Bangkok--Jan 31--Kim Eng
Kim Eng (Thailand) has announced plans to maintain its No. 1 Broker ranking for the fifth consecutive year. Among key objectives in 2006 are: developing the skills of new marketing officers to serve its growing client base; improving technological features to provide clients with real-time market data; opening another 2-3 branches; and getting ready for the launch of derivatives trading this year.
Mr. Montree Sornpaisarn, Chief Executive Officer of Kim Eng Securities (Thailand) Plc., said: “Kim Eng has been successful in maintaining its No. 1 Broker slot for the fourth consecutive year, with a market share of 10.16% in 2005. This year we aim to retain our top ranking and are aiming to improve our market share to about 11%.”
He said that the chief priority was in training the company’s large team of marketing officers to have a well-rounded knowledge of the business and developing Kim Eng’s internet trading system to meet the demands of all clients. “Our website will be modernised and our trading and operations systems will be in full gear to cater for the future derivatives market,” he said.
Mr Montree said that Kim Eng aims to increase its percentage of institutional clients to 25% from the current level of 20% as well as expand into new business areas such as securities borrowing and lending, private fund services and fund management.
He noted that the company had extended its research and analysis to 144 listed companies as well as launching its KELIVE TV service, which provides stock analysis via high speed internet. “This has been one of our prominent services provided to our clients and investors. Live analysis reports are shown or clients can play back and have access to previous reports. Profiles of listed companies and tapes of interesting seminars can also be found on this website which has served as a data and information centre to provide investment knowledge to general investors. This is a free service and is open to the general public. The feedback has been good and the average number of people logged onto this website is about 2,300 each day, “ he said.
Mrs. Boonporn Boriboonsongsilp, Managing Director of Securities Sales, said: “2005 was a tough year for the securities industry due to various negative factors such as rising interest rates, the jump in petrol prices, violence in the south and political problems. Despite the unfavourable investment environment,
Kim Eng was able to open three new branches at Silom (Thaniya Building), RCA on Rama IV Road, and Chidlom at Mercury Tower.”
The company currently has 39 branches including its head office and plans to open another 2-3 branches this year. About 55,000 clients have opened accounts with Kim Eng and of these 42% are active. To cater for its expanding client base, Kim Eng increased its number of marketing officers by 24% from 496 at the end of 2004 to 615 at the end of 2005.
The internet trading service at Kim Eng continues to grow. In 2005, the company’s overall internet trading volumn was around 6 — 7 % of total trading volumn. The company was the leading brokerage in terms of market share for internet trading with 19.40% of the market’s total internet trading volume, a number 1 ranking compared with 2004’s company’s internet trading volume of 16.90 % against total market volume.
The company aims to expand its share of this business to 22% this year to meet popular demand for this type of trading activity. Also our clients can send trading orders or to have access to market information via other devices such as mobile phones, pocket pc and PDAs. In addition, we have improved and modernised our internet trading program called “KETrade” to have functions suitable to clients’ requirements.
Mr. Sittichai Mahaguna, Executive Vice President of the Investment Banking Dept., said that in 2005 the company was financial advisor and underwriter to 14 companies seeking a listing on the SET or MAI, and co-underwriter of another 14 companies, with a total offering value of more than Bt17,000 million. He said that the company earned income from investment banking of Bt182.38 million.
“As for this year, the company plans to list about 18 companies on the SET and MAI and the expected mobilisation amount will be no less than Bt20,000 million,” said Mr Sittichai. “In the middle of February, the company expects to offer shares of BMCL which will mobilise more than Bt5,000 million. Shares of BMCL are expected to create bullish sentiment for fund mobilisation in the stock market this year because it is a large size infrastructure stock which has garnered a lot of interest from institutional clients. Some of the shares are expected to be allocated to the general public and the offering date will be set later.” He said that other new stocks seeking a listing in 2006 are spread throughout various industries including telecommunications, real estate, securities, finance, petrochemicals, food and beverages, technology and printing media.
Corporate Communications Department,
Kim Eng Securities (Thailand) Plc.
Tel. 02-658-6300 ext : 7401 — 7403, 5180 End.