Briefs

United Aircraft Corp (UAC) plans to expand its business over the next five years in the Southeast Asian market, company president Yuri Slyusar said during an official visit of the Russian delegation to Vietnam and Thailand, headed by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Russia, Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia are the main markets for the Russian plane-maker’s SSJ100 aircraft, with each of these areas requiring its own specific business model for market entry, he said.
“In Vietnam and Thailand, we are considering the possibility not only to carry out deliveries of new aircraft, but also to expand existing business. The important task here is the establishment of a maintenance, repair and overhaul service centre. We rely on the support of our partners with this issue,” Slyusar said.
The new-generation Sukhoi Superjet 100 is of great interest in the countries of Southeast Asia today, he said, adding that one of the key advantages of the aircraft is the cost of ownership, which is 15-20 per cent lower than that of similar aircraft.

CONSORTIUM SIGNS DEAL ON MEGA-PROJECTS
A memorandum of agreement of was signed between several international companies on Thursday, for infrastructure and mega-projects.
Headed by PSL&TU’s chairman, Thomas Lee, the consortium consists of construction and financial management companies from South Korea, China, Israel and Thailand to win infrastructure |projects that have been stalled within the Thai government for years.
The strongest of its partners, Beijing Nile International Investments (whose principal companies include China Communications Construction Company, China Railroad Construction Corporation and China Ghezouba Group) has signed a memorandum stating they are willing to invest up to $5 billion towards the mega-projects in Thailand.
Two of the mega-projects include a 96km motorway and a 22km rail-link that has been stalled because of both financial and political problems.

PRIVATE SECTOR ANTI-GRAFT BODY CERTIFIES 13 MORE COMPANIES
The private-sector-initiated Collective Action Coalition against Corruption (CAC) has certified 13 more companies for their compliance to anti-graft standards.
In a statement, the CAC announced that among its 449 members, the number of certifications had risen to 109.
Thai Institute of Directors president Bandid Nijathaworn reiterated the aim to increase the number of members from 406 companies at the end of 2014 to 600 this year. At the end of 2014, the number of certified members stood at 78.
“The CAC is prepared to strengthen the certification process, to meet international standards. Importantly, our certified companies are not just required to meet certification criteria. They are expected to exercise the standards systematically and continuously,” he said.

BJC SHAREHOLDERS ADVISED TO REJECT DEAL FOR METRO VIETNAM
Berli Jucker says financial advisers have recommended that its shareholders reject a deal to buy German retailer Metro AG’s Vietnamese unit, as it could hurt BJC’s financial position.
BJC agreed in August to buy cash-and-carry wholesaler Metro Vietnam for 655 million euros (Bt22.67 billion) to expand into the fast-growing consumer-goods sector in Southeast Asia.
BJC’s shareholders vetoed that deal in January because of concern over certain payment conditions, prompting its main shareholder, unlisted TCC Holding Co, to renegotiate the deal. – Reuters

PTT TO SELL 12% BANGCHAK STAKE TO SOCIAL SECURITY FUND
PTT will sell its 12-per-cent stake in oil refiner Bangchak Petroleum to the state-run Social Security Fund, PTT director Rungson Sriworasat said late on Thursday.
The investment should be positive for the state fund given that Bangchak is performing well, Rungson, also permanent secretary of the Finance Ministry, which owns 51 per cent of PTT, said after a shareholder meeting.- Reuters