Kantana Group Announces Investment by Lombard

Kantana Group Announces Investment by Lombard

BANGKOK, Thailand, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Kantana Group Public Company Limited ("Kantana"), Thailand's only fully integrated TV and film company, is pleased to announce an US$11.25 million (Baht 450 million) investment in Kantana by Lombard's Thailand Equity Fund in December 2005.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060103/SFTU098-ahttp://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060103/SFTU098-b )

Founded in 1951, Kantana initially produced radio programs. Soon thereafter, the Company branched out into television broadcasting, feature films and post-production services, including production studios, film labs, sound studio, hi-end post production and digital intermediate. Over the years, Kantana has earned numerous accolades and local entertainment industry awards for its achievements in program production. Kantana now offers its local and overseas customers, who include recognized producers from Hollywood and Asia, "One-Stop-Shop" production services. Its post-production business boasts a strategic alliance with Deluxe Laboratories. Kantana also works closely with global industry players, including Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Sony Pictures, Columbia Tristar, and Lake Shore Entertainment.

Mr. Jaruek Kaljaruek, Chairman of the Executive Committee, said, "Kantana is delighted to have Lombard as our long-term financial partner. Through the Fund's representation on the Company's Board of Directors, we look forward to many years of close cooperation and support for growth, especially with our international client base."

The Thailand Equity Fund is a US$245 million private equity fund sponsored by Lombard Investments, Inc., headquartered in San Francisco, and the International Finance Corporation ("IFC"), part of the World Bank Group. The fund was formed with the support of the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand in order to make private equity investments in operationally competitive Thai businesses. Investors in the fund include the IFC, California Public Employees' Retirement System ("CalPERS"), Asian Development Bank, DEG (a member of Germany's KfW Group), the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Thailand, and thirteen leading Thai banks and other institutions.

More information is available by visiting www.lombardinvestments.com or by contacting:

Mr. Thomas Smith
Managing Director
Email: tsmith@lombardinvestments.com

or

Mr. Pote Videt
Managing Director
Email: pote@privateequitythai.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060103/SFTU098-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060103/SFTU098-b
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Lombard Investments

CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Smith, Managing Director,
tsmith@lombardinvestments.com, or Mr. Pote Videt, Managing Director,
pote@privateequitythai.com, both of Lombard Investments

Web site: http://www.lombardinvestments.com/

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