Backed by offers and rewards, better value and greater convenience, the card signals a strengthening of Citi’s partnership with Grab from the initial consumer-banking relationship in 2016, said Vira-Anong C Phutrakul, Citibank Thailand’s chief of consumer business.

Sandeep Batra, head of credit cards and loans, said the partnership was “not for the Thai market only, but it is also a regional partnership” and would “allow Citi to adapt to changing consumer-spending patterns and payments landscape, which has been described as rapidly shifting toward the digital space”.

Citi cardholders have for three years been able to pay for their Grab rides with Citi reward points. Now they have a dedicated card for the purpose.

“This longstanding regional partnership between Grab and Citi has continued for three years now,” said Huey Tyng Ooi, managing director at GrabPay. “It is a natural next step as we seek to create more value for all our combined customers. The only way to instantly upgrade to Grab platinum status is to sign up for this one-of-a-kind Citi-Grab co-brand credit card.”

Tarin Thaniyavarn, country head of Grab Thailand, called the card “a crucial stepping stone for us towards our goal of increasing digital payments in Thailand and encouraging more users to go cashless”.

Of the total, 1,620 million are the newly issued ordinary shares, and not exceeding 611.71 million existing shares owned by Hawthorn Resources Limited.

After the IPO, the company will have total paid-up capital of not exceeding Bt6.320 billion.

CRC is one of the core businesses of Central Group. It will spend the proceeds from the IPO on outlet expansion in Thailand and overseas as well as renovation of existing outlets in Thailand.

Balance of the proceeds will go towards repaying bank loans and be used as revolving fund.

A Singapore based multinational company, Verita joins Anantara in signalling growing confidence in medical tourism within Thailand and beyond, according to a release on Wednesday.

The project recognises increasing demand for personalised innovative travel and wellness offerings that go beyond traditional fitness and spa services.

Following the initial collaboration in Bangkok, joint projects are projected for Thailand and throughout the Asia Pacific.

Anantara’s first foray into healthcare, the Verita Health facility is currently in development at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2020.

William E Heinecke, the chairman and founder of Minor International, the company behind Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, said that the partnership represents the coming together of one of the world’s largest and fastest growing luxury hotel brands with the world’s largest and fastest growing “next generation” Healthcare group.

Verita Healthcare Group founder and chief executive officer Julian Andriesz added, “The Anantara-Verita partnership will allow people to take proactive, personalised steps towards extending their healthy lifespans, reversing the effects associated with ageing, and enhancing their overall human performance – all within the luxury of a modern and comfortable environment.

“We look forward to launching Verita centres with Anantara early next year in Thailand and then across their stunning flagship properties in Asia Pacific.”

The fleet expansion of the Bangkok-based long-to-medium-haul low cost carrier (LCC) is instrumental to its plan to grow in Asia.

The airline is targeting key destinations in China, India and Japan as it looks to grow its Asia footprint with comfortable, affordable and reliable flights.

“These new additions to our B777-200 fleet will help us to further expand our network and elevate Thailand’s aviation industry and image. We are moving forward with our plan to embark on new services and add more flights to China, India, Japan as well as South Korea in the near future,” said Yodchai Sudhidhanakul, NokScoot chief executive,.

NokScoot also operates regular flights to Nanjing, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang and Tianjin in China, Narita and Osaka in Japan, New Delhi in India and Taipei with the newest destination, Sapporo, debuting on October 27, 2019. Additional flights to India, Japan, and South Korea are to follow in the future.

Backed by offers and rewards, better value and greater convenience, the card signals a strengthening of Citi’s partnership with Grab from the initial consumer-banking relationship in 2016, said Vira-Anong C Phutrakul, Citibank Thailand’s chief of consumer business.

Sandeep Batra, head of credit cards and loans, said the partnership was “not for the Thai market only, but it is also a regional partnership” and would “allow Citi to adapt to changing consumer-spending patterns and payments landscape, which has been described as rapidly shifting toward the digital space”.

Citi cardholders have for three years been able to pay for their Grab rides with Citi reward points. Now they have a dedicated card for the purpose.

“This longstanding regional partnership between Grab and Citi has continued for three years now,” said Huey Tyng Ooi, managing director at GrabPay. “It is a natural next step as we seek to create more value for all our combined customers. The only way to instantly upgrade to Grab platinum status is to sign up for this one-of-a-kind Citi-Grab co-brand credit card.”

