Market for Alternative Investment (mai), under the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) group will launch a plan to enhance listed company’s quality toward sustainability, covering investor relations (IR) function, CG knowledge and sustainable development. In addition, mai has launched Corporate Sustainability Advisory Program by inviting five outstanding mai-listed companies in quality development to share their business direction and strategy.
mai President Prapan Charoenprawatt said one of mai’s missions was to upgrade quality among mai-listed companies toward sustainability. It was evident that listed companies that practiced good corporate governance, enhanced strategic capabilities and contributed to business and society, were more attractive to global investors on investment decision-making, as demonstrated by the popularity of environmental, social and governance (ESG) index such as DJSI, MSCI World ESG Index.
“To become a sustainable firm, the size of business does not matter. What matters is the recognition of significant sustainable development in operation among executives and staff,” Prapan added.
Mai has been promoting listed firms’ growth through various educational and investing tools, providing one-on-one consultant for each firm and creating business connection through its collaboration with MAI Listed Companies Association (maiA). To boost quality, mai will implement three areas: 1) development of IR functions through IR advisory and training programs 2) enhancement of CG knowledge and operation significance by providing one-on-one CG coaching for each company 3) promotion of listed company’s sustainable development through seminars, training and learning media.
The five mai-listed firms invited to share experiences, becoming role models, are Cho Thavee Dollasien pcl (CHO), G Capital pcl (GCAP), Project Planning Service pcl (PPS), QTC Energy pcl (QTC) and TV Direct pcl (TVD).
As of April 9, 2015, there were 113 companies listed on mai. The mai index closed at 714.57 points, rising 2.07 percent since the beginning of this year, with a total market capitalization of THB 427.56 billion (USD 12.96 billion) and average trading value of about THB 4.89 billion per day. The prices per earnings ratio (P/E ratio) were 76.48 times.
