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Published on November 26, 2007

Udane was one of the legendary chao suau (the Chinese word for tycoon). He made his first million before World War II and was a fixture in Thai commerce, trade and banking for more than five decades. He belonged to the same generation as Chin Sophon-panich, founder of Bangkok Bank, Bancha Lamsam of the Thai Farmers Bank, and other Chinese-Thai families who emerged after World War II to virtually control the Thai economy through commerce, trading, finance, real estate and banking.

Udane founded the Bangkok Metropolitan

Bank, Hua Chiew Hospital

- and later on Hua Chiew University - and served as chairman of the charity organisation Poh Teck

Tung.

Born on January 3, 1913, Udane attended a Chinese school near his home in Talad Noi, Samphanthawong, Bangkok, before moving

on to Assumption School. His father was keen to improve his education further, so he hired a teacher to teach him Chinese at home. When he was 20, Udane helped his father in business before taking on the liquor industry.

The Tejapaibuls won the rights to sell liquor from the Bang Yi Khan distillery wholesale in Bangkok. Mixing the local white liquor, made from rice, with Chinese medicine, Udane came up with the Khang Thone brand of liquor, which was retailed all over the place.

Udane worked very hard, for days and nights without rest. He acted as manager, clerk, salesman and marketing man, paying frequent visits to customers. He was also personally involved in the bidding for rights to distribute liquor from the Thai government.

With the high level of alcohol consumption in Thailand, the Tejapaibul family became awash with cash and established itself as the country's largest liquor distributor. Its two most famous brands were Maekong and Kwang Thong, both now under the control of liquor tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi.

With the cash from the liquor business, Udane began to expand his interests into pawnshops and other businesses. But the hallmark of his business was banking. He set up the Bangkok Metropolitan Bank (Thanakhan Sri Nakhon) in 1950. With the bank as a financial base, the Tejapaibuls found it easier to move into other businesses ranging from insurance to land and real-estate development, both locally and abroad.

Toward the 1990s there were financial excesses in the Thai economy. The Tejapaibuls committed the same mistake. The family businesses faced problems of poor management, with reports of conflict among the clans. In 1997, the Bangkok Metropolitan Bank suffered from huge bad debts and insolvency. A year later banking authorities intervened and it was taken over by another bank, bringing the legend of the Bangkok Metropolitan Bank to an unceremonious end.

The Tejapaibuls' prime real estate development, the World Trade Centre in Bangkok, also faced financial troubles and was taken over by the Chirathiwat family, who manage the Central Group, dealing another big blow to the Tejapaibuls.

Towards the twilight of his life Udane spent his time with his family at his spacious residence on Rama III, overlooking the Chao Phya River. The huge compound, which stands opposite the headquarters of Kasikornbank, also consists a high-rise condominium and several houses, with a private pier of its own.

Udane had six wives, who bore him 13 children altogether. Vichien Tejapaibul is the eldest male heir, followed by Wirun Tejapaibul.

Udane's health deteriorated rapidly towards the end of his life. He was taken to Bumrungrad Hospital for treatment before passing away at 5pm on Saturday. His body has been taken to Wat Benjamaborphit for funeral rites.