--Siam Cement plans to spend THB200 billion on M&A over five
years through 2017
--Siam Cement said more than half of the five-year investment
spending is in Asean
(Adds context, details and background throughout)
By Oranan Paweewun
BANGKOK--Siam Cement PCL (SCC.TH) plans to spend big buying up
Asean-based petrochemical, cement and construction-materials
companies as it eyes opportunities in the introduction of the
region's common market in 2015, it said Thursday.
It has a 200 billion baht ($6.33 billion) kitty for 2013 to 2017
and more than half of that is tagged for spending in Association of
Southeast Asia Nations, President and Chief Executive Kan
Trakulhoon revealed Thursday.
The five-year investment budget for 2013-2017 is to be submitted
for board approval in August, Mr. Kan told reporters on the
sidelines of a business seminar. Merger-and-acquisition focus will
be on petrochemical, cement and building-materials companies, he
added.
Siam Cement is talking to several companies in Europe about
acquisitions, he said.
"The European crisis presents an opportunity for us in acquiring
sound companies" at inexpensive prices, Mr. Kan. said.
Write to Oranan Paweewun at oranan.paweewun@dowjones.com
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