Suwat Thongrompo, chief executive officer of SF Corporation, said that about Bt600 million of the budget would be invested in the expansion of the cinema network, especially in upcountry locations. The remainder would be spent on upgrading the IT system and the development of new online sales and e-ticketing channels, with the aim of reaching out to more customers.

The first of the six new outlets planned for this year opened on January 25. The SF Cinema Tops Plaza Phayao consists of three cinema screens with more than 300 seats in total. The other five locations will be opened in the second half of the year in partnership with the company’s retail partners. A complex in The Robinson Lifestyle Centre Chon Buri (five screens) will open on June 27, followed by one in Big C Sakaew (three screens) on July 4. The remaining complexes – in Big C Samutsongkram (three screens), Big C Phetkasem (four screens) and Terminal 21 Pattaya (seven screens) – will open their doors throughout the rest of this year. SF’s existing cinemas will also be upgraded to have a more modern look.

SF will also develop special cinemas in addition to its current offerings, such as First Class Cinema, Happiness Screen and MX4D. This year, it will introduce Zigma CineStadium, a futuristic cinema that offers a fully immersive entertainment experience, with the largest screen equipped with Digital 4K laser technology to offer the highest definition. The Dolby ATMOS sound system takes the experience to another level, the company said, while the “Super Stadium seats come with extra space between seats to offer a limitless entertainment experience”.

SF has 57 branches, with a total of 371 cinemas, offering 81,300 seats in Bangkok and 27 other provinces (20 branches and 166 cinemas in Bangkok, 37 branches and 205 cinemas in other provinces).

It is also getting ready to fully become a public company and is in the process of preparing to list on the stock market, which is expected to happen in 2019. SF aims to generate Bt5 billion in revenue this year, up 20 per cent over 2017, and Bt337 million in profit, up 86 per cent over last year.

In addition to the expansion of ticket sales channels, another contributing factor to its growth is the spate of blockbusters like Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Deadpool 2 and Thai film Brother of The Year. On screen now is Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and later this year, there will be major films like Ant-Man and the Wasp, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Venom, Bumble Bee, and Fantastic Beasts, which are set to generate a lot of revenue, the company said.

Overall, in 2017, SF met its expectations, with Bt4.2 billion in revenue, up 6 per cent over the previous year, and Bt180 million in profit, a 14 per cent increase from 2016.

SF said it is moving forward in collaboration with new partners to expand its ticket sales channels to suit the digital era. It is confident that its strong content will help it achieve its revenue expectations.

Suwat said SF is dedicated to expanding its ticket sale channels, investing Bt100 million in its IT systems to better reach its viewers. The backend bandwidth has been increased, while the SF Cinema app and website have been optimised to offer a smoother and faster online ticketing experience to its customers. With new partners like Kasikornbank, Siam Commercial Bank, Airpay and Bluepay, customers can conveniently purchase movie tickets on the go.

For on-site experience, SF has introduced Kiosk Express Ticketing by GSB for GSB’s Payment Gateway in addition to regular ticketing counters to facilitate customers in the digital era.

SF’s partners will also offer promotions and benefits to SF customers, in line with the trend towards a cashless society. Customers can also make payments using credit and debit cards. SF has also launched SF Movie Club Card, which also serves as a cash card for purchasing movie tickets, popcorn and drinks. Members’ information is collected to analyse their behaviour in order to craft campaigns to suit their needs.

 Corporate Governance Asia, a leading journal on corporate governance in Hong Kong and Asia, presented “Asia’s Best CEO (Investor Relations) Award to Dhanin Chearavanont, CPF Chairman of the Board of Directors, “Asia’s Best CFO” Award to Paisan Chirakitcharern, CPF’s CFO, and the company also won the Best Investor Relations Company (Thailand) Award. The awards presentation were held at the 8th Asian Excellence Award 2018 held in Hong Kong on June 8, 2018.

In the morning, the company was notified that chairman Kitti Thanakitamnuay had purchased 120,088,798 ordinary shares in Noble, representing 26.31 per cent of the total issued shares, from shareholders.

This raised Kitti stake in the listed developer from 7.96 per cent to 34.27 per cent.

The same day, nCrowne Pte Ltd, a company in which shares are held by the directors and executives of Noble, purchased 104,200,000 ordinary shares in Noble, representing 22.83 per cent of the total issued shares, from Stephane Michel Rosales Sedano.

