New chief of Lawson 108 to reach out to more Thais

Koichi Hirose said he plans to improve the quality of customer service and modernise Lawson 108 stores next year in order to accommodate customers’ growing demands.
The new MD said he would also pursue the company’s ambitious goal to open 100 Lawson 108 stores by the end of this year and increase the number to 500 by 2020 as planned.

WORKING CAPITAL 
Leading lime company Chememan plans IPO

A fully integrated producer of lime and lime-related products, Chememan, has filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch an initial public offering of 280 million ordinary shares in the Stock Exchange of Thailand. It has appointed Tisco Bank as financial adviser for the IPO.
The proceeds from the IPO will be spent on business expansion, repaying bank loan, and for revolving capital. The company has a registered capital of Bt1 billion of which Bt720 million is issued and paid-up capital.
Chememan chief executive officer Adisak Lowjun said the company is recognised as a leader in the lime industry in Asia. 
Its installed lime production capacity as of June this year was 800,000 tonnes per year from its three plants in Thailand – two in Saraburi and one in Rayong.
The company exports lime to more than 20 countries. It has a distribution centre in Australia.

UPTREND 
Thong Lor-Asoke area sees rise in land prices 

Land price in the Thong Lor to Asoke area has risen during the past seven years, according to Nexus Property Marketing.
Most of the land plots transacted in this location were developed as residential projects, including condominium and rental residences such as serviced apartments or hotels. This location is seen as one of the most stylish lifestyle locations for people in Bangkok, a factor that has boosted the prices of residences.
Nalinrat Chareonsuphong, the managing director of Nexus Property Marketing Co Ltd, said land prices in the Asoke to Thong Lor area had risen consistently, increasing on average 19 per cent a year during the past seven years, from around Bt350,000 per square wah to Bt1.01 million per square wah. 
The upward price trend will continue over the next two years, with an estimated increase of at least 10 per cent per year.