Bangkok--11 Mar--SET The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) will provide a subsidy for companies which have lodged initial public offering (IPO) information and draft prospectuses with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) between April and June. This will be an incentive for firms, particularly those 107 companies which have already submitted their listing applications, to complete the process by end-2008. The offer will also stimulate share distribution to new investors and prevent potential bottlenecks in listing at year-end. SET will give a THB 100,000 — 300,000 subsidy to these firms, provided they have commenced trading on SET or Market for Alternative Investment (mai) by end-2008. Eligible companies should have lodged initial public offering (IPO) information and draft prospectuses with the SEC between April and June, and commence trading by end-2008, SET President Patareeya Benjapolchai said. Qualified firms include those 107 companies which have already submitted their listing applications, as well as other potential listings which can complete the process in 2008. Companies may receive a THB 300,000 subsidy if they have filed their applications with SEC by April, THB 200,000 by May and THB 100,000 by June. Furthermore, to increase the number of new investors, to be qualified for the subsidy, the firms must include new investors who have never had a trading account as shareholders, holding at least a board lot (100 shares). Listing on SET requires a minimum of 300 new investors and on mai at least 100. “The incentive should prevent potential bottlenecks in listing at year-end,” Ms. Patareeya said. For more information, please visit www.set.or.th or www.mai.or.th or call SET Call Center 0-2229-2222. 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