Alliances with other investors in key markets in several provinces will be established for its wholesale business, president Pakorn Borimasporn told reporters yesterday.

The firm will also broaden its distribution channels in Vietnam, the Middle East, the United States and Asia.

The company is a manufacturer and distributor of a complete range of lighting products for domestic and international clients, as well as offering lighting design and providing recommendations for lighting applications.

Lighting & Equipment's net profit last year rose by 49 per cent from Bt62.5 million to Bt92.9 million, driven by cost-control efficiency, higher sales and better gross profit margin.

Its gross margin profit increased 26 per cent in 2005 and 30 per cent last year. "The sales increase in 2006 is generally the result of sales growth in projects such as department stores, showrooms, retail stores, hotels, resorts and condominiums, as well as the increased customer base in wholesale and retail networks," he said.

The company is to pay a dividend in cash and stock to shareholders.

"The stock dividend can help raise the company's stock trading liquidity and we will get fresh funds from the warrant conversion for business expansion," said Pakorn.

Lighting & Equipment yesterday announced it would pay an annual dividend of Bt0.37 per share plus a stock dividend at a ratio of three existing shares for two new ones, and one free warrant for each three shares held.

Following the share allocation, registered capital will increase from Bt137.5 million to Bt305.56 million. Of the total 33.61 million newly issued shares, 18.33 million will be for stock dividends, the rest for warrant conversion.

Pakorn estimated that his firm's debt-to-equity ratio would fall from 1.97 times to 0.9 times after the warrants are exercised in 2009.