Thai Life Group expands empire: New ventures include retail bank, distillery.

Byline: Charoen Kittikanya

Oct. 31--The holding company of Thai Life Insurance, the country's second largest life insurer, plans to invest over one billion baht over the next few years to expand its business empire into retail banking, glass bottles and liquor.

"Over the next two years, you will see Thai Life engage in more than just insurance and beer. We will have our own bank, own bottle production facility and liquor distillery, and more [businesses] to fill up what we lack," said Chai Chaiyawan, the president of Thai Life Group.

With assets of 70.44 billion baht, Thai Life Group's business empire now includes insurance operations (Thai Life …