Currently, the number of investors who are eligible for dividend payments has risen continuously from 458,536 in the year 2002 to 993,083 at the end of 2003, accounting for a 116.60% increase. Therefore, the TSD would like to invite investors to use the SMART program, which is more convenient and saves time. Investors will not have to worry about lost, damaged, or delayed checks, or not being able to receive a check because they forgot to notify the payer of an address change.
"Those who sign up for the SMART program will receive a letter notifying them of the dividend or interest payment transfer into their bank accounts and the tax deduction form as evidence. Investors will simply be deducted 10 baht for every transaction, which is cheaper than the costs associated with cashing a check," Mrs. Nongram noted.
Mrs. Nongram went on to say, "shareholders in the provinces will greatly benefit from this program because they can save 20-50 baht on transaction fees for cashing out-of-province checks. If they sign up for SMART, they will simply have to pay 10 baht for each transaction and they can receive the dividend payment on the day it is paid out, instead of waiting 5-7 days for the dividend check to arrive and clear."
To attract investors to this service, the TSD will be setting up booths and recruiting investors as well as giving out souvenirs at securities companies in Bangkok and at shareholders' meetings of listed companies during April and May. Interested investors simply have to bring a copy of their identification card and bank book and sign up at one of these booths. Every applicant will be eligible for a lucky draw to win a free 1-year subscription to Money & Wealth magazine.
Interested investors can apply for the program at the Thailand Securities Depository counter on the fourth floor of The Stock Exchange of Thailand Building on Rachadapisek Road. They can also apply via mail by downloading the application form from www.tsd.co.th or receiving a copy of the application form from the Thailand Securities Depository and sending it back, along with a copy of their identification card and bank book, to the Thailand Securities Depository, 62 Rachadapisek Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 or by sending it via the listed company in which they hold shares.
Mrs. Nongram added, "apart from recruiting investors, the TSD will recruit more listed companies to join in the scheme. Currently, 154 listed companies, which have 181 securities trading on the capital markets, have signed up for the program. Listed companies can benefit from the scheme as well because they can lower costs in issuing dividend checks to shareholders and can improve convenience for their shareholders." Those interested in the SMART program can check the names of listed companies which have signed up for the program, along with other information, at www.tsd.co.th, call the TSD Call Center at 02 229 2888 or e-mail us at contact.tsd@set.or.th
