The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) will list KTAM SET Commerce ETF Tracker, managed by Krung Thai Asset
Management pcl, on its main board on June 11, under the ticker "ECOMM". The fund’s policy allows for dividend payments of up to 4 times per year.
Kesara Manchusree, a SET Executive Vice President and Head of the Markets Division, said: “ECOMM, an open-end exchange-traded fund (ETF), will track the performance of the SET Commerce Sector Index, which has achieved higher growth rates than other sectors since last year. At present, apart from ECOMM, investors can enjoy purchasing units in a variety of KTAM ETFs, such as EBANK, tracking the SET Banking Sector Index; ENY, following the SET Energy and Utilities Index; or EFOOD, tracking the SET Food and Beverage Index.”
“The SET Commerce Sector Index, consisted of 16 securities related to wholesale and retail trade in Thailand, has an average daily trading volume of THB 4.5 billion (approx. USD 150 million), amounting to about 7 percent of total market value. Launching ECOMM will promote an alternative opportunity for investors. In 2012, the SET Commerce Sector Index increased 73.56 percent from the end of 2011, and in the first five months of 2013, this index rose 13.14 percent from the end of last year.”
Somchai Boonnamsiri, Chief Executive Officer of Krung Thai Asset Management pcl (KTAM) said: “During the fund’s IPO period on May 27-31, amid market volatility, KTAM successfully sold ECOMM units worth almost THB 200 million, with more than 700 investors subscribing for fund units (at THB 6.3869 per unit).”
“The success of ECOMM derives from investor confidence in KTAM management, as shown in the success of previous ETT series. Also, ETFs have gained more popularity among Thai investors because ETFs generally have lower costs than general mutual funds. Investors can conveniently purchase ECOMM through their trading accounts, like buying individual stocks. I believe that listing ECOMM on the Thai bourse will receive a positive response from both Thai and foreign investors, similarly to the case of the KTAM ETF series, including EBANK, ENY, and EFOOD. In addition, KTAM also plans to launch another sector ETF soon to increase product variety in order to serve investor demand and prepare for the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community.”
KT ZMICO Securities Co., Ltd. and Asia Plus Securities pcl are participating dealers, while Asia Plus Securities pcl is also the market maker. Thailand Securities Depository Co., Ltd. is registrar for ECOMM.