Kerry Express IPO wins warm welcome from investors
Dec 02. 2020Alex Ng
By The Nation
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved delivery company Kerry Express (KEX)’s application for an IPO and it should start trading in the last week of December.
The price range for the IPO has been set at between Bt25 and Bt28, with subscription being opened to retail investors on December 8, 9 and 14 and to institutional investors on December 16-18.
The final price is expected to be announced on December 15.
KEX is offering 300 million shares in the IPO, which will raise approximately Bt7.5 billion to Bt8.4 billion.
Proceeds from the listing will be used for expanding the Kerry Express network, enhancing its efficiency, repaying loans and boosting its working capital.
Kerry Express has already received strong support from institutional investors with the tranche being 10 times oversubscribed by cornerstone investors.
“Thai investors can now participate in Kerry Express as a shareholder and drive its sustainable growth in various aspects. We are grateful for such participation in the future of Kerry Express,” said Alex Ng, the company’s chief executive officer.
“The rise of the new economy, especially social commerce and e-commerce, is fuelling enormous growth in the logistics sector as it is the final platform connecting sellers with end consumers. This is also reflected in our performance where the volume of parcels grew substantially over 134.9 per cent compound annual growth rate over 2014 to 2019. Given that Thailand’s e-commerce to retail penetration rate is still immature, Kerry Express is well-positioned to accommodate and propel further growth of the sector.”
With an existing network of more than 15,000 service points, 1,200 distribution centres and more than 18,000 employees, the company continues with its “Kerry Express Everywhere” expansion.
Veena Lertnimitr, Siam Commercial Banks’ executive vice president for investment banking functions and director of SCB Securities, said SEC has approved the IPO application and filing is now effective. She confirmed that KEX stocks will start trading in the fourth week of December. SCB is one of the financial advisers and leading underwriters for this issue.
Prasert Tantayawit, managing director of the investment banking department, Maybank Kim Eng Securities (Thailand), another joint financial adviser and joint lead underwriter, said: “KEX is an attractive investment, backed by the company’s leading market position, its solid business model and the structural growth prospects.”
He added that Kerry Express has received strong support from institutional investors. Cornerstone investors have overbooked by approximately 10 times the number of shares available in the cornerstone placing portion.
The Government Savings Bank (GSB) has organised a “GSB for Samui” fair on December 8 and 9 at Central Festival shopping complex to promote tourism on Koh Samui.
“The festival will feature GSB booths providing financial aid, career training courses and scholarships to local entrepreneurs and students,” the bank said.
“There will also be more than 100 street food vendors participating and other fun-filled activities that all members of the family can enjoy,” it said.
“Don’t miss your chance to participate in games and lucky draws featuring prizes such as GSB’s limited edition piggy banks, movie tickets and various discount coupons,” it added. “See you at Central Festival next week, where we will make Koh Samui joyful again.”
Traditional Japanese teatime blossoms at Okura Prestige Bangkok
Dec 01. 2020
By The Nation
The Okura Prestige Bangkok is inviting guests to indulge in the seasonal delights of the wonderful Tsubaki Afternoon Tea at Up & Above Bar, from January 1 to March 31.
Celebrating the blossoming of the camellia flower in Japan, sweet delights include cherry mignardise, Tsubaki macaron, Satonishiki black forest cake, almond biscuit with Yuzu clafoutis, traditional scone, Kyoho scone, Kyoho Tsubaki cake, passion fruit sorbet, and much more.
Stars of the savoury selection include prawn celeriac roulade with cucumber, aranchini, togarashi mayonnaise, crostini smoked teriyaki mackerel and beetroot & goat cheese tart.
The Tsubaki Afternoon Tea is available daily from 2pm to 5pm.
Dec 02. 2020Jin Young Ko, The LPGA Tour heads back to the lone star state for the eighth edition of the Volunteers of America Classic, but months later than it normally would.
After months of delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the first year the tournament will take place in December. Rolex Rankings No. 5 and 2015 champion Inbee Park returns to Old American Golf Club in hopes of becoming the third player this season to win twice in 2020. Cheyenne Knight is also back to defend her 2019 title, with friends and family supporting from home. Knight has already earned two top-five finishes this year, a tie for second at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open and a tie for fifth at the Cambia Portland Classic.
The field includes World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, who played in her first 2020 event at the Pelican Championship presented by Dex Imaging & Konica Minolta and 2019 U.S. Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee6. All three of the 2020 Rolex First-Time Winners will tee it up this week, including the most recent, Ally McDonald-Ewing, who secured her maiden Tour victory at the LPGA Drive On Championship – Reynolds Lake Oconee.
There are several Texas residents supporting their state with pride at the Old American Golf Club, including Rolex Rankings No. 16 Mi Jung Hur and a new face to the Dallas community, Lindsey Weaver. After the VOA Classic comes the U.S. Women’s Open in Houston, TX followed by the final event of the season in Naples, Fla., the CME Group Tour Championship.
