SEC Opens Hearing on Major Shareholders to Strengthen Market Standards

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) opened a public hearing on July 17, 2026, on draft regulations to upgrade standards for major shareholders of securities firms, derivatives traders, and digital asset businesses, aiming to ensure major shareholders meet appropriate qualifications and boost confidence in Thailand's capital market. The SEC previously refined principles regarding prohibitions for business operators and conducted consultations from April to May 2026, with most stakeholders supporting the proposed framework. The SEC has now prepared three draft announcements with key points including: (1) standardizing major shareholder prohibitions across all business types to address current risks, such as expanding the scope of money laundering violations and financial support for terrorism and weapons proliferation both domestically and internationally, while covering cross-sector risks under SEC oversight; (2) establishing uniform standards for assessing the severity of major shareholder conduct across all business types; and (3) providing a 90-day transition period from the announcement's effective date for businesses and major shareholders to prepare for compliance. Stakeholders and interested parties may submit comments via the SEC website (https://www.sec.or.th/TH/Pages/PB_Detail.aspx?SECID=1189) or the central legal system (https://law.go.th/listeningDetail?survey_id=NzY3MERHQV9MQVdfRlJPTlRFTkQ=), with email submissions accepted until August 16, 2026.