Launched in 2017, Marco Polo is focusing on a Trade Finance Platform built on an interoperable business network powered by open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and blockchain technology.

Together with some of the world’s leading financial institutions, TradeIX and R3 have developed for Marco Polo a solution for Open Account trade financing powered by TradeIX’s TIX platform and R3’s Corda blockchain technology.

Marco Polo enables end-to-end, real-time, seamless connectivity between trade participants, eliminating the data silos which prevent free flow of trade data and assets causing inefficiencies and discrepancies.

Initially the solution is focused on three distinct areas of trade finance: risk mitigation by provision of payment commitments based on the matching of trade data, payables finance, and receivables finance. It will be delivered via TradeIX’s TIX platform, an open platform providing applications, technology tools and core infrastructure for the trade finance ecosystem, and Corda, the world’s only blockchain platform designed from the ground up for businesses operating in complex and highly–regulated markets.

Ian Guy Gillard, Bangkok Bank Executive Vice President, said Bangkok Bank is committed to using innovative technologies to meet the needs of our customers. The company is delighted to be working with R3, TradeIX and several leading banks on the Marco Polo project in which the company is applying Distributed Ledger technologies to address the complexities and inefficiencies of Trade Finance.

From the bank’s introduction of online and digital lending in the fourth quarter of last year to the first quarter of this year, the bank has approve Bt500 million worth of loans through, focusing on individual borrowers and small and medium enterprises.

Amid strong demand on this channel, the bank expects growth in new loans to reach 10 per cent this year, he said.

He said that the company would use the proceeds from the bond issuance to increase its investment in two hydropower electricity generation plants, the Xayaburi and Donsahong facilities, worth about US$450 million (Bt14.4 billion). A further US$100 million (Bt3.2 billion) would used to pay back an existing bond that will expire in 2019.

The Xayaburi plant will have a production capacity 1,285 megawatts, with an investment budget of US$4 billion. It is due to start operating next year.

The project is being undertaken by a joint venture firm involving six partners. State-owned Electricite Du Laos (EDL), the parent company of EDL-Gen, is one of the major shareholders, with a 20 per cent stake.

EDL-Gen plans to spend about US$380 million to buy the 20 per cent stake from EDL. EDL-Gen also has plans to spend about US$70 million to buy a 20 per cent stake in the Donsahong hydropower plant that is currently held by EDL.

The Donsahong plant has a total production capacity of 260 megawatts, with an investment budget of US$520 million.

In total, EDL-Gen has outright or partial ownership in 16 hydropower plants and solar-powered plant in Laos. They have a combined production capacity of 1,137 megawatts. Ten of the 16 plants are held 100 per cent by EDL-Gen. They have a combined production capacity of 619 megawatts. Stakes in the other six plants are held under a joint venture with EDL-Gen’s strategic partners. These plans have a combine production capacity of 309 megawatts.

EDL-Gen managing director Rattana Prathoumvan said that the company plans to conduct a roadshow for Thai investors in for its proposed Bt17.5 billion bond issue in the third quarter.

Boosting production capacity

The company plans to increase its production capacity from 1,137 megawatts to 1,260 megawatts by the end of this year and to 2,400 megawatts in 2023, she said.

Meanwhile, the company also plans to export its electricity to others countries in Asean. Aside from Thailand, which is one of the company’s main customers, EDL-Gen plans to sell its electricity to Vietnam in the order of 600 megawatts, Myanmar with 30 megawatts, and Malaysia 100 megawatts.

The company also plans to expand its investment in the development of coal-fired electricity plants, solar plants, and wind plants to manage its business risk. Now, up to 90 per cent of its production capacity is from hydropower plants.

In line with this plan, the company set up a joint venture firm with Energy Absolute Plc under which it holds a 60 per cent stake.

The joint venture firm has invested in solar farm with a combined production capacity of 32 megawatts, with 10 megawatts of capacity already installed. Negotiations are under way for the sale of the output to EDL.

EDL-Gen announces a net profit of 471.185 million kip at the end of 2017, a drop of of 14.57 per cent from 551.6 million kip at the end of 2016, according to a statement posted on its website.

Adisorn V. Singhsacha, founder and CEO of financial advisory Twin Pine Group Co Ltd, said that EDL-Gen’s debt to equity ratio was only at 1.1 times, giving it room for capital raising through debenture issuance.

After studies of capital raising methods, the figure of US$550 million for the debenture issuance was decided upon, and that Thailand was a suitable source of the capital raising.

EDL-Gen had recently issued debentures in baht and in US dollar on two occasions and the demand surpassed the target for capital raised.

Although the debenture issuance undertaken by EDL-Gen in Thailand has been successful, the securities were bought only by institutional investors.

The amount of the previous debenture was not sufficient for the high net worth individuals in Thailand. At this time, the financial amount of the capital raising is remarkably higher than the first 2 issuances, opening the opportunity for the high net worth individuals in Thailand to invest.

The amounts in the previous debenture issuance were not sufficiently high to attract high-net-worth individuals in Thailand. This time, the capital raising target is much higher than on the previous two occasions, and this is seen as making it more attractive for high-net-worth individuals.

