Bentoe's newly appointed finance director Henryanto Komala
said on Friday that the higher production projection was made to
meet the growing demand for its low tar and low nicotine
cigarettes.

Two cigarette subsidiaries in Malang, PT Bentoel Prima and PT
Lestariputra Wirasejati had started to raise their daily
production of their clove-blended cigarettes, he announced after
the company's extraordinary shareholders meeting.

PT Bentoel Prima produces Bentoel Mild, Bentoel Biru and
Bentoel Merah cigarettes, while PT Lestariputra Wirasejati
produces Star Mild and Prinsip cigarettes.

Henry said that last year, mild cigarettes contributed about
65 percent to the company's total revenue, although the earnings
had yet to be announced.

He added that 90 percent of its total cigarette production
were sold locally, while the remaining 10 percent were exported,
mainly to the U.S. and Europe.

In the meeting, the company's shareholders agreed to change
the composition of the executive board and the board of
commissioners.

The new board of commissioners is led by Maurad Sofyan Arifin
as the chief commissioner, with two members Harianto Mangkusasono
and Frans Setiawan Widjaja replacing Robert Clive Appleby.

Yaya Winarno Junardy was named as the new president, replacing
Henryanto Komala, Darjoto Setyawan as new vice president who has
taken over the post from Roekmana Prawirasastra.

Henryanto was installed as the new finance director who
replaces Yusuf Rahmadi, while Sun Alexander Yapeter occupies the
marketing director position and Thedorus Sunarlin is production
director. The last two are new positions in the company. (05)