Business
A 99% Stock Crash Rings Alarms in Thailand Over STARK Corp
Stark Corp. appeared to be a Thai business success story just a year ago. The roughly $2 billion electrical wire manufacturer, backed by a successful local businessman, was a ruthless acquirer making its first significant foray outside of Asia.
The second-largest economy in Southeast Asia now has Stark Corp as one of its top financial concerns. The company, which is embroiled in an accounting issue, has lost 99% of its market value and has defaulted on part of its liabilities totaling 39 billion baht ($1.1 billion).
Money managers have stayed away from bonds issued by lower-rated Thai corporations as concerns about the company’s viability have grown, and the country’s finance minister has urged regulators to restore market confidence.
The incident has drawn more attention to Thailand’s unreported financial dangers at a time when investors are uneasy about a political standstill following the general election last month. The benchmark market index for the nation has decreased by around 10% this year, reaching lows last seen in 2021, and foreign investors have removed more than $3 billion from Thai stocks.
“Stark’s incident undoubtedly had an effect on investors’ confidence as they are now taking very cautious investment decisions,” said one analyst. According to investor and Thai Value Investor Club founder Niwes Hemvachiravarakorn, “They are less certain about which companies have good or bad governance. One of the greatest accounting companies in the world was auditing Stark, yet the auditors failed to spot the discrepancies prior to their implosion.
Stark was first established in 1990 as Siam Inter Multimedia Pcl, a publisher and distributor of comic books. About a year after Vonnarat Tangkaravakoon, a businessman from one of Thailand’s wealthiest families, acquired majority control of the company, it changed its name to Stark Corp. Pcl. According to information gathered by Bloomberg, Vonnarat held a 45% stake in Stark as of October.
By purchasing cable manufacturer Phelps Dodge International (Thailand) Ltd., formerly the Thai operations of US-based Phelps Dodge International, Vonnarat converted the media and publishing company into a producer of electrical wires and components.
He is the 51-year-old oldest child of Prachak Tangkaravakoon, who established TOA Paint Pcl, the biggest paint manufacturer in Thailand. From 1998 until his retirement this month, Vonnarat served as executive director of Toa. According to TOA’s website, he also owned 9% of the corporation, despite the fact that the latter’s management and investment activities are not acknowledged by TOA.
Stark continued to see rapid growth under Vonnarat through acquisitions, including industrial product companies in Vietnam. It launched its first significant international expansion in May of last year when it agreed to pay €560 million to acquire German automotive cable solutions manufacturer Leoni Business Group Automotive Cable Solutions. He hasn’t responded to Bloomberg’s questions for his Stark representative.
When Stark revealed that it was pulling out of the Leoni acquisition in December, most investors saw that as the first hint of problems. While the business said it planned to use the 5.58 billion baht it raised from investors like Credit Suisse and HSBC Holdings Plc to finance the transaction for other uses, it did so. In exchange, Leoni AG and Leoni Bordnetz-Systeme GmbH sought €608 million in damages.
Its CEO abruptly left the company in February, citing personal reasons. Later that month, claiming “some information” that its auditor was reviewing, the company announced it would miss the March 1 deadline for publishing its financial statement. The company’s Chairman Chanin Yensudchai and other board members soon resigned after the shares were halted.
By the time Stark requested its investors to forego another delay of its financial statement in late May, mistrust was at an all-time high. The principal and interest on two bonds totaling 2.24 billion baht were demanded right away by the investors. On June 1, the first day of trade after more than two months of suspension, Stark’s shares fell 92%. Cross defaults on the company’s other bonds and loans were also a result of it.
On June 16, Stark eventually released its financial accounts, which revealed a net loss of 6.61 billion baht for 2022 following a restated 5.97 billion baht loss for 2021. This was when the majority of investors first learnt the full depth of Stark’s issues. The business stated it found “multiple errors” in earlier announcements after initially estimating a profit of 2.78 billion baht for 2021. In addition, it provided information on a special audit carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers that uncovered many anomalies.
202 “unusual sale transactions” totaling 8 billion baht in 2022 and 3.59 billion baht in 2021 were among the findings. Included in them were fictitious “payer names and payments on behalf of customers from accounts of the company’s former officers.”
Stark’s financial difficulties were made worse on Tuesday when the holders of three additional series of bonds with 2024–2025 maturities totaling 6.95 billion baht demanded immediate payment. By July 20, they want the business to pay the principal and interest. On June 1, Adisorn Songkhla Co., a subsidiary of Stark, also fell behind on three notes totaling 127 million baht.
Stark’s stock worth has been reduced to only $11 million from its peak of over $1.7 billion last year as a result of the near-zero share price decline. Last Thursday, Stark said that there were concerns “about the Group’s going concern.”
At the end of the year, Stark had liabilities of roughly 39 billion baht, the majority of which were bonds, loans, and trade credit. Due to the fact that liabilities outweighed assets, it also had negative shareholder equity of 4.4 billion baht.
The problems at Stark were the result of bad governance, according to Somjin Sornpaisarn, president of the Thai Bond Market Association, who announced this on Thursday.
The worst default since state-controlled Thai Airways International Pcl filed for debt restructuring in 2020, however, has sparked worries about the market as a whole, particularly in regard to riskier Thai bonds. According to TBMA, investors are currently avoiding riskier bond transactions due to concerns that the issuers may not be able to make repayments. Since Stark’s default notification on June 1, a number of organisations with ratings below investment-grade or without assessed creditability have missed bond-sale goals.
Regulators are working to maintain market trust.
The Securities & Exchange Commission has mandated a special audit by Stark. The Stock Exchange of Thailand intends to impose stricter regulations on businesses looking to list indirectly, like Stark did in 2019 by using Siam Inter Multimedia. The exchange may also issue more warnings in cases where a company’s financial performance is declining, such as when losses continue, or when auditors express doubts regarding financial statements.
Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith met with the authorities on Thursday to request quick investigations. Additionally, he stated that individuals who are discovered to have broken the law must face prosecution.
According to a filing by Stark on Friday, the Department of Special Investigation has agreed to look into workers who may have been responsible for the irregularities uncovered during the audit.
Meanwhile, Stark is preparing for more pressure from creditors. Asia Plus Securities Pcl, who represents bondholders for notes with a 3.93 billion baht principal due in 2024, stated that it will take legal action if Stark doesn’t make the payment before the deadline.
Stark stated on Wednesday that it was thinking about entering into negotiations to find a resolution and warned that further financial creditors would attempt to hasten repayment.

Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.
This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.
Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.
Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.
The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.
Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.
Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.
The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.
Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.
Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.
Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.
Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.
Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”
Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.
The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.
Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.
The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.
Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”
Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.
The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.
Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.
The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:
SOURCE: CNBC
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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.
This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.
For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.
This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.
Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”
This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.
This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.
Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.
Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.
Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.
This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.
It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.
Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”
This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.
We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.
Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.
SOURCE: THBL
SEE ALSO:
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
States Sue TikTok, Claiming Its Platform Is Addictive And Harms The Mental Health Of Children
Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight
Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.
According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
SOURCE | AP
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