Tag Archives: Corporate

Biocos Group aims to expand into AEC over two years

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Biocos-Group-aims-to-expand-into-AEC-over-two-year-30278574.html

BUSINESS PLAN

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

The Nation February 5, 2016 1:00 am

Sirium Pukdeedumrongrit, an actress and co-founder of Biocos Group, has set a long-term vision for her health and beauty company to become an active player in the Asean Economic Community (AEC) within two years.

The company also plans to list on the Stock Exchange of Thailand within two years to raise investment funds for further expansion both inside and outside Thailand.

The company is setting up a new diversified business unit under Biocos’ umbrella, Vente, which will open its first store in Bangkok in the second quarter of this year and look into expanding in the AECover the next two years, starting in Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos.

“Branded retail businesses selling cosmetics, including skincare |and makeup, will be the flagships of our expansion into the region, and will be followed by Biocos’ other |business units, especially in beauty and health services,” said Sirium, |who owns 20 per cent of Biocos Group.

Benrisa Bunpluk, marketing director of Biocos Group, said about five Vente stores were expected to be opened in the Kingdom this year. The stores will sell skincare and makeup products, with an initial line-up of between 50 and 70 different items.

Sirium, who is chief marketing officer of Biocos Group, said her vision was to produce Thai cosmetics and health products and explore business opportunities beyond Thailand intoAsean and the world market.

“Similarly to medical services, Thailand’s beauty services have been accepted by consumers in the region, thanks to their quality cosmetic products and ingredients,” she said.

She said the company had been approached by potential partners in some countries in the AEC.

“We believe that within five years, contributions from overseas business will exceed domestic revenue,” she said.

The group recently opened Biocos Education at its headquarters in Prachaniwet Road in Bangkok as a training centre for beauty personnel, in order to supply staff to the beauty and health-service businesses within the group as well as to the general public.

Benrisa said Biocos Group posted revenue of about Bt1 billion last |year, up by 5-7 per cent over 2014. |The company expects to grow by about 10 per cent this year.

“About 50 per cent of total revenue is from our Slimming Plus body-treatment business. Slimming Plus has 20 body-treatment centres in the Kingdom with more than 60,000 active customers in total,” she said.

This year, competition in the beauty-treatment business is expected to intensify with more offerings for customers from beauty clinics and centres.

Both big and small operators |will roll out special campaigns |to maintain their client bases |and attract new customers. The|beauty-treatment business in Thailand is expected to expand |to a value of about Bt30 billion this year. The market grows every year and the beauty and health business is still among three rising star businesses for the past six years since 2010.

Synnex eyes Indochina push

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Synnex-eyes-Indochina-push-30278572.html

BUSINESS EXPANSION

JIRAPAN BOONNOON

THE NATION
February 5, 2016 1:00 am

Synnex (Thailand), an information technology (IT) distributor, aims to expand further in Indochina and expects to generate revenue of Bt23 billion this year

Chief executive officer Sutida Mongkolsuthree said the company this year was focusing on domestic and international markets as well as the business-to-business online market.

She said Synnex would also enter the gaming market as she believed it had high growth potential.

She said the company had cooperated with a local partner to set up a branch in Myanmar in 2014, and was looking for a local partner in Cambodia so it could open a branch there this year.

Sutida said the company helped create brand awareness via Trusted by Synnex, which satisfied customers’ needs, and through the nationwide mascot marketing activity Synnex Carnival with Mr Synnex & The Gang.

She believes the measures will expand the company’s business base and revenue.

She said Synnex had around 5,000 dealers, as well as 11 service centres and 63 Synnex service partners, a figure expected to rise to 65 by the end of this year.

Sutida said the Bt23 billion in revenue forecast for this year would be a rise of 8 per cent from 2015.

Thirty per cent of the company’s revenue this year is expected to come from commercial operations and 70 per cent from the consumer market.

The commercial market includes network and server products and smartphones.

“I think that the Indochina market is an opportunity and has high potential for growth,” she said.

“We started entering Indochina in Myanmar a couple. Myanmar is a major, high-potential growth market. Cambodia also has high potential as a new market.”

