Platinum Mall parent in IPO

Platinum Group, the parent of the popular Platinum wholesale fashion mall  in Bangkok’s downtown Pratunam district, is to launch an IPO.

The group plans to raise 8 billion baht (US$247 million) through the issue of 700 million new shares. A book-building process is underway this week, which will be followed by a distribution in mid-March.

Platinum Group president Somboon Wongrasamee says the company plans to use the funds to refinance a new project The Market by Platinum, under construction in Ratchadamri and scheduled to open in 2017. Three times the size of Platinum Mall, the centre is expected to boost the group’s income by 1 billion baht ($31 million) annually when complete.

Further funds will be dedicated to construction of a skywalk connecting the luxury Gaysorn shopping centre with Platinum Mall and construction of a hotel in Koh Samui.

Wongrasamee says the mall had a unique place in Thailand’s retail landscape as it attracted both local consumers and tourists.

“There are not many wholesale operators in Thailand, so the company will expand to upcountry branches to take advantage of long-term market growth opportunities,” he told the Bangkok Post in a recent interview.