Bangkok, August 26, 2014 ? The SEC supports commercial banks and their subsidiaries to expand their businesses in relation to new capital market products by taking roles of financial advisors, issuers, selling agents and investors. Their participation will be vital to enhance linkages between the Thai and global capital markets and thus uplift Thai capital market development.

SEC Secretary-General Vorapol Socatiyanurak said after the second 2014 semi-annual meeting with top executives of the Thai Bankers? Association (TBA) and the Association of International Banks (AIB) that the SEC informed the meeting of capital market product development; including foreign companies? initial public offerings in Thailand (primary listing), foreign companies? secondary listing, depositary receipt (DR), private equity trust and ASEAN CIS. Therefore, banks and their subsidiaries could seek business opportunities and expand customer base from providing financial advisory services or becoming DR issuers.

Moreover, considering the potential of banks and their subsidiaries to provide selling agent services for ASEAN CIS, the SEC has coordinated with the Bank of Thailand to allow the banks licensed to undertake Limited Brokerage Dealing Underwriting (LBDU) to provide the said services in a bid to facilitate access to investment in foreign products for the investors. In this regard, offering of ASEAN CIS will be permitted as from August 15, 2014.

?The global linkages in financial markets bring about challenges for private sector to seek new business alliances and income sources. The SEC facilitates issuance of new financial products to support linkages between the Thai and global capital markets which has also widen business opportunities for the banks and help strengthen the country?s financial market,? Mr. Vorapol added.