Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission extends filing exemption for treasury stock disposals under ESOPs by up to two years

The Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission has amended the exemption from filing registration statements and draft prospectuses when listed companies dispose of repurchased shares, or treasury stocks, to directors and employees under employee stock option programs. The change aligns the securities filing exemption with the amended ministerial rules on share repurchases and allows companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand to seek more time to dispose of repurchased shares under ESOPs. Under the new notification, effective 16 July 2026, an eligible listed company may apply to extend the disposal period by up to two years. The extension is available if the company cannot dispose of the shares within the original period, with the original disposal window not exceeding three years from completion of the repurchase, if the weighted average market price over the three months before the board resolves to call a shareholders meeting is below the average repurchase price, and if shareholders approve the extension before the original disposal period expires. The SEC also issued a circular clarifying the amended criteria to support consistent interpretation among stakeholders.