Tarin Thaniyavarn, country head of Grab Thailand, called the card “a crucial stepping stone for us towards our goal of increasing digital payments in Thailand and encouraging more users to go cashless”.

The merger process between the two banks, with a total customer base of 10 million, has entered the final stage.

In the new shareholding structure, Thanachart Capital (TCAP) will hold 20 per cent of total shares, followed by ING Bank, which acquired TMB in 2008, with 21.3 per cent. Of the remaining shares, the Finance Ministry will hold 18.4 per cent, Scotiabank (BNS) 5.6 per cent and minority shareholders 34.3 per cent.

According a TMB Bank statement dated September 30, the bank has entered into an agreement to sell its shares in Thanachart Fund Management (TFUND) to Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited (Prudential), an affiliate of Eastspring Investments (Eastspring), the Asian asset management business of Prudential pcl.

This transaction shows the new bank’s commitment to mutual funds’ open architecture strategy. TMB, intends to record the sale by the end of 2019 after it has sealed the merger with Thanachart Bank.

Under the agreement, Thanachart Bank and the Government Savings Bank (GSB), both holding TFUND shares with ratio of 75 per cent and 25 per cent, have agreed to sell their shares to Prudential. The transaction value is expected to be at least Bt8.4 billion.

Thanachart Bank’s sale of TFUND shares, in accordance to the merger plan, will take place after the merger between TMB and Thanachart Bank is completed, Piti said.

Thanachart Bank will sell a first lot consisting of 25.1 per cent of TFUND (out of its 75 per cent holding) whereas GSB will sell all of its 25per cent of TFUND to Prudential. The total value of these transactions will be approximately Bt4.2 billion.

After the transactions are completed, Prudential will hold 50.1 per cent of the shares in TFUND while Thanachart Bank will hold 49.9 per cent of TFUND.

“Currently, TMB holds a 35 per cent stake in TMBAM Eastspring. After the acquisition of Thanachart Bank’s shares, TMB will hold 49.9 per cent of TFUND indirectly. Both TMB and Eastspring have planned to merge TMBAM Eastspring and TFUND in 2021. Following the merger, the new company will rank fourth among mutual funds asset management firms with approximate assets under management (AUM) of Bt650 billion (as of August 2019).

Within five years, TMB has an option to sell its entire stake in the new company to Prudential in order to re-affirm its commitment towards mutual funds’ open architecture strategy.

“Additionally, the TFUND share sale reflects the actual premium that TMB has to pay in order to merge with Thanachart Bank. TMB will raise funds of approximately Bt130 billion to acquire shares in TBANK. This value is based on the book value of Thanachart Bank after restructuring (with TBROKE and TFUND as its subsidiaries), which is Bt121 billion plus an estimated Bt9 billion premium (including the premium cost from both subsidiaries).

“This way, the 75 per cent sale of TFUND with at least Bt6.3 billion in value will compensate the paid premium. As a result, the real premium cost that TMB has to pay will be significantly lower than Bt9 billion, allowing TMB to achieve its objective of buying Thanachart Bank’s shares at a fair valuation.”

In its financial statement as of December 31, 2018, TMB intended to recognise the sale transaction from Thanachart Bank, which will become its subsidiary, for the first lot of 25.1 per cent share sales at the value of approximately Bt2.1 billion.

Piti concluded: “The merger will take place in 2021. Meanwhile, customers of both TFUND and TMBAM Eastspring will still be able to hold the mutual fund products and conduct transactions as normal. The merger will increase the capacity in offering more diverse services and products for customers.

The merger between TMB Bank and Thanachart Bank will take place in 2021 as well. Customers of both TMB Bank and Thanachart Bank will be able to continue using investment products and other services offered by both banks in all channels as usual”.

The regulator paid more than Bt661.625 million to 3SD Channel 28 and over Bt158.604 million to Family Channel 13.

Both channels went off the air at midnight, September 30 and BEC Multimedia is now left with only one digital TV channel, Channel 33.

In early May this year, six digital TV broadcasters informed the regulator of their intention to hand back the seven licences they had secured from the NBTC. The NBTC, then set May 10 as the deadline for the broadcasters to declare their final decisions.

The six opting to return the licences were Spring News Television Co Ltd ( Spring News Channel 19) and Nation Multimedia Group ( Spring 26, formerly NOW26), Bright TV (Channel 20), Voice TV (Channel 21), MCOT (Family Channel 14) and BEC Multimedia (Family Channel 13 and 3SD Channel 28).

