Permission to Issue Baht-denominated Bonds or Debentures by Foreign Entities in Thailand during First Half of 2010

Friday 19 February 2010 11:38
Mr. Chakkrit Parapuntakul, Director — General of Public Debt Management Office, has announced that according to the Ministry of Finance press release no. 84/2008 dated 13 November 2008, the Minister of Finance approved the amendment of the application period and guidelines to evaluate the applications to issue Baht-denominated bonds or debentures in Thailand to enhance the efficiency and increase flexibility of the approval process. Submission period shall take place four times a year, during the month of February, May, August, and November.

After having carefully considered about the impacts on Thai corporate bonds issuance, the opportunity for domestic investors to invest in a quality bond and the development of Baht-denominated bonds market, the Minister of Finance has permitted 7 foreign entities to issue Baht-denominated bonds or debentures in Thailand within August 15, 2010 with the issue amount of 4,000 million Baht each. The list of the permitted entities is as follows:

1. Cargill Incorporated (Cargill)

2. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

3. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

4. Kommunalbanken Norway (KBN)

5. Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbua (KfW)

6. Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen — Boerenleenbank B.A. (Rabobank) and

7. Swedish Export Credit Corporation (SEK)

The Ministry of Finance, thereby, reserves the right to restrain Baht-denominated bonds or debentures issuance if there appears to be significant changes to the financial status or structure of the permitted entities, or where the economy undergoes any significant changes.

The Ministry of Finance would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to all applicants for their interest to issue Baht-denominated bonds in Thai bond market. The applicant who does not receive the approval and wish to apply for the next submission period can send a renewal letter in February 2010.

Bond Market Development Bureau, Public Debt Management Office

Tel: 66-2265-8050 ext. 5810