CRC: Strengthening Online Platform

Central Retail Corporation Public Company Limited (CRC) had become a sensation among investors just the beginning of this year after taking over Robinson Public Company Limited (ROBINS) in order to restructure the company’s retail business.

This time CRC has acquired another company, COL Public Company Limited (COL).

COL was originally a OfficeMate Public Company Limited (OFM) before entering into merger with an office supplies solution provider namely Office Depot and a stationery store namely B2S (of Central Group).

OFM or “OfficeMate” founded in 1994 by “Worawoot Ounjai”…a pioneer of stationery and office equipment business through catalogue and E-Procurement system, starting from a small office to be listed on mai.

COL is actually under Central Group as Hold Col Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the company, holds 35.27% in COL and to increase its voting right, CRC decided to invest additional 12,000 million baht through its subsidiary PBHD Ltd., to acquire COL by means of a tender offer for all securities of COL at an offering price of ฿19.00 per share.

On the face of it…this deal looks to be a normal company restructure, but if looked profoundly, we could see a hidden strategy.

It seems CRC wants to expand business opportunities in online platforms due to the change of consumer behavior nowadays with an expertise in E-Procurement system of COL. Moreover CRC will have an alternative distribution channel and goods apart fmo SuperSports, Power Buy and Thaiwatsadu.

The deal was expected to complete within 1Q21 as the analyst estimated a 5% increase to CRC’s revenue and 10% increase to the net profit.