Family Channel 13 and 3SD Channel 28 were the last two stations going off the air.

NBTC awarded 24 commercial digital TV licences via auction on December 2013, amassing around Bt50.862 billion in bid payments. The15-year licences became valid from April 25, 2014.

Later, some broadcasters found it difficult to survive due to unfavourable market conditions and fierce competition from online media channels, prompting the return of their operation licences.

The exits mean there are 15 digital TV channels left in the market.

The cashless payment can be made through BMTA’s electric ticket or QR code scanning via the Krung Thai Next app or via other mobile banking including through debit/credit cards that have the “contactless” symbol, or even by using state welfare cards through an electronic data capture (EDC) machine.

BMTA director Surachai Eamvachirasakul said on Tuesday that the cashless payment is now available on every bus. Passengers can pay fares via the EDC machine with electronic tickets (one-trip payment); an advance-payment electronic ticket (unlimited access); an electronic student card; debit/credit cards with the contactless symbol; or the state welfare card. This also includes QR code scanning to pay for fares via the Krung Thai Next app or by mobile banking of any bank free of charge.

KTB first executive vice president Kittipat Peantham said Krung Thai Bank was also entrusted by the BMTA to install and implement the QR code payment system on the airport buses that operate at Don Mueang Airport.

“The bank has completed installation of the EDC machine on all BMTA vehicles. The fare collector can check and confirm payments by passengers via the EDC as the BMTA is able to monitor payments on each bus via a website. This helps increase cash management capabilities and reduce the cost of logistics management,” Kittipat said.

Banpu Power Japan Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Banpu Plc (Banpu), a leading Asia-Pacific integrated energy solutions company, recently signed an agreement to set up the office in the smart city, a centre of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) operations, according to a company release on Tuesday.

In addition to promoting the firm’s renewable power operations, the office will study opportunities for energy technology business development, including electric vehicles and robotics.

The agreement signing ceremony is considered an important step for Banpu Group, which is focusing on the expansion of its renewable energy business.

The agreement reiterates the company’s commitment to promote renewable power generation in Fukushima, where the 26-MW Nari Aizu Solar Power Plant is located.

In addition, Banpu Group’s business operation in Fukushima will partially support local economic development, increase employment opportunities and create a positive impact for the local community, the release said.

Chanin Vongkusolkit, Banpu’s chairman, said that Aizuwakamatsu City has a favourable ecosystem for innovation development. He believes that Banpu’s business operation in Fukushima will contribute to the city’s economic growth and provide a bright future to the next generations through technology and innovation, as well as build continuous and sustainable values for all stakeholders, in alignment with Banpu brand promise, ’‘Our Way in Energy”.

Their new startup business Blue Parking is based on the Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

The innovative technology is expected to save time and money for users, resulting in a better parking experience.

The significant features are cardless parking, real-time management control, vehicle parking reservation, API (Applications Program Interface) Service connected with mobile app and social media platforms, automated parking system with online payment, smart e-stamp, and data analytics on cloud.

The group plans to increase the implementation of Blue Parking system to 100 parking lots by 2020.

More than 10 sites have been completely installed, mainly for department stores. The potential target groups for Blue Parking are condominium projects, office buildings, community malls, hotels and hospitals.

Pochara Arayakarnkul, CEO of Bluebik Group, said that the company aimed to strengthen and differentiate consulting services through digital knowledge, innovation technology and new initiatives to enhance customers’ business competitiveness.

Blue Parking will create a new parking experience for customers based on these following highlight features, Pochara said.

Among the features are:

⧫The ALPR (auto licence plate recognition) of the licence plate number is detected by a camera, the barrier opens automatically, and regular users can drive into a vacant space without any parking ticket.

⧫ Business owners can control the parking features in real time such as time in and out, membership management.

⧫The vehicle parking reservation feature enables customers and drivers to make a reservation of available parking space without frustration of searching for a parking spot.

⧫ The API Service enables business owners to connect the parking reservation system with other platforms such as mobile app or Line Business Connect using as a marketing tool to reach online customer group.

⧫ Cashless and ticketless parking that enables customers to access and exit a parking facility using QR Code, debit card or credit card.

⧫ E-coupon system, a promotion for visitors who park in office buildings’ parking lots. The system functions as an e-stamp that parking operators or parking businesses need not invest in hardware implementation.

⧫ Businesses can access data of customer service on the cloud so that customer behaviour data can be analysed creating value-added service business such as dynamic pricing.