RIYADH – The Saudi government has taken a major decision over the hugeconstruction group Bin laden.

Kingdom is expected to take a 35 per cent stake in construction giant SaudiBinladin Group (SBG) as part of a financial settlement with stateauthorities.

The figure — previously unknown — was confirmed by four sources familiarwith the matter.

It represents the total stakes of chairman Bakr Binladin and his brothersSaleh and Saad, all of whom were detained in an anti-graft crackdown inNovember alongside scores of other businessmen, princes and officials,according to some of the sources.

A formal transfer of control has not yet taken place, causing prolongeduncertainty about the fate of the company two months after it announcedthat some shareholders might transfer part of their holdings to the stateagainst outstanding dues.