Originally from Austin, TX, 23-year-old Kristen Gillman is ready to compete at Old American Golf Club for the third time. Not only will the experience of playing here help her this week at the Volunteers of America Classic, but the support from her home state will help keep her momentum up.
“I think it’s just anytime you get to play in Texas, it’s kind of a different feeling just because it brings you back to like your roots. I mean, I always love playing in Texas,” said the winner of the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.
“Everyone’s been texting me and asking if they can come and watch, so sadly I have to keep telling them ‘No, sorry, fans aren’t allowed yet.’ I know that they’re all watching and they’re all excited to watch live scoring,” said Gillman. “I mean, they’re just excited to be able to see me compete. Even though they won’t be here in person, they can at least watch some of it on TV. I think they’re excited to see me out here playing in Texas.”
Though some players from around the area may seem like they have an advantage, Gillman said this course is a lot more versatile than most think. With the event in December for the first time, she said the conditions will certainly be challenging for all.
“It’s definitely different playing this late. We’re just lucky though to still be able to get this event in and we’ll probably get the crazy Texas weather with the wind and the cold, but I think it’s good that we’re still able to get this event in. I think that this golf course is a little bit different I feel like than the typical Texas golf courses that you see. I feel like it has a little bit more links feel to it, so I just think it kind of brings out a different kind of creativity in your golf game,” said Gillman. “You kind of have to think your way about where you want to place the ball on the fairway and around the green. I feel like that it just makes it easier doing that.”
FROM RON SIRAK: VOA CLASSIC MARKS HOMESTRETCH OF LONG STRANGE TRIP THAT IS 2020
Fifty years ago – in November 1970 – the Grateful Dead released its iconic song “Truckin’” with the even more iconic line: “What a long, strange trip it’s been.” Fittingly, no one person took credit for the song, with Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Robert Hunter all sharing writing honors. History sometimes serves up sweet ironies. This is one.
The collective process by the Grateful Dead that produced “Truckin’” perfectly captures the spirit of this turbulent year. When the LPGA Tour season began at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in January, who suspected the 70th anniversary campaign would exemplify the resilience of the oldest professional sports organization for women. COVID-19 made sure of that.
And what organization embodies the “we are all in this together” spirit needed to tackle adversity better than Volunteers of America? In its memorable TV commercial, a young man grapples with himself in hand-to-hand combat in the middle of a street, ending with the tagline: “Moral injury is a war inside that no one should have to fight alone.”
As personal as the Drive On spirit is, it is also a collective process. Golf is about individual initiative; the LPGA Tour is about collective effort. The Tour collectively presents doors of opportunity that individual women kick open. This Drive On season began in Florida, went to Australia and then went on hiatus for five months.
Now, in a month in which it wasn’t supposed to be playing, this week’s Volunteers of America Classic at The Colony near Dallas exemplifies adaptability and determination. Originally scheduled for Oct. 1-4, the VOA Classic changed dates, modified its format to exclude spectators and still provides women with what it is all about – opportunity.
“VOA serves on the frontlines of our nation’s COVID-19 response, helping those most at risk during the pandemic,” said Volunteers of America National President Mike King. “We know how important it is to take all necessary precautions to keep people safe, and holding this year’s tournament without spectators was the best thing to do.”
Olympic gold medalist Shields signs with PFL to take on the sport of MMA
Dec 02. 2020
Shields is looking to do what no man or woman has done before and become champion in pro boxing and MMA simultaneously
Professional Fighters League (PFL) announced the signing of Claressa Shields, considered the best female boxer in the world. The 25-year old American is a three-division boxing world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist. Shields, who has won all 10 of her bouts since turning pro after the 2016 Games, chose to make her MMA debut in the PFL, and will look to enter the 2022 PFL Season after a series of special attraction fights in 2021.
Shields is the consensus number one female pound-for-pound boxer in the world today, and has long expressed her intentions to compete in the sport of mixed martial arts as well, with aspirations of becoming the greatest two-sport athlete of all time and simultaneously holding world championships in boxing and MMA. In addition to her two Olympic golds, Shields is a two-time amateur world champion and the fastest boxer to earn titles in three different divisions.
Apart from her accolades inside the boxing ring, Shields is an advocate for youth development and women’s rights. In 2016, Shields was voted as the SportsWoman of the Year by the Women’s Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King.
“I am thrilled to announce that the PFL has signed Claressa Shields, a two-time Olympic Boxing gold medalist and three-division pro boxing world champion,” said Peter Murray, CEO of the Professional Fighters League. “She has transcended sports and has become a global icon, and an inspiration to aspiring young athletes. Claressa is an incredible human being, a bonafide star athlete, and has an amazing story.”
“Claressa will continue to box professionally as she embarks on her multi-year PFL MMA career. Fans will get to experience her professional MMA debut in 2021, which can be seen across the United States via ESPN, as well as in 160 countries all over the world,” Murray added.
