Briefs

Kasikorn Factory and Equipment Co (KF&E), the machinery-leasing subsidiary of Kasikornbank, is providing a “reduce-extend-increase” plan for customers’ business rehabilitation, machinery purchase and repair.
Leases and hire-purchase loans for machinery and equipment are being provided to aid the recovery of flood-hit customers, carrying a special interest rate of 4 per cent per annum for the first three years of the total seven years of maturity.
A six-month grace period for principal and interest is also being offered for customers’ immediate assistance as the flood waters recede.
Sasawat Virapriya, KF&E executive chairman, said the severe flooding had caused widespread damage to businesses. According to Kasikorn Research Centre, at least Bt96 billion or as much as Bt160 billion of the Bt240 billion worth of business machinery and equipment in flooded areas has been damaged, though some factories managed to move their machinery to safe places.

Krungthai Card offer
Krungthai Card is giving KTC Cash Revolve members with good payment records who have been affected by the floods access to a programme offering free interest and zero fees for two billing cycles. The offer is aimed at providing members the extra financial flexibility needed to fix their homes or replace furniture.
The programme is available from now through January 31.

Low THAI fares for workers
Thai Airways International is offering special fares for employees of flood-affected industries who need to travel to Vietnam or Japan for work.
Pandit Chanapai, executive vice president for commercial services, said that as floods had a heavy impact on factories in many industrial centres in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani, THAI was supporting the government, especially the Labour Ministry responsible for sending workers overseas and the Industry Ministry for reviving industries in Thailand.
Special economy-class fares are offered to people whose employers send them to work in Vietnam or Japan.
Fares begin at Bt24,500 for the Bangkok-Japan-Bangkok route, while those for the Bangkok-Ho Chi Minh City-Bangkok route begin at Bt8,550. Tickets are valid for a maximum of six months.
Reservations and ticket issuance are available now through January 15.
The prices include airport tax and all surcharges, but they may fluctuate based on the currency exchange rate on the day of ticket issuance.

Strong growth for SCB Life
SCB Life Assurance yesterday reported strong growth of 24 per cent in first-year annualised premiums and 20-per-cent growth in total premiums in the first 10 months of this year.
Managing director Vipon Vorasowharid said that though the life-insurance industry was affected by the flood crisis, SCB Life had overcome the difficulties. It reported that total annualised premiums from all distribution channels rose to Bt9.87 billion, up by 24 per cent, in the first 10 months this year thanks to the strong sales particularly through bancassurance and new channel expansion.
Renewal premiums grew 18 per cent to Bt15.69 billion for total premiums of Bt24.51 billion, increasing 20 per cent compared with the same period last year.
New bancassurance sales led all channels with more than Bt8.1 billion, up 22 per cent from the previous period.
As of Friday, 309 policyholders affected by the flooding had registered to join SCB Life’s flood-relief campaign, postponing premium payments.
Only three policyholders lost their lives to the flooding, representing death claims of Bt1.1 million, relatively small given the firm’s total assets of Bt81.336 billion and policy reserve worth Bt70.209 billion (as of June). – The Nation