Briefs

FN Factory Outlet, which operates seven stores in Thailand, has submitted a filing with the Securities Exchange Commission to list and trade on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. 

FN plans to launch 250 million initial-public-offering (IPO) shares, at Bt0.50 par value per share, to fund expansion of its store network and renovation of existing branches.

According to FN’s financial adviser, Asset Pro Management Co chief executive officer Somsak Sirichainarumitr, 

listing on the SET will raise the company's image to meet international standards, enhance its image with customers and trade partners, and expand business opportunities.

Last year, FN posted revenue of Bt1.12 billion and net profit of Bt146.43 million. In the first quarter of this year, 

revenue was Bt259.11 million, while net profit was Bt32.66 million.FN’s seven outlets are in 

Phetchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Pattaya, Pak Chong, Sing Buri, Hua Hin and Si Racha. In addition, FN has a subsidiary in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, Save Now Co, which sells garments and household goods targeting low to middle income consumers.

 

Koreans show interest in Thailand’s IT industry

Potential Korean investors are showing strong interest in Thailand’s information-technology industry in 

response to Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak’s visit to South Korea in March.

The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) collaborated with the Asean-Korea Centre in organizing a 

seminar on “Investment Opportunities in Thailand’s IT Industry” on Monday. 

The seminar was part of the Korean investment and market research mission that allowed Korean investors to 

explore Thailand as a potential investment destination. Last year, there were 559 project applications to the BOI with a total investment value of Bt106.54 billion from foreign direct investment. 

There were 23 investment-promotion applications with a total investment value of Bt1.8 billion from Korean companies, ranking that country eighth for FDI. In the IT sector, two Korean projects were approved with a total investment value of Bt17 million.

 

Bangkok Airways launches Da Nang service

Bangkok Airways has announced its new service linking Bangkok and Danang, Vietnam. The airline will offer 

four flights a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) with a 138-seat Airbus A319.

Company president Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth said Bangkok Airways considered Danang a strategic 

flying hub in Southeast Asia. Danang is the third-largest city and a major port in Vietnam. It is a popular vacationing spot for tourists who are looking to explore the attractions of central Vietnam.

 

Thailand named ‘most hospitable’

Thailand is considered the most hospitable nation among business travellers responding to a survey by 

Booking.com. It is also made the top five for best food. Booking.com surveyed more than 4,500 business travฌ

ellers across eight countries. The survey shows that business travel is no longer just about business, 

with half confirming their favourite thing about travelling internationally for business is the chance to experience 

a new culture (50 per cent) or to see a new city (46 per cent). 

About 20 per cent of business travellers take the opportunity to extend their business trip to a holiday.

Almost a third (29 per cent) of business travellers say that Thailand is the most hospitable country to visit, and in 

the top five for best food.

 

SEC to host FinTech Forum

The Securities and Exchange Commission will hold a public seminar titled “FinTech Forum: FinTech Data 

Analytics” to capture the growing financial business trends and technologies particularly in the area of big-

data analysis.

Experts in financial technology will share their views and experiences in transforming large and complex raw 

data into logical, useful information on investors’ behaviour before designing product and service policies that would better respond to the investing public’s demands. The forum will take place on June 15 at SEC Tower in Bangkok. For more details and online registration, visit www.sec.or.th/TH/Pages/fintech/fintech.aspx.

 

 

NBTC cuts expenditure of organising reauction 

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has cut the expenditure for hosting a reauction of the 900MHz licence on Friday to Bt7.34 million from the previously estimated Bt18 million, as Advanced Wireless Network (AWN) of Advanced Info Service is now the sole bidder. 

Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the NBTC, said yesterday the reauction was expected to take just 20 minutes with the starting price set at Bt75.6 billion.

The NBTC telecom panel is expected to hold a meeting on the same day to approve the bid result. AWN will have 90 days from May 27 to August 24 to pay the first instalment of Bt8.04 billion and place three bank guarantees for the remaining payments of the licence upfront fee.

AWN is expected to pay the first instalment on June 10.

Takorn said the telecom panel would consider, either on Friday or June 1, the conclusion proposed by its working panel to impose a fine on Jas Mobile Broadband for failing to make the first instalment payment of the 900MHz licence it won last December. 

 

AOT nod for Chiang Mai Airport development

The board of directors of Airports of Thailand’s (AOT) yesterday approved the master plan for the development of Chiang Mai airport. 

The project will be carried out in two phases. The first, set for 2016 to 2025, is aimed at boosting the airport’s passenger capacity to serve 18 million travellers a year. In the second phase, from 2026 to 2030, the capacity will be further increased to serve 20 million passengers per year, of which 8 million will be international passengers and 12 million domestic travellers.