Bangkok--26 Sep--SET Yesterday (September 24), The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)’s Board of Governors (BoG) extended its deadline for the special listing procedures by another year, so that companies can benefit from tax privileges which are now available for a prolonged period, SET Executive Vice President and BoG Secretary Suthichai Chitvanich said. Under the extended tax privilege program, stipulated in the Royal Decree Regarding Reduction Revenue Taxes dated October 6 2008, companies that have filed for listing on SET or Market for Alternative Investment (mai) in 2008, and can commence trading by 2009, will receive a 5% discount on their corporate income tax for three accounting cycles in the case of a SET listing and a 10% discount for a mai listing. “The one-year extension is to enable firms planning to list on the stock market, but not quite ready to do so, time to commence trading by December 31, 2009 and be eligible for state-initiated tax incentives,” Mr. Suthichai said. Under the special listing procedures, an organization must have ”public company limited” status or be a company limited that has received its Board of Directors’ consent to become a public entity. It must also be assessed by a financial advisor who deems that the firm would be able to meet the listing requirements by December 31, 2009. In addition, the SET Board reviewed the listing regulations for mai-listed companies. In case the company increase its paid up capital and end up with a paid up capital of at least THB 300 million, such a firm shall have the SET listing status but its stocks are still being traded on mai. The revised rules apply the present concept for new listing companies to the already-listed entities that eligible for tax benefit. The Securities and Exchange Commission is currently considering the relevant amended regulations for approval. For more information, please contact the Corporate Communications Dept.: Ladawan Kantawong Tel: 0-2229-2036 / Sarinluck Jitkawong Tel: 0-2229-2037 / Watsamon Saowakhonsathien Tel: 0-2229-2797