The Thai Beverage company is to discuss its proposals to become listed
on the country’s bourse with the leaders of religious and civil society
protest groups, which say that the company going public will exacerbate
an already serious alcoholism problem.
Thousands of people have already taken part in street demonstrations
against the planned listing. As a result of the controversy the
Securities and Exchange Commission has postponed meetings to decide on
the listing several times.
If the company, which makes the popular Beer Chang, goes ahead with its
listing, the public offering is likely to be Thailand’s largest by a
private company. The sale of seven billion shares would raise Thai
Beverage’s registered capital by about a third to 29billion baht
($700m, £410m).
