CAT has been asked to take control of own cellular network. Hong Kong telecom giant Hutchison Telecom has indicated it might bow out of the market here by proposing that local partner CAT Telecom Plc take over its cellular network.

Charoen snaps up the Oishi Group

Liquor tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi has led a group of investors to acquire a 55-per-cent stake in green-tea maker Oishi Group Plc, for a total investment of Bt3.3 billion. Oishi Group’s founder Tan Passakornnatee will retain 10.67 per cent of Oishi and will remain the company’s chief executive.

True Fitness to open giant gym centre in capital

Singapore-based True Fitness is leaping into the fast-growing fitness market here by opening the largest centre in the capital, boasting a total area of 6,000 square metres.

SOARING STOCK PRICE: PTT mulls splitting par value of PTTEP

Top executives of PTT Plc are considering whether to split the par value of shares for its subsidiary, PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP), after overwhelming interest from foreign investors pushed PTTEP’s share price past the Bt500 mark.

BizBits: Is it lucky 23 for Thaksin?

Numerology is really important for Thais as propitious licence plate and cell-phone numbers can fetch more than Bt100,000. So the question immediately arises whether there are any “good” numbers involved in the Bt73-billion Shin deal in which PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s family agreed to sell their stake to Singapore’s Temasek.

SHIN CORP SALE: SEC responds to waiver outcry

Watchdog explains decision on ‘leniency’ over tender offer rules

Friday BUG: Asian awards aplenty

In 2004 The Nation named MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, governor of the Bank of Thailand, financier of the year.

CAPITAL INFLOW: Baht appreciates to a one-year high

The baht appreciated to Bt38.80 to the US dollar yesterday in intra-day trading, a level not seen since January 14, 2005, with about US$3 billion (Bt116.8 billion) in capital having flowed into the stock market since the start of the year, according to the Bank of Thailand (BOT).

KTB to slash NPLs

Krung Thai Bank aims to reduce its non-performing loans (NPLs) by Bt20 billion-Bt30 billion this year, said its president Apisak Tantivorawong.

Hospitals told to improve

Thai Life Insurance has urged hospitals in its network to improve overall standards to meet the Institute of Hospital Quality Improvement and Accreditation’s requirements in order to guarantee that its policyholders be treated with proper healthcare.

SCIB to buy into leasing company

Siam City Bank (SCIB) will pay Bt172.5 million for a 22.82-per-cent stake in Ratchthani Leasing, in a bid to extend its financial services, the company reported to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) yesterday.

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY: Best Western to bed down in Asia

US hotel giant to open 125 branches on the continent over the next five years

Carabao to power up SE Asian presence

Local energy drink Carabao is set to penetrate the markets of Brunei, Singapore and Indonesia through the distribution system of Malaysia-based Mofaz Dagang, a subsidiary of the Mofaz group of companies, according to a report by Bernama news agency.

It’s CAT’s turn to look for foreign partners

CAT Telecom Plc is interested in forming strategic alliances with Japan’s KDDI and South Korea’s KT Corp.

Thai Dairy, Dutch firm churn out milk venture

Dutch milk manufacturer Campina BV has joined with local manufacturer Thai Dairy Industry Co Ltd (TDI) to set up a joint venture company – TDI Campina Co Ltd – to penetrate the Thai UHT and pasteurised milk markets.

PTT signs deal to purchase local oil

PTT Plc yesterday inked an oil-purchase contract with Pearl Oil (Thailand) Co Ltd, expecting that the locally sourced supply will reduce the country’s oil-import tab by Bt9 billion a year.

Late News:

SMOKING: Thai hotels and resorts agree to kick the cigarette habit

China urged to cooperate on Mekong water management

Mekong River-basin countries should come up with a water-management agreement in response to China’s energy-development projects, says Phisit Pakkasem, former secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board.

HOME FURNISHINGS: Hawaii Furniture moves to protect its rattan reputation

Focus on local sales to fight cheap, ‘inferior’ competition

In Brief:

CROSS-BORDER TRADE: New crossing at Nong Khai