The insurance company said in a staement yesterday that AIG offices worldwide are joining forces to hold several world-class campaigns to proudly mark the centennial. Meanwhile, AIG Thailand will pursue its own social-marketing campaigns and corporate social responsibility programmes this year.

Pan Rodloytuk, senior vice president for broker and client management, AIG Thailand, said “2019 gives us a special reason to celebrate” as the US-headquartered group marks their 100th year in business.

“Upon reflecting on our journey, the three core pillars that have led AIG to become the world leader are our history of risk expertise, our tradition of keeping promises, and our commitment to making a better world. The unique blend of these three defining pillars has contributed to our legacy and the values that continue to guide us today, a key factor that contributes to our success and differentiate us from the competitors,” said Pan.

 “Throughout the past 100 years, AIG has pioneered innovative insurance solutions, providing the most coverage and diverse offerings that cater to different lifestyles and the business operations of our consumers so that they can handle risks and uncertainties with confidence.”

The company will continue to offer expertise and a high standard of excellence across a wide range of services that customers rely on, Pan said in the release. The company promises to protect its clients through every step of their life, but especially during their most critical times, he said.

“We are set to compensate their loss for more than half of the amount only within one week,” said Pan. “Such quick access to compensation after an accident or disaster has enabled our customers’ business to resume smoothly.

“Furthermore, AIG has a tradition of keeping our social responsibility in mind and serving the communities wherever we do our business around the globe. Looking into our history, we always volunteer to help others in the countless times of needs and day-to-day contributions to make a better world,” he affirmed.

Applying the three pillars have led AIG to become a leading global insurance company and achieve sustainable growth, Pan said.

There are more than 50,000 employees in AIG offices in more than 80 countries and jurisdictions around the world. In 2017, the AIG main company generated total revenue of US$49,500 million (Bt1.55 trillion) and liquid cash of $11,800 million.

In an auspicious moment that marks its 100th anniversary, AIG offices around the world, including the Thailand office, have kicked off many social marketing and CSR activities.

The AIG Thailand office will soon launch a wide range of continuous marketing campaigns to celebrate the milestone.

“Meanwhile, AIG Thailand is pursuing its road-safety project, ‘Helmets for the Children’, which will be even more special this year as we provide 100 motorcycle helmets to children in each of the 100 schools in Thailand, for a total of 10,000 helmets nationwide.”

Employees are also encouraged to devote 16 hours a year to social activities for any worthy cause that interests them.

AIG Thailand has committed to additionally donate an amount equal to that donated by an employee to projects spearheaded by charities and non-profits, as a means to give back to communities.

The winning team will receive a cash prize of Bt30,000 and the privilege to represent Thailand in a global competition alongside 21 winners from other nations.

The winning team of the global competition will be rewarded a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the final match of UEFA Champions League in Madrid, Spain.

The Gatorade 5v5 is a five-a-side football competition for players aged 14 to 16 years old, with the core objective of being a stage for these teens to shine as potential professional football stars and make their opponent sweat.

In 2019, 22 markets of Gatorade will co-ordinate in this fantastic youth football tournament in which participating countries will have their own local qualifying round. The winners will then fly to Madrid to participate in the exclusive “Gatorade UCL Final 5v5 Experience” and play in the final round of the competition.

The winning team will be rewarded with reserved seats at the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final, to be kicked off on June 1 this year.

Somchai Ketchaikosol, marketing director for Beverages of PepsiCo Services Asia Limited, said: “This year, Gatorade in 22 markets around the world are keen to jointly organise the ‘Gatorade 5v5’ youth football tournament as we would like to use this marvelous sport as a bridge between the company and soceer-playing teens.

The Gatorade 5v5 has entered its second year, with a qualification round at every region of Thailand.

The competition’s inaugural year was joined by 4,368 young footballers from 760 teams.

