Central Retail Corporation Public Company Limited (SET: CRC), a leading retailer and wholesaler in Thailand and Vietnam, reaffirmed its financial strength and institutional investor confidence with the successful issuance of its second bond offering of 2026, valued at THB 6 billion.
The offering attracted overwhelming interest from institutional investors, with total subscriptions reaching nearly THB 19 billion, representing 3.15 times the offering size. This strong response reflects investor confidence in Central Retail’s business potential, robust retail and wholesale ecosystem, and solid financial position as the company continues to pursue its “New Heights, Next Growth” strategy to drive sustained growth in Thailand and Vietnam.
Mr. Suthisarn Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Central Retail Corporation Public Company Limited (CRC), stated, “Central Retail is advancing its business under the ‘New Heights, Next Growth’ strategy to enhance competitiveness and lay the foundation for stable, long-term growth, with Thailand and Vietnam as our two key strategic markets. We continue to build on the strengths of the CRC Ecosystem, which spans four core business segments: Food, Fashion, Hardline, and Property.
By harnessing the collective capabilities of all our business segments, we aim to improve operational efficiency, unlock new business opportunities, and respond to consumers’ evolving needs, in line with our vision of ‘Retail and Wholesale for All’. The success of both bond offerings this year further underscores investors’ confidence in Central Retail’s strategic direction, strong business fundamentals, and ability to deliver sustainable, high-quality growth over the long term.”
Mr. Panet Mahankanurak, Chief Financial Officer of Central Retail Corporation Public Company Limited (CRC), said, “Our second bond offering of 2026 comprises zero-coupon bonds totaling THB 6 billion, issued in three tranches: a tranche with a tenor of 1 year, 11 months and 30 days at an annual discount rate of 1.58%; a tranche with a tenor of 2 years, 11 months and 29 days at an annual discount rate of 1.76%; and a tranche with a tenor of 3 years, 11 months and 28 days at an annual discount rate of 1.99%.
The bonds have been assigned an AA- credit rating with a Stable outlook by TRIS Rating in line with CRC’s corporate credit rating, which is the highest rating in the retail sector. This recognition highlights our financial management capabilities and continued ability to maintain a solid financial position.”
CRC plans to use the proceeds from this bond offering to repay maturing bonds, while optimizing its financing costs and capital structure in line with market conditions. The offering will also help diversify funding sources and manage risks arising from future interest rate fluctuations. CRC aims to increase the proportion of fixed-rate debt and extend the average maturity of its debt to enhance financing cost predictability and maintain a well-balanced debt repayment schedule. At the same time, the company remains committed to maintaining financial discipline and enhancing operational flexibility to support long-term growth opportunities.
In addition, Central Retail continues to earn recognition from the capital markets community, securing three major awards at the 2026 IAA Awards, organized by the Investment Analysts Association: Best CEO, Best CFO, and Best IR in the Commerce sector. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Central Retail has been recognized at the awards, reflecting its strong management capabilities, financial expertise, and excellence in investor relations, while further reinforcing investor confidence in CRC’s management approach and corporate governance.
“On behalf of Central Retail, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all institutional investors for their trust and confidence in the company’s bonds, as well as to our bond underwriters – Bangkok Bank, Bank of Ayudhya, and Kasikornbank – for their important contributions to the success of this bond offering. CRC remains committed to prudent capital structure management and maintaining financial stability to create long-term value for shareholders, investors, and all stakeholders,” Mr. Suthisarn concluded.
