Thaksin Pays $115 Mln For Liverpool

[cutethaigirl]

Regarding the meeting between the Thai beer giant "..with the long name" and the Liverpool/Thaksin junta..

You can bet your last baht that Carlseberg beer logos will soon disappear..to be replaced with Beer Chang..you may recall that Mr Long-name stands accused of doing the dirty on his Danish brewing partner, by promoting Chang Beer and not Carlsberg, which was the original deal with the latter (who helped him launch Chang) and which is why Carlsberg is now drying up in Thailand..

Genie Wow!!!

Thanks for sharing.

George re latest..

So the people of Thailand voted to buy a Footy club in the UK then:-)))))

Unreal. Perhaps every Government should have one?

CT

[plachon]

I know politics and sports shouldn't be mixed, but this latest deal (conducted in Government House NOTE) proves they are inseperable, in Thailand at least. Getting a stake in Liverpool means more votes for TRT at the next elections, pure and simple, so is a canny move. However, the new part-owner shouldn't be surprised or call "foul" if there aren't a fair few politically-aware folk amongst the Liverpool supporters club, who will be quite preapred to make their voices heard on the terraces and in the fanzines, as would already seem to be the case judging by early reactions. Maybe not such a smart move after all?

[taxexile]

but when the subject turns to 22 men in shorts running circles around eachother on a lawn chasing an artificial sheep's bladder, comments suddenly turn dead serious.

that's because soccer runs through the veins of most europeans and south americans,and it seems most asians too. whereas politics and economics do not.

if this deal comes off then taksin can expect his businesses, his politics,his background and his methods to come under close scrutiny,scathing criticism and fearless comment from the uk press who love nothing more to bring the mighty to their knees.

there are already murmurings in the uk about liverpool getting into bed with a man whos human rights record is questionable.

he may be biting off more than he can chew. and you can bet that the thai press, who cannot speak and publish freely will be lining up to spill the beans to their colleagues in the uk.

god bless the power of good journalism.

[george]

Thai PM lands Reds deal

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has struck a deal to buy a stake in English soccer club Liverpool according to a government spokesman.

Jakrapob Penkair, a spokesman for the Thai government, told reporters that Thaksin made the announcement at a Cabinet meeting.

The spokesman said he was unable to give any more details as a formal joint announcement by Thaksin and the club's board would be made.

Thaksin met with a group of representatives from Liverpool, led by the club's chief executive Rick Parry, at his office in the Government House for the final discussions on his bid to buy a 30 percent stake in the club.

After the meeting, Thaksin told reporters that the stake would cost more than 4 billion baht (US$100 million), which he will raise by inviting other Thai businessmen to join the investment.

The Thai stake will likely come from the 51 percent owned by Liverpool chairman David Moores.

Television company Granada currently owns the second biggest stake of 9.9 percent, while property developer Steve Morgan has 5 percent.

Morgan had tried to raise his stake but was turned down by the club's board in March.

--Agencies 2004-05-11

[Foggy Bottom]

that's because soccer runs through the veins of most europeans and south americans,and it seems most asians too. whereas politics and economics do not.

if this deal comes off then taksin can expect his businesses, his politics,his background and his methods to come under close scrutiny,scathing criticism and fearless comment from the uk press who love nothing more to bring the mighty to their knees.

there are already murmurings in the uk about liverpool getting into bed with a man whos human rights record is questionable.

he may be biting off more than he can chew. and you can bet that the thai press, who cannot speak and publish freely will be lining up to spill the beans to their colleagues in the uk.

god bless the power of good journalism.

"hear hear", or is it "here here"?

[taxexile]

hear hear", or is it "here here"?

its "'ere we go,'ere we go, 'ere we go"

[cutethaigirl]

See my post a few days ago and taxexiles today. The press in uk will not be silenced and the guys in Thailand will have an excellent feed.

Wonder if the recent announcement to slash mobile calls using AIS to the UK by 50% will be revoked and INCREASED by 2000000000 % instead

[roamer]

This might be a dead topic soon. To judge by the rapidly increasing media interest here in the UK its difficult to see how the deal can go ahead, or if it does, how long it will be sustainable is another matter. Normally here football is largely left to the tabloids or confined to the back pages of the broadsheets. Not today. A two page spread in The Independent talks of his "...blood soaked record" and "killing sprees". Other papers had similar themes. The radio phone in progs are getting calls from fans increasingly hostile to this deal. Will be surprised if it goes ahead.

[bmw]

Here is what people think in the UK:

Can I urge all Liverpool fans to go to the Amnesty International site and read up on the string of human rights abuses that this autocrat is responsible for.There are more important things in life than money.

good point, and as a Liverpool fan I think we all realise that the club does not need any more money - that's the last of out problems - it just needs decent management. The sport is awash with useless cash and if it is tainted with the blood of innocent civilians then we don't want no Thai PM!!!