Thailand’s winner of Gatorade 5v5 Football 2019 will receive a trophy, a cash prize of Bt30,000, and a privilege to be a representative of Thailand in “Gatorade UCL Final 5v5 Experience” in Madrid, along with winners from 21 other countries. The runner-up will receive a cash prize of Bt20,000 while two semi-finalists will be rewarded with Bt10,000 each. The total value of prizes from Gatorade is worth more than Bt1 million.

Ichitan has debuteds its latest herbal drink with coconut jelly “Yen Yen Fun”, combining health benefits from jubliang herbal drink and chewing fun from coconut jelly to create real fun and refreshing experience for younger consumers looking a new experience.

Tan Passakornnatee, president & CEO of Ichitan Group Public Company Limited, said: “We have seen a strong trend for the drinks with chewing jelly and rising popularity for herbal drink. Our Yen Yen is the best-selling herbal drink and the jubliang flavour accounts for as much as 80 per cent of the total Yen Yen sales. Considering this fact, we have spun out a new drink “Yen Yen Fun” based on the best-selling Yen Yen jubliang herbal drink that offers benefits from 12 herbs , and add the fun with coconut jelly. We believe this new product will appeal to college and university students.

“Our market testing also showed that the target consumers for the product are very happy. We therefore have strong confidence in Yen Yen Fun’s success. We hope our new product will stimulate the herbal drink market . Yen Yen Fun will also be our strategic product to strengthen Yen Yen’s leadership in the market.

We expect Bt300 million sales for Yen Yen Fun in the first year and a 20 per cent market share in the RTD Tea with coconut jelly within one year.”

Nimo TV brings back RoV Pro League Season 3 with e-sport competition

“RoV Pro League Season 3” returns to Thailand with the nation’s biggest e-sports competition, presented by TrueMove. Nimo TV, the leading global live streaming platform is bringing the top professional e-sports teams to Thailand to compete for prizes exceeding Bt10 million.

The event boasts eight teams including AHQ Esports Club BAZAAR Gaming, Buriram United, EVOS.Debut, MEGA IGNITION, RRQ Black Forest, Toyota Diamond Cobra and Workpoint Fighting Fish.

RoV Pro League Season 3 Presented by TrueMove H will be held from 28 January – 7 April 2019.

Nimo TV promises not to disappoint their fans and gamers who can enjoy the excitement of live streaming competitions.

Additionally every Monday to Wednesday from 6 pm onwards throughout the competition, all viewers who exclusively watch and follow the competition on Nimo TV, will have the opportunity to win fabulous giveaway gifts every week, including RoV permanent skins, top-up cards, diamonds, cash and etc.

The giveaway prizes are valued at Bt400,000.

Firm plans issuance of new debentures

Berli Jucker Plc (BJC), the major shareholder of Big C Supercenter and a leading consumer goods manufacturing and distribution service company in Thailand, is preparing to issue and offer new debentures to the public.

Aswin Techajareonvikul, CEO and president of BJC, disclosed that the company is in the process of issuing new debentures and has already submitted an initial filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand (SEC) – on 31 January 2019, to establish a Medium Term Note Programme.

Once the filing becomes effective, the programme will allow BJC to issue and offer new debentures to the public within the next two years.

The company has also mandated 4 leading financial institutions: Bangkok Bank, KasikornBank, Krung Thai Bank, and Phatra Securities to be the joint lead underwriters for the debentures to be issued under the programme.

However, at the present, the structure of the debentures is still being considered. BJC will inform the final structure to the public again once it has been finalised.

“With the financial strength as reflected by its credit rating being rated A+ with Stable Outlook by TRIS Rating, I believe BJC’s debentures will be an attractive investment opportunity,” he added.

Banpu, a leading integrated energy solutions company, announced the strategic investment yesterday. It will purchase a 21.5 per cent share in FOMM Corporation, the developer and manufacturer of Compact EV from Japan.

The US$20 million (Bt635 million) investment is being made through Banpu Infinergy Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Banpu Plc. It reflects Banpu Group’s mission to operate its total smart energy solutions business with an emphasis on sustainable growth under their “Greener & Smart” strategy.

