JAKARTA: Indonesian diversified holding company PT Bimantara

JAKARTA: Indonesian diversified holding company PT Bimantara Citra said its net profit during the full year of 2001 rose 19 percent to Rp 341.66 billion from Rp 286.45 billion in 2000.

The company attributed the increase in its net profit to the proceeds of the sale of a 45 percent stake in its telecommunications unit PT Elektrindo Nusantara valued at Rp 289.74 billion last year.

Bimantara said its total revenue last year, however, fell 5.5 percent to Rp 1.66 trillion from Rp 1.757 trillion mostly due to the fall of revenue at its broadcasting unit PT Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia. Rajawali's revenue last year fell to Rp 217.94 billion from Rp 221.44 billion.

It said its main revenue driver remained its transportation and automotive units, which contributed around 46 percent to its total revenue. Its transportation and automotive division booked Rp 780.4 billion in revenue last year, compared to Rp 622.48 billion in 2000. -- Dow Jones

Semen Gresik's profit drops 7.3%

JAKARTA: PT Semen Gresik, Indonesia's largest cement producer, Wednesday reported a 7.3 percent drop in net profit for last year, as foreign exchange losses and higher costs outweighed the increase in sales.

Net profit last year fell to Rp 317.47 billion from Rp 342.76 billion in 2000.

Gresik, which is majority owned by the Indonesian government, said earnings were pulled down by foreign exchange losses of Rp 150.49 billion last year as against a foreign exchange gain of Rp 15.66 billion the previous year.

Sales last year rose to Rp 4.65 trillion from Rp 3.59 trillion in 2000, lifting Gresik's operating profit to Rp 981.74 billion, from Rp 781.55 billion previously. -- Dow Jones

Coca Cola Amatil's sales rise 1.9%

SYDNEY: Coca Cola Amatil Ltd., an Australian soft drinks maker, said Wednesday that sales in the first quarter rose 1.9% to A$811.1 million from A$796.2 million a year earlier.

The first quarter sales figures don't include sales from the Philippines, which was sold in 2001.

The figures reflect a marginal improvement in Australian sales, a 7.3 percent increase in revenue from Oceania and a 6.7 percent improvement in South Korea.

Indonesian sales fell 5.4 percent, hurt by flooding in Jakarta in January and February combined with difficult economic conditions. -- Dow Jones

Sanyo to build US$208m LCD plant

TOKYO: Major Japanese electronics maker Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. said Wednesday it would invest some 27 billion yen (US$208 million) to set up an additional production line for liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

"The new investment is in line with rising demand for LCDs at home and abroad," said Sanyo spokesman Derek Wentz.

Sanyo would make large LCD panels to be used in televisions and aimed to produce 1,800 units a day at its plant in Tottori, western Japan, during the next financial year starting April 2003, Wentz said. -- AFP