“I want to thank Professional Fighters League and Peter Murray for believing in me and giving me this amazing opportunity. What drew me to the PFL is that it is definitely a fighter-first organization, and I can’t wait to be a part of that. Since turning pro it has been my goal to be the GWOAT and to be a two-sport star like Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders,” said Claressa Shields. “I want to go where no man or woman has gone and hold championships in both boxing and MMA at the same time. The one-two punch of PFL in MMA and Salita Promotions in boxing will allow me to continue to show that there are no limits to what a woman can do. I can’t wait to get to work!”
“We are delighted to enter MMA with the PFL — an innovative, progressive organization with the most compelling format in the industry,” said Shields’ manager, Mark Taffet. “Claressa is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete who has already accomplished in boxing what no man or woman has ever done. She now looks to continue to make history by becoming the first man or woman to hold championships in both boxing and MMA simultaneously. Now, with the PFL in MMA and Salita Promotions in boxing, she will be able to do that on a global stage while continuing to grow her worldwide audience of fans.”
The PFL’s 2021 season begins on April 23, with the Regular Season continuing on April 29, May 6, June 10, June 17, and June 25. The 2021 season features the return of two-time reigning PFL Women’s Lightweight Champion Kayla Harrison, who is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo.
John Deere Partners with LPGA, LET for Long-Term Agreement
Dec 02. 2020
LPGA’s newest Official Partner to support worldwide agronomic efforts
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) today announced a new three-year official marketing partnership with John Deere, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of agriculture, construction, forestry and turf equipment. With the agreement, John Deere becomes the LPGA Tour’s Official Golf Course Equipment Supplier and will support the LPGA Foundation’s efforts to introduce more girls to the game of golf. Additionally, the LET announced a three-year extension to its longstanding partnership with John Deere, which began in 2007.
“We’re excited to welcome John Deere into the LPGA family as our Official Golf Course Equipment Supplier,” said Kelly Hyne, Chief Sales Officer for the LPGA. “We look forward to building upon John Deere’s strong history with the LET and Solheim Cup, bringing experience across both Tours and growing participation in the game of golf.”
Emma Allerton, LET Commercial Director, added, “We too are delighted to be extending our successful partnership with John Deere, continuing to work together towards shared goals and enhancing opportunities across women’s golf.”
John Deere has also signed on as the Official Golf Course Equipment Supplier of the 2021 Solheim Cup at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. John Deere will work closely with agronomists for both Tours, with the goal of producing exceptional playing conditions across multiple continents.
“We are incredibly proud to become the Official Golf Course Equipment Supplier to the LPGA,” said Manny Gan, Director Global Golf Sales & Marketing for John Deere. “Through this agreement with the LPGA and the extended agreement with the LET, John Deere equipment will play a key role in providing a great playing experience at top courses around the world, and at the 2021 Solheim Cup.”
Finally, John Deere will support the LPGA Foundation’s Renee Powell Grant, which was established in 2020 to provide need-based grants to LPGA*USGA Girls Golf programs that are inclusive of Black communities as part of their initiatives. Earlier this year, five Girls Golf sites in the greater Toledo/Cleveland area were selected as the inaugural grant recipients. In 2021, participants from these five sites will participate in the Solheim Cup Experience presented by John Deere, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a special part of the week’s celebration and competition.
The 2021 Solheim Cup will take place Sept. 4-6 at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, with USA Captain Pat Hurst and European Captain Catriona Matthew leading their teams of the best professional female golfers in the United States and Europe.
NOTE: The attached photo highlights John Deere equipment at work on the PGA Centenary Course during the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland.
Royal Enfield’s new Meteor 350 roars into 37th Thailand Motor Expo
Dec 01. 2020
By The Nation
Royal Enfield, global leader in the mid-size (250-750cc) motorcycle segment, is showcasing its iconic motorcycles at the much-anticipated 37th Thailand International Motor Expo 2020, Impact Challenger Hall 3, Muang Thong Thani. Included in the display is the firm’s recently launched Meteor 350, an easy-cruiser motorcycle.
“We are delighted to showcase the very first 350cc motorcycle from Royal Enfield for the Thai market,” said Vimal Sumbly, Asia-Pacific head of business for Royal Enfield.
“Our motorcycles have received an excellent response in Thailand right from the very start, and Thailand is our No 1 market within the APAC region.
“Thailand is the third home for the brand after the UK and India. The Meteor 350 is the latest in a planned series of new models, building on the enormous success of the 650 Twin models that we launched two years ago.”
Vimal Sumbly, Asia-Pacific head of business for Royal Enfield
Royal Enfield boasts 30 outlets across Thailand – 15 exclusive showrooms and 15 authorised service centres. By March 2021, it expects to have 36 stores, making the brand more accessible to motorcycling enthusiasts.
The 37th Thailand International Motor Expo runs from December 2-13 at Impact.
Alex Ng 
Jin Young Ko, The LPGA Tour heads back to the lone star state for the eighth edition of the Volunteers of America Classic, but months later than it normally would.
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