Thai Express owner plans 40b baht investment in hotels, fast food over 5 years

Bangkok

THAILAND'S Minor International - which owns the Thai Express restaurant chain in Singapore - plans to invest 40 billion baht (S$1.57 billion) over the next five years in a major expansion of its hotel and fast-food chain businesses at home and overseas, a senior executive said on Wednesday.

Chaiyapat Paitoon, vice-president for strategic planning, said more than half of that overall sum will be used to build up existing operations, with about 14-15 billion baht set aside for acquisitions. The company will use internal cash and debt financing to fund the investment, he sai…