TPBI plans IPO before listing on SET

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/TPBI-plans-IPO-before-listing-on-SET-30278566.html

IPO

Pichaya Changsorn

The Nation
February 5, 2016 1:00 am

Plastic-packaging manufacturer TPBI yesterday announced that it would go ahead with its plan to list on the stock market, aimed at supporting the company’s strategy to grow its business in high-value-added products via organic and inorganic expansions.

TPBI’s plan for an initial public offering was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission in October. However, the plan was deferred because of the high volatility in the financial markets as everyone anxiously awaited the US Federal Reserve’s decision on interest-rate increases, said Tanachai Bunditvorapoom, first senior vice president and head of investment banking of Tisco Securities, the financial adviser and lead arranger and underwriter of the IPO.

“Unfortunately, since early this year, we have the issue of China [economic uncertainties]. Nevertheless, we think the current situation is somewhat acceptable. Towards year-end, things are neither expected to become much better nor much worse,” he said.

Now TPBI is expected to launch its IPO in mid-March and to begin listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand by the end of next month, subject to final approvals by the authorities, he said.

TPBI booked average annual revenue growth of 13 per cent from 2010 to 2014. During the first nine months of last year, the company recorded net profit of Bt274 million, compared with Bt249 million that it booked for the whole of 2014. It booked average gross profit margin of 25.5 per cent and net profit margin of 39.5 per cent during the 2010-14 period.

The company will float 100 million newly issued shares, equivalent to 25 per cent of its total outstanding shares after the IPO.

Tanachai said the IPO would be benchmarked against listed flexible-packaging companies, which currently have price-|to-earnings ratios from 9 to 17-18 times, lower than the average P/E of all stocks traded on the SET, which is currently over 22 times.

Kamol Borrisuttanakul, chief financial officer of TPBI, said the IPO proceeds would be used to finance capital expenditures expected to total about Bt200 million to Bt300 million this year, and the rest would be reserved for its plan to acquire other flexible-packaging or plastic-film companies.

The company has no plan to expand the production capacity of its plastic-bag business, other than to invest in its new subsidiary Thai German Recycle Technology, a producer of plastic resin from “post-consumer” plastic waste, which will help its conventional plastic business reduce its raw-material costs.

Vest carrier bags and T-shirt bags contributed 46.54 per cent of TPBI’s total sales revenue in the first nine months of 2015, followed by 21.57 per cent from garbage bags, 11.53 per cent from multi-layer blown film, 11.35 per cent from flexible packaging, and 9 per cent from other products such as plastic-coated paper cups.

Kamol said TPBI was the largest manufacturer of plastic bags in Thailand and one of the largest in the world, while it was currently a medium-sized manufacturer here for flexible packaging products. The company wants to grow its flexible-packaging, film and other high-value-added businesses to constitute half of its total revenue over the long term.

The group currently pursues its flexible-packaging business through its 60-per-cent-owned subsidiary TAK Packaging, in which two Japanese firms, Kanaoka and APS Group, hold the remaining stakes.

The Borrisuttanakul family currently has a 98.55-per-cent share of TPBI and Japan’s Marubeni group 1.45 per cent. After the IPO, the company will be owned 73.91 per cent by the family, 23.91 per cent by the public, and 1.09 per cent each by Marubeni and TPBI’s directors and staff.

Paiboon Nalinthrangkurn, chief executive of Tisco, said TPBI was interesting for investors because the company is internationally competitive, while it is poised to benefit from an expected increase of consumption in developed markets.

Furthermore, TPBI is well positioned to gain from the development of the bioplastic industry, which the government is set to promote as one of the industries to support future growth of the Thai economy.

“And from our experience working with TPBI, I can assure that the company has a good standard of corporate governance,” Paiboon added.

Mono eyes Bt3 billion revenue on popularity of blockbuster channel

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Mono-eyes-Bt3-billion-revenue-on-popularity-of-blo-30278547.html

OUTLOOK

Watchiranont Thongtep

The Nation

February 5, 2016 1:00 am

Mono Technology targets revenue at Bt3 billion this year on the back of the tremendous popularity of its Mono 29 digital-TV blockbuster channel, which is now pulling in paying advertisers.

“The digital-TV business is the growth engine for the group,” Navamin Prasopnet, assistant chairman and chief marketing officer of Mono Technology, said yesterday.