The investment also aligns with the Banpu energy technology group’s goal to provide smart energy solutions to help drive Thailand towards its smart city vision.

Somruedee Chaimongkol, Banpu Plc’s chief executive officer, said, “The investment is another strategic move for the Banpu Group to expand its investment to develop a technologically-advanced clean energy business in Asia-Pacific. Electric Vehicle (EV) is one of the energy solutions we have researched. We believe that it will see good business growth and serve as an expansion of our investment in an electric vehicle battery manufacturer.”

The coming collaboration with FOMM Corporation “will provide consumers with more energy solutions while also serve to support Thailand in moving forward and developing further to realise its smart city vision in the future. This applies to both the trends of future vehicles and trends of technology where people are adapting their lifestyles to be more environmentally friendly.”

In addition to the investment, a new innovation and ventures division at Banpu has secured a collaboration partnership agreement with FOMM. Banpu Innovation & Ventures or BIV is focused on disruptive technology development via R&D, accelerator, incubator and corporate venture capital initiatives.

The partnership will focus on R&D and commercialisation projects relating to virtual power plants, micro-grids, electric vehicles, EV charging station and batteries. The partnership also ensures that FOMM vehicles will use lithium-ion batteries developed and made by Durapower Technology (Singapore) Pte Ltd (known formerly as New Resources Technology Pte Ltd), in which Banpu also has a strategic shareholding of 47.68 per cent.

“Banpu and its group of companies are devoted to discovering new technologies and investment opportunities under our Greener & Smarter strategy,” said Somruedee.

“The goal is to expand our business potential as well as build an ecosystem to ensure strong growth in related businesses, which will lead to the creation of more energy innovations to respond to customers’ needs.

It is also the solution to future energy trends and the sustainable growth of our business.”

When compared to the same quarter last year, it was lower due to depressed market sentiments in the country and the reasons stated above.

However, the lower sales volume in the domestic market was partially offset by the higher exports of Rebar to Cambodia, India and Laos and of wire rod to Indonesia.

The sales volume in the nine months of the fiscal year 2019 was lower than the previous year by 6 per cent, due to weak sentiment in the project construction market in the country. At the same time, the company sold a higher volume in the retail channel and maintained the domestic sales volume for wire rods.

Net sales during the current quarter was down by six per cent over the previous quarter, due to weak sentiment in the domestic market resulting in a lower selling price. On a nine-month basis as compared to the previous year, the net sales were higher by four per cent primarily due to the higher prices of finished goods during the April-October period being partly offset by the lower domestic sales volumes.

Rajiv Mangal, president and CEO of Tata Steel (Thailand), said that long products in the construction steel market remains subdued in the country with low demand. There has been a significant drop in international prices of finished steel and billets since November 2018. Consequently, customers have been reluctant to book orders in anticipation of a further price drop. Coupled with seasonal holidays in December, this has resulted in fewer enquiries and hence orders from end customers and the dealers.

Mangal said that for the profit before tax, the company reported a current quarter loss of Bt196 million against the backdrop of depressed market sentiments from lower demand and a steep decline in international steel prices as explained above.

The impact of this was significant in the quarter as the company imports a sizeable volume of raw material with a long lead time. There was an accident at the Electric Arc Furnace at SCSC, a subsidiary of the company, on October 6, 2018. Disruption of operations and related repair expenses also impacted the bottom line adversely. For the nine months of fiscal year 2019, the loss stands at Bt55 million.

As of December 31, 2018, the total assets have decreased by Bt192 million over March 31, 2018 mainly due to the reduction in trade and other receivables by Bt571 million, the reduction in properties, plant and equipment by Bt110 million on account of normal depreciation, and partly compensated by an increase in raw material inventory by Bt380 million.

Meanwhile, as on December 31, 2018, the total liabilities and shareholder equity had decreased by Bt192 million over March 31, 2018 mainly due to the reduction in trade and other payables by Bt368 million, the increase in short-term working capital borrowings by Bt242 million, and the reduction in shareholders’ equity by Bt75 million from the current net loss of nine months for fiscal year 2019.