By Paul Francis-Grey of mergermarket

Vallar, the mining investment vehicle of UK businessman Nathaniel Rothschild, has staked its future on Indonesia’s coal boom – in a deal which would create the first Indonesian-controlled company on the London Stock Exchange.

The company has paid $3bn for 75 per cent of Berau Coal Energy and 25 per cent of Bumi Resources – respectively Indonesia’s biggest and fifth-biggest coal miners. Part of the price will be paid in Vallar stock, with Bumi’s owners, the Bakrie Group, becoming the largest shareholder in the company.