Thaksin still wants to buy Man City: lawyer
The Assets Examination Committee's order to freeze the assets of exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would affect his bid for English football club Manchester City but he still wanted to buy the club, his lawyer Noppadon Pattama said yesterday.
However, the English Premier League club has asked whether Thaksin really has the means to buy. "Thaksin will tell them he still intends to buy," Noppadon said. "Thaksin doesn't want politicians to mock him and accuse him of just wanting to put himself in the spotlight." Most of Thaksin's and his family's assets were frozen by the AEC on Monday, raising doubts about his ability to fund the takeover. The deal would cost about 100 million pounds, or Bt6.8 billion. Noppadon said Thaksin had officially submitted the bid to the London stock market. He believed the club would understand Thaksin's situation, so the deadline should be flexible. Manchester City said in a statement on Monday night it was talking to Thaksin's advisers. The club was uncertain about the implications of the AEC decision. It said: "The board notes the information emanating out of Thailand today in respect of Mr Shinawatra and the freezing of his assets. "The board and its advisers are in discussion with Mr Shinawatra's advisers to confirm the implications of these developments in respect of their client's interest in potentially making an offer for the company. These discussions and those between the company and other interested parties may or may not lead to an offer being made for the company."
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