These caused Sedano to be removed from the shareholders of Noble, with Kitti and nCrowne having now become the major shareholders of the company.

According to Noble, Kitti and nCrowne are parties acting in concert pursuant to Thai securities law.

However, the change of the major shareholders’ structure has no impact on Noble’s administration and management structure, the developer told the stock exchange.

Due to these transactions, Kitti and nCrowne are now obliged to make a tender offer for all remaining securities in the company.

Both Kitti and nCrowne on Tuesday submitted their intention to Noble to make such an offer on Noble’s remaining shares at the expected price of Bt12.25 per share.

They are expected to file the official tender offer within June 21.

They also announced the appointment of Bangkok Bank, Krung Thai Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Thanachart Bank as joint lead arrangers for the issuance. Adisorn V Singhsacha, founder and CEO of Twin Pine Group, the pioneer of cross-border fund-raising from CLMV countries in Thailand and sole adviser of EDL-GEN, was also present.

Dr Thouantosaporn Suwanjutah, director of the Heart Centre, on Tuesday said the hospital was now expecting an increase in its number of foreign cardiac patients, with around 85 per cent of its patients in Thailand and 15 per cent coming from the overseas market.

The main focus will be on China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and the Middle East, drawing on its outstanding medical foundation that includes diagnostic tests and treatments for heart-related diseases, cardiac or chest treatment and surgery, he said.

The hospital has set up an International Medical Centre to assist overseas patients, ensuring the highest standard of healthcare and with each patient receiving care in an environment that respects diverse traditions and backgrounds, he added.

“Meanwhile, we’ve learnt that medical tourists travel to countries which provide not only quality and affordable healthcare services, but also a comfortable experience, therefore our international patient service team centres on the needs of prospective consumers and makes sure that they have a stress-free experience.

“Other strategies include liaising with patients directly via a medical tourism roadshow or through medical-travel agents and local hospital partners,” the director explained.

“The total investment of more than Bt100 million is divided into Bt42 million, which went to upgrade facilities and medical-service training to ensure patient comfort and safety, and Bt63 million, which was spent on cutting-edge medical equipment and technology,” he said.

For every order placed with any restaurant via the app during June 15-30, Grab will donate Bt10 towards providing lunch to tens of thousands of underprivileged children from three foundations.

The foundations are the Camillian Home for Children Living with Disabilities, the Baan Nokkamin Foundation, and The Foundation for Slum Child Care.

In addition to donating to children’s foundations via their orders, customers will receive a colourful “GrabFood for Good” placemat with every order.

By simply taking a photo of themselves with the placemat or inviting friends and publicly posting on social media (Facebook & Instagram) using the hashtag #EveryDishMakesaDifference #GrabFoodTH, Grab will automatically donate an additional Bt10 to the three foundations.

Tarin Thaniyavarn, country head of Grab Thailand, said on Tuesday: “Grab is committed to improving the livelihoods of people, including these underprivileged children. This is the reason we launch the ‘GrabFood for Good’ initiative to fund nourishing meals for children from the three foundations.

“I would like to encourage everyone to take part in this initiative, where we will support these charitable foundations to help children in need. Not only will GrabFood customers satisfy their cravings through the various food options from our restaurant partners, they will also have the opportunity to join us in giving back to society.”

The company expects to break through Bt500 million in annual sales revenue by the end of its fiscal year, along with the execution of a CICE (Collaboration, Innovation, Creating Shared Value, and Experience Penetration through Superior Service) strategy with the aim of becoming Asia’s industry leader in spas and fragrances by 2020.

Pattanapong Ranuraksa, co-founder and managing director, said on Tuesday: “The gross value of the spa industry in Thailand is tremendously circulated with continuous growth annually. On our side, we have reached 150-per-cent growth with approximately Bt120 million in sales revenue in the first quarter, and we are expecting to break Bt500 million in total by the end of the fiscal year.”

Divana is recognised as Thailand’s No 1 premium spa, which has continuously received great feedback in the past 16 years from over 1.3 million customers worldwide.

Some 75 per cent of its customers are from Asian markets such as Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, about 20 per cent from Europe and 5 per cent from Thailand, Pattanapong said.

“In order to support the target expansion, we plan to open new branches at Soi Somkid, Chidlom, along with at least four more branches in major tourist cities across the country within 2019,” the MD added.