“We expect Mono 29 to contribute more than Bt1.5 billion this year, a huge increase from last year’s Bt600 million, because advertisers and brands are now confident to invest their budgets with our media outlets.”

The company is ready to pay the third instalment of the upfront licence fee in May.

Mono 29 has now set a clear market direction as a free TV station showcasing hot films and TV series.

To boost its ratings, the company has prepared about Bt800 million for producing contents and acquiring TV programmes form abroad.

It also struck exclusive deals with leading distributors including Warner Brothers, NBC Universal, Paramount and Sahamongkol Film International to deliver blockbuster films to its viewers’ homes.

Local content is also important, so the station will produce about eight to ten local dramas which will be aired on Mondays and Tuesdays after evening news.

Mono 29 will be a spearhead of the company, Navamin said. Half of the Bt3-billion projected revenue this year will come from digital TV, followed by the Internet and mobile with 40 per cent and film production, radio, music and publishing.

Last year, the Internet and mobile business was the key revenue contributor at 50 per cent, while digital TV accounted for 40 per cent.

“Besides revenue, we hope to| see further growth in the digital-TV business in the near future,” he said.

By year-end, Mono 29 hopes to score an average rating of 0.8 point, doubling its 0.4 rating last month. This would allow it to raise its billing rate from Bt50,000 per minute for prime-time slots from 6pm-10.30pm.

Mono 29 wants to maintain its No 5 ranking in the TV broadcasting business but improve its advertising revenue and utilisation. It expects to balance revenue and expenses, which suggests that the group would widen its margin.

Third instalment

“Following this positive sign, we believe that we can pay the third instalment of upfront licence fees to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, as planned. The payment is about Bt400 million,” Navamin said.

After putting more weight on the digital-TV business, other businesses like publishing and music will continue to decline in parallel with the market trend.

The company has reassigned some staff from publishing to |support and provide content |for the digital media platform, he said.

TV operators float idea for relinquishing licenses

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/TV-operators-float-idea-for-relinquishing-licenses-30278489.html

The Nation February 4, 2016 1:00 am

A grouping of digital-TV operators yesterday floated the idea that they should be allowed to relinquish their licences without having to pay the remaining six instalments of the upfront licensing fee.

They tabled the idea at a meeting of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s panel assigned to solve problems in terrestrial digital-TV business.

NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said he would submit the matter for consideration at next week’s full meeting of the regulator.

However, a representative of the Council of State at the meeting opposed the idea, arguing that full payment of the fee was a major responsibility of each operator.

The NBTC is expected to revoke two digital-TV licences held by Thai TV Co next week after the company refused to pay the second instalment of its upfront licence fee, as well as the annual fee, by yesterday’s deadline. Sombat Leelapata, acting deputy secretary-general of the NBTC, said the Broadcasting Committee would discuss the issue at its meeting on Monday, and would send Thai TV a written notice about the licence revocation.

Another notice will be sent to Thai Public Broadcasting Service, which provides a networking service to the financially ailing broadcaster.

The NBTC will also seek the Bt1.63-billion guarantee issued by Bangkok Bank.

Thai TV will also have to shoulder the unpaid annual licence fees and a daily fine of Bt60,000.

BTSC targets cargo train operation

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/BTSC-targets-cargo-train-operation-30278481.html

SASITHORN ONDEE
THE NATION February 4, 2016 1:00 am

Surapong

Surapong

BANGKOK Mass Transit System (BTSC) is pressing ahead with a plan to operate cargo trains, beginning with operations on a rail line in the Northeast, to cash in on rising intra-Asean trading. In the meantime, the BTS Skytrain operator is preparing to run more metro lines by ordering more than 170 train carriages this year at an overall cost of more than Bt10 billion.

“We are interested in operating cargo trains for the 740-kilometre Nong Khai-Laem Chabang route,” Surapong Laoha-Unya, chief executive officer of the listed company, said in an exclusive interview with the Nation Group recently.

BTSC – a mass-transit business within the BTS Group – sees this route as offering high income potential and worthy of investment under the company’s expansion programme.

The Nong Khai-Laem Chabang route, which is currently a single-track railway with a metre-wide gauge, is being improved and upgraded to a double-track railway.

