In a report to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Sirivana Co Ltd - a new company set up on January 16 - reported that it had bought 1.59 billion shares, or 7.26 per cent of Thai Beverage's paid-up capital, from Silvercord Capital (Singapore) and Golden Capital (Singapore).

According to data from the Commercial Registration Department, Sirivana was incorporated with start-up capital of Bt100,000 and, on Thursday, the capital was raised to Bt100 million.

Sirivana shares an address with TCC Holding Co Ltd, which is majority-owned by Charoen.

Thai Beverage is now capitalised at Bt29 billion, with Bt22 billion paid-up.

Charoen and his wife, Khunying Wanna, are the largest shareholders of Thai Beverage, each holding 3,156 million shares or 14.35 per cent of the company. Thai Beverage has reportedly been selling its shares in Singapore this year. - The Nation.

Likelihood of July ethanol shortage as molasses price surges

Ethanol might be in short supply in July because molasses prices have climbed to US$140 (Bt5,270) per tonne from $90 to $100, according to an industry source.

Ethanol producers have stopped placing advance orders with sugar mills for molasses, which is one of the main raw materials used in ethanol production.

On the basis of current molasses prices, domestic ethanol, which sells at Bt23 per litre, will not return its production cost, the source said.

As well, if plans to make ethanol from tapioca, rather than molasses, are not realised, there will be a shortage of ethanol supplies in July.

Currently, there are only two ethanol producers - Thai Agro Energy Co Ltd and Khon Kaen Alcohol Co Ltd - with a combined capacity of 220,000 litres a day.

Domestic demand for ethanol, for use with octane-95 gasoline to make gasohol, is now about 300,000 litres a day.

"There is a certain amount of ethanol stocked at oil refineries. If we don't get a new plant [producing ethanol from tapioca], or molasses prices don't come down, then it's most likely we'll face a shortage of ethanol," the source said. - The Nation.

Boonrawd Brewery's Bt100m marketing drive to sell Singha beer overseas

Boonrawd Trading International Co Ltd is to spend Bt100 million to market Singha beers overseas, employing the "Table by the Beach" campaign to target 7,000 Thai restaurants in Europe, the United States and the rest of Asia.

The company's chief executive, Tom Kruasophon, said the campaign would begin in July and last until the end of the year. Two "famous American citizens" will be appointed Singha ambassadors.

Tom said exports this year should double from last year's 25 million litres, and within five years export income would rise from 6 per cent of total income to 25 per cent. - The Nation.