Thailand Legal News
Citigroup to exit retail banking in most countries in Asia
- Despite the rising economy in most Asian countries, Citigroup plans to move from its retail banking operations, because it cannot expand to the scale required to compete in these markets. Therefore, Citigroup had chosen the bidders to take over its retail banking business in several Asian countries (the deals totaling approx. US$ 3 Billion.). Some of the bid winners are as shown in the diagram below:
DTAC-True has unveiled a THB 2.5 Billion merger plan
On 22 November 2021, the two mobile companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to form a new company, whereby True will hold approx. 50% of shares. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) expressed concern on this merger, that while it is not illegal under the law, it may violate NBTC’s supervisory regulations if such merger reduces competition in a telecommunications sector or results in market concentration.
Cabinet Resolutions
23 November 2021
Draft Amendment to Min. Reg. issued under the Exchange Control Act:
- The Cabinet agreed in principle to amend the classification, scope, qualification, and conditions for business involving foreign means of payment, by revising Ministerial Regulation No.13 B.E. 2497. For example, businesses deal with foreign forms of payment can now register their operations, as an alternative to requesting permission. Furthermore, the permit granted for such business can be used for the head office and all branches, in the form of “one-to-many.” Besides, the person requesting for permission must be a juristic person. So a natural person can no longer operate this business after 3 years from the effective date of this legislation. In order to comply with international standards, the managing director and a major shareholder must have never been imprisoned for doing business with foreign means of payment without obtaining a permit or registration.
https://www.thaigov.go.th/news/contents/details/48600 (item no.6)
30 November 2021
Legislative proposal to develop Thailand’s carbon market:
- The Strategic Transformation Office (STO) suggested to the Cabinet to implement legal and tax measures to minimise greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere. The Thai carbon market is currently based on the entrepreneur’s willingness to participate (not compulsory). However, the EU’s cap and trade system may be adopted to “cap” the total amount of GHG that can be emitted and create a market for the sale and purchase of rights to lawfully release GHG in each year, with the allocation process taking place either free of charge or through an auction.
https://www.thaigov.go.th/news/contents/details/48878 (item no.30)
Government Gazette
2022. This is considered one of the government’s strategies to tackle the new Omicron variant that has recently spread in Thailand.
https://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2564/E/293/T_0063.PDF
Revocation of Bitcoin Co., Ltd.’s Digital Business Licenses:
- The Ministry of Finance has cancelled the company’s business licenses for digital asset exchange of cryptocurrency and digital token, due to its violations by reducing capital below the SEC’s required minimum paid-up capital, and ceasing to operate and abandoning the company for more than 15 days, which is a violation against the suspension period of time prescribed in the Digital Businesses Act B.E. 2561.
https://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2564/E/293/T_0102.PDF
