Sunday, February 7, 2010

TTA’s shareholders approved cash dividend payments at 0.54 THB per share,

TTA’s shareholders approved cash dividend payments at 0.54 THB per share, cancelled and reaffirmed 50 million ordinary shares at Baht 1 par for future financial usage, and nominated four directors for another term


An annual cash dividend payment at 0.54 THB per share was approved at the 1/2010 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of Thoresen Thai Agencies Public Company Limited (“TTA”) along with the increase of TTA registered share capital for a private placement worth 50 million THB. The meeting also approved the re-appointment of four directors for another term.

M.L. Chandchutha Chandratat, TTA President and Chief Executive Officer, reported that TTA’s shareholders approved cash dividends at 0.54 THB per share to the 708,004,413 shares, worth 382.3 million THB in total value.

“The dividends will be paid to shareholders whose names appear on TTA’s share register book on the Record Date of 8 February 2010. The share register book closing date for collecting shareholders names under Section 225 of the Securities and Exchange Act is scheduled to be 9 February 2010. The final dividend payment shall be made on 23 February 2010,” said the President & Chief Executive Officer.

“The shareholders approved the re-election of Mr. Stephen Fordham, Mrs. Pratana Mongkolkul, Mrs. Joey Horn, and Mr. Terje Schau, as directors for another term as they are highly experienced and competent.”

“It also approved the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers ABAS Limited as TTA’s auditor for the financial year that ended on 30 September 2010 and fix the auditors’ fees at 3.16 million THB,” said President & Chief Executive Officer Chandchutha.

He said the shareholders also approved the capital reduction by cancelling 50,048,452 authorized but un-issued shares at the par value of 1 THB each from the existing registered capital of 933 million THB to be the new registered capital of 883 million THB divided into 883,004,413 shares at the par value of Baht 1 each.

“The shareholders approved an increase of the registered capital of another 50 million THB by an issue of 50,000,000 new ordinary shares at the par value of Baht 1 each from the existing registered capital of 883 million THB to be the new registered capital of 933 million THB divided into 933,004,413 ordinary shares at the par value of 1 THB each,” reported the President & Chief Executive Officer.

“The shareholders had approved the allotment of 50,000,000 new ordinary shares of par value at 1 THB to be reserved for private placement in 1999 and re-confirmed the amount in 2009. TTA has no immediate plan to place the private placement shares in the near future. The allotment of 50 million new shares is to maintain future financial flexibility.”

The shareholders approved the issue of 4,000,000 warrants to directors and employees, including any employee(s) who is also a director, of Mermaid and its subsidiaries, under an ESOP Scheme. “The ESOP Scheme has the goal of increasing the personal stake of such directors and employees in the continued success and growth of Mermaid and motivating them to remain in the service of Mermaid on a long-term basis,” he said.
About TTA

Thoresen Thai Agencies Public Company Limited is amongst the top 50 companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand with high trading liquidity. Its investment strategy is to grow through a diversified business portfolio of transport, energy, and infrastructure assets, both domestically and internationally. TTA is recognised as a leader in the dry bulk shipping industry. The company has also expanded its investment into other business areas, such as offshore services through Mermaid Maritime Public Company Limited, fertilisers and logistics through Baconco Co., Ltd., and coal-related businesses through Merton Group (Cyprus) Limited and Unique Mining Services Public Company Limited.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

PTT Chemical and GE sign gas turbine service agreement

PTT Chemical Public Company Limited, Thailand’s largest chemical producer and a regional leader in the petrochemical industry, has signed a service agreement with GE (NYSE: GE) in Singapore to ensure the long-term reliability of nine GE gas turbines at PTT Chemical’s site in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, Rayong Province, Thailand.


The 13-year Contractual Service Agreement (CSA) worth US$46.1 million or approximately Baht 1,521 million covers the supply of parts, repairs and field services for planned and unplanned outages for gas turbine-generators and accessory equipment, along with performance guarantees.

Veerasak Kositpaisal, President and CEO of PTT Chemical said, “Through this agreement, GE guarantees the continuing reliability and efficiency of the gas turbines, which improves our efficiency and security as well as enables us to maintain our petrochemical production schedule. The CSA also helps us to effectively manage our maintenance budget over the life of the agreement.”

“While we have received equipment orders from PTT Chemical in the past, this marks our first CSA with the company,” said Kovit Kantapasara., GE Energy Country Executive for Thailand and Indochina. “We hope to build on this agreement to provide similar services to other companies in the PTT Group.” Overall, GE has supplied more than 20 gas turbines to the petrochemical business of the PTT Group.

PTT Chemical is a diversified and integrated chemical producer offering a wide variety of petrochemical and chemical products. Its product portfolio includes ethylene and propylene, collectively called olefins, downstream derivatives such as Polymers and Ethylene Oxide and Ethylene Glycol, and oleochemicals. The company’s gas-based plants have a total annual capacity of 2,888,000 tons of olefins, making it Thailand’s largest olefins producer and the second largest in all of Asia.

GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that's built to meet essential world needs. GE Energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies providing integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

EEI all out in 2010 with energy management business, hoping to raise over 80 million baht

in revenue after joining forces with Burns and Roe Asia, leading engineering firm from the United States to bolster service capabilities


Mr. Arthit Vechakij Managing Director of Excellent Energy International Company Limited (EEI) disclosed that in the last 11 years, his company had proved to be a leading Energy Service Company (ESCO) in Thailand with recognition including ESCO Excellence Award 2009 from the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) supported by Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE),Ministry of Energy. “Our clients also commended with several recognitions for their efficiency. These companies include Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Grand China Princess Hotel, Dusit Princess Hotel in Korat and Royal Princess Hotel Chiang Mai as they are selected to be successful business operators using the ESCO system in 2009 (ESCO Project Award 2009). This is the 2nd year in a row for EEI to have its clients nominated for the award and receive privileges as well as support from the government sector. There are still several other projects that have made our company proud such as services provided to Thai Beverage, 4 new cogeneration power plants development for CPF, Energy Management System (EMS) for Pataya Food Industry, manufacturer of Nautilus canned tuna, whose confidence has resulted in repeat order. In addition, EEI is the consultant for Department of Industrial Promotion, making industrial and business operators having greater confidence in the company. Our latest move to strengthen our position is the cooperation with Burns and Roe Asia, leading integrated engineering company from the United States. The firm, which has already been accepted for expertise by several companies operating in Thailand, is considered a fresh development in Energy Service Company (ESCO) business in Thailand,” he said.

Mr. Arthit Vechakij said: “The cooperation between EEI and Burns and Roe Asia was a result of new opportunity seeking on the part EEI. Discussions were made with Burns and Roe Asia to allow the 2 companies to see good potential together in facilitating to the growing demands from larger size customers. Our services will help make Thai business operators confident and continue relying on ESCO in the future.”

“EEI believe in 2010 it can generate revenue of 80 million baht, which is higher than before by 15%. We predict to help the country save by as much as 200 million baht, as a result of new projects from CPF Group worth 450 million baht, which include 4 new cogeneration power plants that can save up to 117 million baht a year. Projects made in cooperation with Burns and Roe Asia, which is similar to what we have provided to Thai Oil will also help save around 80 million baht a year. Our clients who are business operators believe that investment in energy conservation measures will help them save energy and cost. The rising oil prices of over US$80 per barrel will compel business operators to seek to reduce energy expense in order to maintain costs and create competitive advantages especially in the long run. We are seeing good improvement this year as the government continues to support business operators to seek proper energy management,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ruamlarp Anantasanta, Deputy Managing Director – Marketing & Business

Development of Excellent Energy International Company Limited (EEI) added on the business direction of EEI in 2010, saying the company would focus its business on what it does best, which would be the Cogeneration Power Plants and Energy Management System (EMS), including the Development and Energy Efficiency Management services “For the past 11 years, Cogeneration Power Plants have been the proud projects of EEI, where success can be proven and accepted widely, from thesuccess of Thailand ESCO Pilot Project with BKP to 4 more Cogeneration Power Plants for CPF Group. We also plan to establish a Energy Management System (EMS) which is the real time monitoring system of power consumption behaviors and coordination among concerned personnel in each area to allow business operators to utilize energy with maximum efficiency to reduce energy costs.

“In the current economic situation, the low investment cost of 5-20 million baht and payback period of only 1-2 years have been our value proposition . This is why our clients trust in our Energy Management System (EMS). EEI is able to develop software suitable to each individual operation following its strong experience and skills in energy management business in Thailand to deliver to each business’s specific needs perfectly. Our service also complies to the recent Energy saving act 2007 with integrated line of services could not be found in other operators. EEI’s unique services include application for necessary approval as required by the laws and regulations, seeking funding support from commercial banks, finding funding sources that provide privileges (special interest rate) in case of energy saving scheme and seeking privileges from the government sector such as financial support, DSM bidding and BOI,” said Mr. Ruamlap.

Mr. Mark Hunt, Managing Director of Burns and Roe Asia, Ltd. stated that his company’s recent cooperation with EEI, a leading Energy Service Company (ESCO) and well trusted by leading Thai operators, is an advantageous and strategic partnership that will benefit both companies’ quality of service. “Burns and Roe Asia’s presence and capabilities will be enhanced by the new opportunities brought forth by EEI. Our joint success will be achieved through a combination of world class services and skills in energy project management in Thailand, while maintaining a beneficial cost structure. We expect to execute at least 1 to 2 energy projects this year with an investment cost of 200-500 million Thai Baht, which will generate savings for Thailand by as much as 100-200 million Thai Baht a year,” he said.

“Thailand’s economy is recovering and moving in a positive direction, and that has a direct impact on domestic energy consumption. According to the Ministry of Energy, at the end of 2009, the amount of energy consumption recorded was higher than that recorded at the same time in 2008. This increase in energy consumption provides evidence that Thailand’s demand for energy is steadily moving in an upwards direction. In addition, the government policy which encourages the use of domestic energy sources and alternative energy, and promotes energy savings initiatives have contributed positively to the country’s energy industry by attracting new investments and expanding existing businesses,” he added.

“Our latest cooperation with EEI will help facilitate the growing energy needs in Thailand and advance the Thai government policy regarding domestic energy management and energy saving campaign. The goal is to find long term energy sources and while curbing the causes of global warming, which will ultimately improve the quality of life in Thailand,” he explained.

Burns and Roe Asia, Ltd. was founded in 1932. The company, with over 1,700 employees worldwide, is specialized in engineering, design, and consulting services in the power generation industry. They provide technical expertise in fossil-fueled power plants, including coal and natural gas combined cycle, as well as in biomass, cogeneration, and nuclear power plants. Studies in advanced technologies and alternative fuel solutions are also offered. Current clients include the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Gulf JP, Advance Agro, and GDF Suez.