Some parts of the route now feature the double track, but only for a short distance.

“The logistics and transportation sector, especially for goods and products, in our country will be disruptive – resulting in lower shipping costs – if the rail system has a bigger stake of the total length of the transport network than just 2 per cent currently,” the CEO said.

If the government had a policy to open up rail operations for transporting goods and products on this route to the private sector, bidding could commence by the end of this year, with operations commencing within the next three years, he added.

As for the company’s strong foothold in the mass-transit rail network in Bangkok and surrounding areas, BTSC currently operates about 36.3km of rail track, compared to 20km of MRT underground trains operated by Bangkok Expressway and Metro, and the 28.5km Airport Rail Link run by theState Railway of Thailand (SRT).

For the metro rail network, Surapong said his company was interested in several upcoming lines, some of which had nearly completed construction, while others were at the initial study and design stage.

These include the Green Line extensions, the Pink Line and Yellow Line monorail routes, and LRT (light-rail transit) lines.

The Green Line extensions stretch the Skyrain to the north, from Bang Sue to Kukot at a total length of 18.4km – and to the south, from Bearing to Samut Prakan, at a length of 12.8km.

The extension for the Bearing-Samut Prakan route is 70 per cent complete in terms of civil engineering construction, while the Bang Sue-Kukot route is just being kick-started.

The chief executive said BTSC was also interested in the 7km Green Line extension from Bang Wa station in the west of Bangkok to Taling Chan.

The project is undergoing a feasibility study and is also subject to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, which is expected to be completed in the next few months.

BTSC is also interested in the Yellow and Pink Line monorail projects, which have received the green light for full investment by the private sector and are set to open for bidding for operating licences in August or September, he said.

Other metro lines of potential interest are the LRT railway from Bang Na to Suvarnabhumi Airport, covering a distance of 15km; and the Grey Line, which will link Watcharapol to Rama III and Thong Lo, and Prakanong to Rama III.

“These two lines could be strategically connected with the current BTS Skytrain routes that we are operating,” Surapong said.

Meanwhile, the Airport Rail Link extension for the Phayathai-Bang Sue route is also of interest to the company, with BTSC waiting to hear a clear government policy statement as to whether it would be open for the private operator to operate, or would continue to be run by the SRT.

“If we include the Yellow Line and the Pink Line, there will be a total of incoming metro lines of about 100km in length … This is sizeable for the operating sector,” the CEO said, adding that BTSC was currently fine-tuning its investment plan for train carriages.

The company will possibly place an order for all 172 train carriages it needs at one time, depending on the government’s policy for operating the metro rail network.

As currently planned, BTSC requires seven trains of four carriages of each for the Green Line BTS Skytrain, 15 trains for the Green Line Bearing-Samut Prakan extension, and 21 trains for the |Green Line Bang Sue-Kukot extension.

BTS Skytrain now carries an average of 700,000 riders per day during weekdays, resulting in 7-per-cent revenue growth for the nine-month period ending December 2015, higher than its 5-per-cent target, year on year, he said.

NOW26 moves up in ratings: Nielsen

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/NOW26-moves-up-in-ratings-Nielsen-30278480.html

THE NATION February 4, 2016 1:00 am

A RATING SURVEY by AC Nielsen Co shows that overall, Nation Multimedia Group’s digital TV channel NOW26 has made significant gains among a broad segment of viewers, said NMG chief executive Duangkamol Chotana.

Competition in the digital-television market is expected to intensify this year.

Nielsen’s survey of average viewers per minute found that NOW26 had moved from 18th place at the end of December to 15th place as of the end of January, after moving up three places in the previous month.

This significant rating improvement – six places in the past two months – was attributed to NOW26’s analysis of market tastes and preferences and focus on delivering a wide variety of content (including news, documentaries and foreign series) that meets the interest of a broad segment of viewers, Duangkamol said.

For this year, NOW26 has scheduled two reality shows showcasing Thai boxing – “The Champ” and the “FAT Fighter” – which have been well received by viewers. NOW26 has also established alliances with producers of variety, reality and game shows, which will come on air soon.

Duangkamol said NOW26 strove to offer quality news content produced by Krungthep Turakij and the Nation Group and world-renowned TV content producers such as National Geographic and China Central Television to cater to a broad segment of viewers.

