briefs
Play
CIMB sets up business in Seoul
CIMB Group has launched an investment-banking and brokerage businesses in Seoul after successfully obtaining an equities brokerage licence from South Korea’s Financial Services Commission.
CIMB Securities is the first Asean financial institution to be granted such a licence.
KD plans 3 projects
KD Asset Development Co plans to launch three new condominium projects worth Bt2 billion this year that should help achieve Bt3 billion in presale earnings by the end of this year, managing director Terdsak Boontos said.
The projects will be in Bangkok, Khao Yai and Khon Kaen. The Bt650-million Khao Yai project, Zen Next, will comprise 104 units, starting at Bt3.8 million each.
TMB partnership
TMB Bank has tied up with Yamaguchi Financial Group to facilitate transactional banking services to Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises investing in Thailand and Thai SMEs doing business in Japan.
This increases the list of TMB’s Japanese bank partners to three, after Towa Bank and Okazaki Shinkin Bank.
New Bali resort
Worldhotels is continuing expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, extending its network of independent hotels in Indonesia.
The Breezes Bali Resort & Spa in Seminyak has joined Worldhotels’ First Class Collection on the Indonesian island.
Airbnb booming
Airbnb’s new focus on Southeast Asia is boosting activity in Thailand, with the number of bookings and new listings increasing by 25 per cent since its launch here in November.
The global community marketplace to list, book and discover unique private accommodations now features more than 1,300 Airbnb listings in Thailand, including 400 in Bangkok, 250 in Phuket, and 170 on Koh Samui.
Pilot IT project
The Department of Industrial Promotion plans to promote the use of mobile applications at 250 pilot factories under the “Enhancing Competitiveness through Information Technology” (ECIT) initiative aimed at increasing sales as well as reducing costs for small and medium business operators.
About 11 Internet-based mobile applications created by local software developers are involved in the project, including a sales-promotion app developed by Apptividia; a call-centre app by Arunsawad Dot Com; an alert-system app by i-Lert-u; a point-plus app by Buzzebees; a sales and distribution app by Inventech Systems; and a transport-controlling app by Microdrive.
AIT-Kirz deal
The board of directors of Advanced Information Technology (AIT) has approved a Bt51-million investment in Internet and telecom service provider Kirz Company for 51 per cent of the total paid-up capital. The board also approved a capital increase in AIT’s portion of Kirz by next month.
AIT will enter a share-purchase agreement on April 4.
MK dividend approved
MK Real Estate’s shareholders approved payment of a dividend of Bt0.10 per share after paying an interim dividend of the same amount in the first half of last year.
The shareholders eligible for the dividend must hold their shares on April 2, and the dividend will be paid on May 23.
Hospital contract
Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction has signed a contract to construct a medical-services building for Metta Pracharak Hospital in Nakhon Pathom worth Bt807.85 million. Construction has begun and is scheduled for completion on July 3, 2016, said Woraphant Chontong, the company’s senior executive vice president.
LPG imports set to rise as plants shut
Imports of liquefied petroleum gas in May are expected to hit 180,000 tonnes because of the scheduled shutdown for maintenance of PTT’s first and sixth gas-separation plants.
Average monthly imports are estimated at 150,000-160,000 tonnes this year, up from 140,000 tonnes last year.
‘Market to rise’
Kasikorn Asset Management Co expects the SET Index to rise after the recent volatility.
Given the consistent flow of capital into the bourse, KAsset may revise its outlook for the index from the current target of 1,570 points for this year.
Eastcoast in MAI
Eastcoast Furnitech’s first day of trading on the Market for Alternative Investment saw its stock close at Bt2.42 yesterday, up from its Bt1.20 initial public offering price.
Managing director Arak Suksawat said the company would maintain its revenue growth this year at no less than 15 per cent from Bt1.08 billion last year, thanks to its expansion of distribution channels in the modern trade and to rising orders from overseas markets, especially Japan and the Middle East. It will also further penetrate Asean countries.
EFC makes rubber wood and particleboards in Thailand for mainly shipping to Japan, the US and Europe.
No licences needed
By June, manufacturers and distributors of digital terrestrial TV receivers will no longer need to get licences to make, possess, use, distribute or trade digital TV sets, set-top boxes and antennas if they meet basic standards.
Yesterday the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission approved in principle the draft rules on exemptions for the distribution and production of digital terrestrial TV receivers and components.