The company would determine soon the rate of return, the lead underwriter and the distribution method, said Adisorn, with the offering in the third quarter.

Siruwat Chatchawan, head of the Thai Brand Business, said that the unit is looking to open franchised outlets of what it calls its three hero-product brands – Tummour, Lao Yuan and Jaew Hon – in new overseas markets, especially in China, England, Australia, the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“In overseas markets, 100 per cent of the restaurant expansion will be through franchising,” said Siruwat.

“We would like to set up our franchised base in major magnet or spotlight markets around the world as a way to strengthen our brand awareness.

“It is then easier for the company to explore franchised opportunities in other potential markets.”

ZEN Corporation Group operates 167 Thai restaurants under seven brands, of which 80 per cent are through franchising.

They are Tummour, Lao Yuan, Jaew Hon, Pho, Granny’s Chicken, Krua Thai, as well as De Tummour, which targets the premium segment.

However, Siruwat said three major product heroes are Tummour, Lao Yuan, and Jaew Hon, with total number of restaurant outlets now reaching 120, 16, and nine, respectively.

Siruwat said that the company also operates franchised outlets of its Thai restaurant brands in Vientiane (three), Yangon (three), and Phnom Penh |(one).

Listing plan

“We plan to increase the number of our Thai food restaurants to 600 totally by 2022, of which 80 per cent will be through franchising, and 20 per cent under our own equity.

“We (ZEN Corporation) also plan to list into the local stock market next year to facilitate our future expansion,” said Siruwat.

Siruwat founded the Tummour business seven years ago following his family’s legacy in Nakhon Phanom, where it has been involved in the Thai restaurant business for 22 years.

Siruwat’s Tummour business was merged into the Thai Brand Business of ZEN Corporation in October 2016.

He said that between Bt500 million and Bt600 million will be allocated to the expansion of its Thai restaurants every year over the next five years.

“We want to grow our annual revenue by 25 per cent every year,” said Siruwat, adding that the Thai Brand Business unit posted Bt1.2 billion in sales last year – with 70 per cent from the Tummour restaurants.

“The Thai Brand Business unit contributes about 30 per cent of annual revenue to ZEN Corporation Group, with 70 per cent from its Japanese restaurant brands.

The Thai Brand Business unit plans to increase its sales to Bt1.4 billion this |year.

ZEN Corporation Group targets Bt10 billion in total annual revenue in the next five years, of which 40 per cent will be from the Thai restaurants.

TRIS also assigned an “A-” rating to the listed firm’s proposed issuance of up to Bt4 billion in senior unsecured debentures.

The ratings reflect Ratchthani Leasing’s business profile, underpinned by sustained improvements in market position and financial performance, the ratings company said.

They also reflect the extensive experience that its management team has in financing used cars and commercial trucks, plus the continuous improvements the company has made in its operating processes and risk-management systems, TRIS added.

The ratings have taken into consideration the business and financial support Ratchthani Leasing receives from its major shareholder, Thanachart Bank.

They are enhanced from Ratchthani Leasing’s stand-alone rating because TRIS holds the view that the company is a strategically important subsidiary of the bank.

However, the strengths are weighted down by concerns over intense competition and a heavy reliance on the income from loans for commercial trucks, TRIS said.

At the same time, TRIS assigned the rating of “A+” to MPSC’s proposed issue of up to Bt10.1 billion in senior unsecured debentures.

The proceeds from the new debentures will be used for repaying its existing debt, and for planned capital expenditure.

The ratings reflect MPSC’s market position as one of the world’s leading sugar producers, well-accepted brand name, efficient sugar-mill operations, geographic diversification, and diversified sources of income, the ratings firm said.

The ratings are partially offset by the cyclical and the volatile nature of the prices of sugar and sugar cane, as well as the ongoing restructuring of the sugar industry in Thailand, it added.

The banks joining the listed energy giant in the collaboration are Bangkok Bank, Krung Thai Bank, Bank of Ayudhya, Kasikornbank, TMB Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, Thanachart Bank, United Overseas Bank (Thai) and the Government Savings Bank.

The MoU was signed by PTT’s chief technology and engineering officer, Chansin Treenuchagron, and executives from the nine banks.

Chansin said the planned cooperation concerning technological and innovation coincided with the “Thailand 4.0” policy in transforming the country’s economic structure into an innovation-driven economy.

The focus will be on promoting and developing financial structure for all parties, in order to create a flexible business operation.

“Thus, trust and confidence will be instituted within the workplace, leading to further expansion of commercial operation,” he added.

The MoU will be effective for a period of two years, during which PTT and the banks will develop polices and strategic directions which will improve financial systems, including insurance, financial derivatives, electronic banking, transactions, and related regulations in order to enhance business flexibility and build stakeholders’ trust, he explained.

“The ratings affirmation reflects our expectations that PTTGC will maintain its strong credit metrics over the next 12-24 months, supported by its robust operating cash flow generation of around Bt50 billion-Bt55 billion per annum,” said Rachel Chua, a Moody’s assistant vice president and analyst.

Over the next two years, the ratings firm expects PTTGC’s adjusted retained cash flow/debt will be around 30 per cent, and that its adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) interest coverage will stay above 14 times, she added.