Some international sporting events such as the Paris-Dakar off-road car rally and the Tour de France bicycle race, as well as Kom Chud Luek Thai boxing matches, can also be seen on NOW26 this year.

China’s top 10 overseas acquisitions

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Chinas-top-10-overseas-acquisitions-30278451.html

INVESTMENT

February 3, 2016 4:23 pm
Switzerland's Syngenta could be the biggest overseas acquisition by a Chinese firm, at the value of US$43 billion./AFP

Switzerland’s Syngenta could be the biggest overseas acquisition by a Chinese firm, at the value of US$43 billion./AFP

BEIJING – Chinese companies buying spree of overseas assets have made world headlines as Beijing encourages entrepreneurs to acquire foreign resources and technologies, market share and management expertise while domestic economic growth slowed.

Slumping global commodity prices since 2014 and the falling value of the euro have made their prey even cheaper.

Here are the 10 biggest overseas acquisitions by Chinese companies by value, with debt excluded, according to figures from international financial data provider Dealogic:

$43 billion: State-owned China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina) offers to buy Swiss pesticide and seed giant Syngenta on Wednesday

$15.2 billion: Chinese oil behemoth CNOOC acquires Canada’s energy company Nexen in a deal completed in 2013

$14.3 billion: State-owned aluminium firm Chinalco buys a minority shareholding in Anglo-Australian mining group Rio Tinto in 2008

$8.8 billion: State-run investment firm China Cinda Asset Management announces in December it would take over Hong Kong’s Nanyang Commercial Bank

$7.9 billion: ChemChina acquires Italian tyremaker Pirelli last year

$7.3 billion: Refiner Sinopec buys Swiss oil exploration company Addax Petroleum in 2009

$7.1 billion: Sinopec purchases 40 per cent of Spanish energy giant Repsol’s Brazilian operations in 2010

$7.0 billion: A Chinese consortium led by state-owned mining giant China Minmetals Corp buys Glencore Xstrata’s Las Bambas copper mine in Peru in 2014

$5.6 billion: China sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corp purchases 9.9 per cent of US investment bank Morgan Stanley in 2007

$5.5 billion: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the country’s biggest lender, acquires a 20 per cent stake in South Africa’s Standard Bank in 2007

– AFP

MINT expands global footprint

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/MINT-expands-global-footprint-30278387.html

ACQUISITION

SUCHAT SRITAMA

The Nation February 3, 2016 1:00 am

Tivoli Lisboa hotel

Tivoli Lisboa hotel

Minor International has become a truly global hotel company with the acquisition of Portugal-based Tivoli Hotels & Resorts, which helps extend its footprint to more European countries, as well as Latin America.

A company executive said yesterday that the latest expansion would immediately help increase revenue and profit. A further benefit of international diversification is making the company resilient to any external disruptions in one particular country.

The company is becoming more of a “global company” rather than a “regional company”, the executive said.

Tivoli’s brand is reputable in Portuguese-speaking countries and boasts a rich history of more than 80 years. The acquisition enables inbound and outbound cross-selling between new markets in Europe and Latin America and the company’s existing regions of Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

It also helps the company cope with the high growth potential from the recovery of the European economy and the long-term growth potential of Brazil, which has the largest economy in South America.

The established hotel assets and business platform in Portugal and Brazil are in the key gateways of Lisbon and Sao Paolo, and the key leisure destinations of Algarve and Salvador.

After becoming part of Minor International, the 14 Tivoli hotels and strength of the team will thrive under the fast-expanding tourism industry and Portugal’s economic recovery, the executive said.

The business already witnessed double-digit revenue growth last year. A refurbishment programme has been initiated for this year to realise the full potential of some properties, including the flagship Tivoli Lisboa hotel.

Also, the Tivoli brand will be extended further in Portugal, southern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Lisbon will be developed as the key hub for the European operating cluster.

There are more business opportunities in Europe and Latin America.

In Portugal, the company will acquire more hotels, develop hotels and high-end residences, and seek partnerships with existing hotel and land owners through management and/or variable-lease agreements.

