Briefs

Krisda Mahanakorn will take over an 85-per-cent stake in Aquarius Estate worth Bt400 million to expand its product portfolio.
Aquarius is developing two projects – a resort on Samui and a condominium in the Sukhumvit area.
Managing director Virat Aiew-Aksorn said yesterday that the acquisition will boost KMC’s assets by 11 per cent. With higher assets and revenue, it should win more confidence from stakeholders like financial institutions and customers.

Bank lending cools
Bank loan growth is expected to slow in the rest of this year, due to the end of stimulus measures at home as well as economic uncertainties of major trade partners like China and other Asean countries.
Kasikorn Research Centre expects full-year credit growth of more than 10 per cent this year, thanks to an acceleration in government budget disbursement from the late 2012 fiscal year to early 2013 fiscal year, disbursement for investment projects and low interest rates.
As of last month, loans at 14 commercial banks were up 12.23 per cent on year to Bt88.8 trillion or Bt70.8 billion from a month earlier.

Rewards trimmed
Individuals informing the Customs Department of |corruption cases would receive smaller rewards under proposed law amendments.
The high reward ratio |has been criticised as an incentive for officials to commit fraud.
Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said yesterday that he is confident that this will reduce fraudulent practices among officials. The Finance Ministry would discuss the issue with the Council of State soon.
Rewards are now capped at 30 per cent of the value of seized items for officials and 55 per cent for other persons. The ceiling for officials would be lowered to 20 per cent or a maximum Bt5 million per case.
The ceiling for other people would drop to 45 per cent or a maximum Bt10 million.

Insurers ‘lack HR’
Axa Insurance is concerned with the pace of human resource development for the insurance industry, which has grown along with vehicles on the road.
A shortage is vivid in the industry, particularly for surveyors. The more vehicles |on the road, the more accidents.
 CEO Kheedej Anansiriprapha said some insurers have to rely on outsourcing. Besides surveyors, the industry does not have enough mechanics, which results in longer maintenance periods.

Thailand-ITU Pavilion inaugurated in Shanghai
Information and Communications Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap inaugurated the Thailand-ITU Pavilion yesterday at the three-day “Mobile Asia Expo 2013” in Shanghai, China.
 The pavilion has been launched at the fair as part of a series of overseas roadshows to attract interest in Thailand’s “ITU Telecom 2013” event, which takes place from November 19 to 22 at Impact Muang Thong Thani exhibition centre.
 This will be the first time Thailand has hosted the ITU Telecom event. The ITU (International Telecommunication Union) is the United Nations’ specialised agency for information and communication technologies.

SPCG connects five more solar farms to PEA grid
SPCG has completed and connected another five solar farms to the Provincial Authority of Thailand’s (PEA) rural power system.
 With these latest facilities, SPCG now commercially operates 21 solar power farms with a total operating capacity of 137.17 megawatts, making it largest solar-farm operator in Asia and ranking the business among the world’s leading solar companies.
 The newly connected solar farms are AJ Technology, with a capacity of 3.73MW per hour (MWh); Thippayanarai, with 3.73MWh; Solar Power (Korat 6), with 7.46MWh; Solar Power (Bureeram 1), with 7.46MWh; and Solar Power (Bureeram 2), with 7.46MWh.
 SPCG has also arranged the funding for its additional 15 solar power farm projects, of which two are currently in the final process before starting commercial operations, and the remainder are under development.
 The company expects that all projects will be completed by the end of the year.

Dusit opens|regional sales office in Tokyo
In line with the company’s growth strategy during its “Year of Expansion”, Thailand-based Asian hospitality group Dusit International has opened a regional sales office in Tokyo to further develop long-standing relationships within one of the group’s most important source markets.
 Japan has been one of |Dusit International’s largest source markets, and this is expected to continue ahead of the opening of the Dusit Thani Guam resort, the company said.
 Operations will be led by Keita Sekine, regional director of sales and marketing – Japan, Dusit International.
 With more than 15 years of operational and sales experience, most recently Sekine was director of sales with Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo KK and with Marriott International at the Guam Marriott Resort and Spa in Tumon.
 “Opening a regional sales office in Tokyo demonstrates our commitment to the Japanese market,” Sekine |said. “We look forward to |building on the deep |relationships the company |has developed over the years, as well as to the successful
 opening of the Dusit Thani Guam resort in 2014.”

TRIS affirms Thaicom ratings, lifts outlook to ‘positive’
TRIS Rating has affirmed the company and senior debenture ratings of Thaicom at “BBB+”, while the satellite operator’s outlook is revised to “positive” from “stable”.
 The ratings reflect Thaicom’s strong market position as the sole satellite communications service provider in Thailand and prospective satellite demand in the domestic and neighbouring markets.
 However, the ratings are partially constrained by the competitive environment, especially in overseas markets, and the complicated regulatory regimes inherent in the satellite industry.
  The revised outlook reflects the improvement in Thaicom’s operating performance and potential growth in satellite business driven by the launch of two new satellites expected in late 2013 and 2014.
 The ratings should be upgraded if the company successfully executes its business plan while maintaining a healthy financial profile, said the rating agency.