Bangkok--27 Jul--SET The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and Money and Banking Magazine will host SET Awards 2008 to reward listed, securities and investment management companies which have excelled in operational performance, management, corporate governance and responsible business practices. SET and Money and Banking Magazine have been conducting the event since 2003. “SET Awards has been successful and become a source of pride for capital market organizations by rewarding dedication to service and operational excellence. High standards at company-level lead to higher industry and overall market quality,” SET President Ms. Patareeya Benjapolchai said. Although the event has been going for some years, the 2008 occasion is expected to very special, as firms have more information on judging and more time to prepare. The competition’s criteria are now broader, applicable to both large and small companies listed on either SET or mai (Market for Alternative Investment), Money and Banking Magazine Editor Mr. Santi Viriyarungsarit stated. Thai Rating and Information Services Co., Ltd., a recognized impartial intellectual organization, will undertake the initial short-listing and forward nominations to a panel of judges. The panel is made up of five recognized finance industry experts - Dr. Panas Simasathien, Dr. Maruey Phadoongsidhi, Mr. Seri Chintanaseri, Mr. Santi Viriyarangsarit and Ms. Patareeya Benjapolchai. Judges from SET’s Corporate Governance Center advisory group, IR Club committee, and CSR Institute advisors will decide the corporate governance and responsible business awards. SET Awards 2008 will be a prestigious event for the industry and recipients should take pride in this public recognition, Judges Panel Chairman Dr. Panas Simasathien said. The award groups and categories are as follows: Group 1: Eight awards in four categories for listed firms, securities firms, and asset management firms: Best Performance Awards categorized by market capitalization at year-end: - Big-cap. firms with THB 10 billion market cap. and above - Medium-cap. firms between THB 2.5 billion and THB 10 billion market cap. - Small-cap. firms with less than THB 2.5 billion market cap. - Listed firms on mai Best CEO Awards for the CEO’s of SET- and mai-listed companies displaying integrity, ethics, good governance, social responsibility, good investor relations and vision in managing their organizations; Best Securities Company Award for the securities company providing outstanding brokerage service and researching a diverse group of securities; Best Asset Management Company Award for an investment management company producing the highest composite relative risk-adjusted return. Group 2: Eighteen awards in three categories for listed firms: Top Corporate Governance Report Awards for 10 SET-listed companies and a mai-listed firm; Corporate Social Responsibility Awards for three outstanding companies displaying responsibility towards stakeholders, society and the environment; IR Excellence Awards for four listed firms conducting outstanding investor relations (IR) activities. For more information, please contact the Corporate Communications Dept.: Ladawan Kantawong Tel: 0-2229-2036 / Sarinluck Jitkawong Tel: 0-2229-2037 / Nattaporn Boonprapa Tel: 0-2229-2049 / Watsamon Saowakhonsathien Tel: 0-2229-2797