Minor International has laid out a five-year strategy comprising the three high-level plans – drive a profitable portfolio of owned brands with additional contribution from selected international brands, maximise asset value and productivity to enhance margins and returns, and continue to look for mergers and acquisitions and strategic investment opportunities.

The strategy is set to help achieve the group’s five-year goal of delivering net-profit growth of at least 15-20 per cent per year and at least 15-per-cent return on invested capital.

Dillip Rajakarier, chief operating officer of Minor International and chief executive of Minor Hotel Group, said the Tivoli brand brought with it a rich heritage, deeply experienced team and highly loyal customer base.

“Looking forward, we have already planned further investment in Tivoli’s hotel assets and its operating and distribution infrastructure to realise the full potential of this strategic investment,” he said.

The company’s opening schedule for this year has the flagship Avani Bangkok in April, Anantara Kalutara in Sri Lanka, another Anantara in China, two Anantaras in Oman and one in Morocco.

It also includes the Torres Rani project in Maputo, Mozambique, comprising residential and office towers. The sale of The Residences by Anantara Layan Phuket, which was launched last year, is gaining momentum.

The Tivoli deal for 294.2 million euros (about Bt11 billion) not only marks the company’s strategic entry into Europe and Latin America, but also provides the group with a strong operating platform to drive further growth in those markets.

Tivoli’s portfolio includes resorts on Portugal’s Algarve.

Tivoli is the latest in a series of international investments by the group over the last two years totalling US$550 million, or more than Bt19 billion. The hotel projects are in Southern and East Africa, Asia, Australia, South America and Europe.

With the addition of Tivoli, Minor International’s hotel portfolio now encompasses 145 properties in 22 countries.

True allowing AIS 2G-900MHz users to port

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/True-allowing-AIS-2G-900MHz-users-to-port-30278386.html

TRUE

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation
February 3, 2016 1:00 am

True Move H Universal Communication (TUC), the wholly owned wireless broadband subsidiary of True Corp, yesterday launched a campaign aimed essentially at luring 2G-900MHz subscribers from its rival Advanced Info Service (AIS) to its TrueMove H brand – allowing them to port their numbers via the vast network of 7-Eleven convenience stores.

Under the campaign, 900MHz users can port their phone numbers to the TrueMove H brand at True customer-service shops and 7-Eleven stores until March 31.

TUC, which won an 900MHz licence in last month’s auction by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), will start launching the 900MHz service next month, with nationwide network coverage scheduled for May.

Kittinut Tikawan, chief commercial officer of True, yesterday said the company would also provide subsidised smart phones and discounted packages to new users under the campaign.

Smart-phone models costing Bt1,390, Bt1,590 and Bt1,990 will be offered free of charge to new users, on condition that they refill their accounts to the tune of Bt300, Bt500 and Bt1,000, respectively, in advance.

Currently, AIS has around 11 million subscribers using the 900MHz spectrum.

AIS however failed to win a 900MHz licence at the NBTC auction in December and is now rushing to migrate as many as possible of the 11 million 2G customers to its subsidiary, Advanced Wireless Network (AWN), by offering them subsidised handsets.

TUC and Jasmine International’s Jas Mobile Broadband each won an 900MHz licence with hefty final bids of Bt76.298 billion and Bt75.654 billion, respectively, at the auction.

Both have yet to pay the first instalment of the licence at an initial upfront cost of Bt8.04 billion, and to place bank guarantees for the remaining upfront amount.

Meanwhile, AWN and Total Access Communication’s DTAC TriNet separately submitted letters to the NBTC yesterday opposing True’s porting service at 7-Eleven stores, claiming that this was not in compliance with NBTC rules as the porting at these outlets involved the provision of no official porting paperwork for customers to sign.

There are around 9,000 7-Eleven convenience stores around the country, and both 7-Eleven and True are part of the Chareon Phokhand (CP) group.

The NBTC asked TUC representatives to explain the 7-Eleven porting service yesterday.

TUC representatives said at the meeting that the new porting-service process was in compliance with the number-porting rules of the NBTC, and merely entailed offering a convenient option for users wishing to move to another network.

Korkij Danchaivichit, deputy secretary of the regulator, said after the meeting that the NBTC viewed the process to be in compliance with its rules as customers wishing to port could just show their ID cards at store counters.