LOCAL beverage company Loi Hein is set to offer foreign investment packages through its football club, Mandalay-based Yadanarbon FC, according to the company’s CEO and president, Dr Sai Sam Htun.

The company is now seeking small groups of investors each willing to invest about US$100,000 in a “trust fund” that will purchase foreign stocks to “take advantage of the current opportunity” presented by the global financial crisis.

“My perception is this is the right time to go into the stock market. This kind of chance comes maybe once in 30 years. ... We can’t predict the shape of the recovery, but [the global economy] will recover,” Dr Sai Sam Htun said.

The principal will be guaranteed by Loi Hein, a multi-million dollar company that owns the Alpine, Shark and Mandalay Beer brands, and managed by a committee that will decide when to sell the stock. Investors will receive a monthly dividend of 1 percent, which will then be deducted from the profits, he said.

“After we have sold it and finished the deal, we will deduct the 1pc monthly payments, the 3pc insurance and the foreign exchange costs from the profits. Then we will clear the profits straight away to the shareholder.”

“We hope to show the authorities as well as the public that we can organise this kind of financing and make profit for people and create income – that is our main intention and vision.”

The investment packages are offered through Yadanarbon FC and have the approval of the Myanmar Football Federation.

“We want to take advantage of the interest in the football club and the funds available in Mandalay Division. A lot of people in Mandalay are used to the traditional way of doing business – and the traditional way alone,” he said.

“The concept that we are offering right now is very modern and based on honesty and transparency – they are the rules of the game and things that are rather scarce in Myanmar.”