“In celebration of the brand’s 17th anniversary, Divana has joined hands with prominent Thai luxury fashion brand POEM to host ‘Divana: ENCHANTÉ PAR LE POEM’, featuring products with four all-time-favourite signature scents – Raya Vedic Rose, Mango Mantra, White Orchid Holistic and Queen of the Night – reuniting the science of aromatherapy and lucky energies of gemstones, including rose quartz, tiger’s eye, cave pearl and amethyst, as well as 99.99-per-cent gold leaves, to respond to customers with interest in the holistic approach to restoring the energy of life,” he explained.

“The exclusive campaign also offers a special complimentary Bt12,500 limited-edition luxury scarf by POEM with any signature product purchase over Bt13,000. The scarf has been exclusively designed for the campaign, with only 500 available worldwide and not for sale.

“The sophisticated luxury scarves are collectibles created to express our gratitude toward the customers who play important parts in Divana’s continuous growth in the past 16 years,” the co-founder said.

Located on the first floor of CentralWorld, the store features a Starbucks Reserve Bar and, for the first time in Asia, Starbucks DRAFT beverages infused with nitrogen.

Starbucks CentralWorld is Thailand’s largest Reserve Bar store, composed of a Starbucks traditional coffee bar as well as the Starbucks Reserve Bar, which invites customers to deepen their coffee knowledge.

Featuring the Black Eagle espresso machine for unique, espresso-forward beverages and various brewing methods such as the Siphon, Chemex and Pour Over, customers can taste Starbucks Reserve, small-lot coffees for a premium coffee experience specially crafted by Starbucks Coffee Master employees, the company said.

Starbucks DRAFT makes its Asian debut in the store on a four-tap system delivering Starbucks Cold Brew and nitrogen-infused Starbucks Cold Brew, tea and milk.

The Starbucks DRAFT counter, found on the first floor of the store, highlights select nitro beverages including Nitro Flat White, Nitro Caramel Macchiato, Nitro Peach Tea, Nitro Green Tea Latte – a popular drink among Thai customers – and Dark Caramel Cold Foam Nitro.

“From the success of Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew coffee, we continue to search for beverage innovation to elevate the customer experience. Today, we are pleased to launch Starbucks DRAFT, an innovative cold beverage offering a rich, creamy texture for each beverage.” said Nednapa Srisamai, managing director of Starbucks Coffee (Thailand). “This is a new cold-beverage experience not to be missed.”

Hong Kong serves as a conduit between mainland China and the countries participating in China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” and is therefore expected to play an important role in stimulating economic growth in the region in the future, said Banthoon Lamsam, chairman of KBank.

According to the Bank of Thailand, Hong Kong has ranked fourth in net foreign direct investment into the Kingdom, with an average of US$700 million (Bt22.46 billion) per annum for the past five years.

Placing high importance on business connectivity between Hong Kong and Asean member states, BEA and KBank have enhanced collaboration to encourage greater direct investment from the Special Administrative Region into Thailand, the statement said.

Moreover, the formal signing of the Asean-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement in 2017 has strengthened trade relations between Asean and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is the eighth-largest trading partner of Thailand. According to the International Trade Promotion Department, bilateral trade last year amounted to $15.22 billion, a 16.5-per-cent increase over the previous year.

In 2017, Thai exports to Hong Kong grew 7.3 per cent to $12.31 billion, while Thai imports from Hong Kong expanded 82 per cent to $2.91 billion.

According to Kasikorn Research Centre, 1.4 million people travelled between the Kingdom and Hong Kong last year.

To capitalise on economic growth and in view of the close trade relations between Thailand and Hong Kong, KBank and BEA have entered into an agreement to forge bilateral cooperation that is aimed at innovating financial products and services, and promoting trade finance facilities, which will fortify the business sector and strengthen the relationship shared by the two banks, the statement said.

Last December, the China Banking Regulatory Commission granted a licence to KBank to establish a locally incorporated institution (LII) in China.

With LII headquarters in Shenzhen and a service network including branches in Shenzhen, Chengdu, Shanghai and Hong Kong and representative offices in Beijing and Kunming, KBank is able to offer comprehensive services to corporate customers, paving the way for greater business opportunities for both corporate and individual clients, including Thai nationals in Hong Kong and Hong Kong customers, the statement added.