I have to disagree with most of these comments. Liverpool is not awash with money, ok we have Morgan who is willing to inject cash (i dont know the in's and outs as to why it was rejected). Its a simple fact, to become a big player, you need big money. We do not have the cash that the likes of chelsea or Real have, so how can we compete. I dont see a problem with Thaskins money, 30% does not give him any control I dont think. We all needs a sugar daddy in this crazy money driven world of football. As for the comment on Thailands Human Rights, i would rather be living here than America or Europe. Maybe your talking of something that happened over 10 years ago. We are talking about Thaskin here, not Thailand, which has some problems

[bmw]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/h2/h2.cgi?th...verpool&sort=Te

[taxexile]

Rivals set for Liverpool fight

Millionaire Liverpool fan Steve Morgan wants to plough £73m into the club - in a bid to prevent Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra buying a 30% stake.

Morgan, who had another bid for the club turned down earlier this year, says Thaksin is not a "supporter".

"This proposal will keep ownership of the club with its supporters, where it rightfully belongs," said Morgan.

Morgan plans a rights issue with the aim of raising £61m and a share issue which would generate £12m more.

"This proposal will also inject £73m of new capital to strengthen the playing squad and help finance the proposed new stadium," Morgan added.

Thaksin's bid was on Tuesday said to be nearing completion, but there is uncertainty about whether the £60m he will spend is coming from his own pocket or Thailand's public funds.

"Let's wait until Thailand buys the team before going into details whether we spend Thais' money or the private sector's," Thaksin said.

Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair revealed that a deal had been done after a Thai cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

"We will buy in the name of Thailand," he said.

"It's almost 100%. Both sides are confident we will make the announcement. As far as we are concerned, we have finished the process.

"The Thai government is the one that negotiated the deal, not Thaksin and most of the money will come from public funds."

This apparently contradicted a statement made over the weekend by Pongsak Ruktapongpisal, deputy minister of commerce, who said: "I want to assure you that the money comes from the prime minister himself not from public funds."

Thaksin was a telecoms tycoon before he moved into politics, and is estimated to be worth $800m (£450m).

He revealed that a company formed with other Thai private investors to pump money into the club would receive commercial rights to use the Liverpool brand and that a football academy would be set up in Thailand.

His spokesman, Chakrapot Penkai, believes the deal will be mutually beneficial.

"Thailand thinks that the Liverpool team can enhance the standard of the sport's development in Thailand a great deal," he told BBC Radio Four's Today programme.

"Why does the prime minister want to invest in Liverpool? Because it is the era of the brand name and with a good quality brand name you can do many things.

"Liverpool's name is a world-class name - people attach their fantasies, their liking for sports, their enhancement in life, their self-development, along with this kind of team."

Reds chairman David Moores and Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry have been in Bangkok working on the deal.

Morgan, a lifelong supporter, made his money in the building industry via his own company Redrow, would underwrite any share issue through his current company Bridgemere Investments Limited.

Story from BBC SPORT:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi...ool/3697713.stm

Published: 2004/05/11 14:43:28 GMT

[snowleopard]

Here is what people think in the UK:

Can I urge all Liverpool fans to go to the Amnesty International site and read up on the string of human rights abuses that this autocrat is responsible for.There are more important things in life than money.

Buying Liverpool is a conveniently timed "red herring" that Toxin now can feed to his countrymen in order to improve his public image. What a sweet revenge after having received so much bad publicity lately!Bird flu lies,EGAT sell off and fanatical Muslims etc.

But how will "Cheerless Leader" deal with the inevitable hooliganism that is bound to follow in the wake of cheering fans when his team has played matches in Thailand?

Just imagine the Worldwide impact from images of one hundred-seven "Red Devil" hooligans who have been summarily shot in the forehead after they've been rooting for their team and then gone on a victory celebration and drunken rampage through Bangkok!

The "Heathen"corpses from Newton Heath still clutching weapons such as beer bottles in their hands as proof!

Snowleopard

[cutethaigirl]

Here is what people think in the UK:

Can I urge all Liverpool fans to go to the Amnesty International site and read up on the string of human rights abuses that this autocrat is responsible for.There are more important things in life than money.

Just read on the BBC about Uk and US treatment of Iraqi POW's. Think Amnesty International were on the case there as well.

Calls for the UK PM To resign.

Not starting a topic on that here

CT

[meemiathai]

Just imagine the Worldwide impact from images of one hundred-seven "Red Devil" hooligans who have been summarily shot in the forehead after they've been rooting for their team and then gone on a victory celebration and drunken rampage through Bangkok!

The "Heathen"corpses from Newton Heath still clutching weapons such as beer bottles in their hands as proof!

Snowleopard

If this does actually happen in the UK, I am sure less innocent people will lose their lives in football violence!

I would prefer to have 100 football hooligans dead than to have a policeman hurt his finger! I have no pity for them. Just look at their history.

[george]

Morgan will outbid Thai PM for Liverpool stake

Property tycoon and Liverpool stakeholder Steve Morgan is ready to battle Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra for a bigger share of the club.

Shinawatra wants to buy 30 per cent of Liverpool for £65 million, but Morgan is ready to plough £73 million into the club to stop the Thai.

"This proposal will keep ownership of the club with its supporters, where it rightfully belongs," said Morgan.

Morgan plans a rights issue with the aim of raising £61m and a share issue which would generate £12m more.

"This proposal will also inject £73m of new capital to strengthen the playing squad and help finance the proposed new stadium," Morgan added.

Reds chairman David Moores and Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry have been in Bangkok working on the deal.

Morgan, a lifelong supporter, made his money in the building industry via his own company Redrow, would underwrite any share issue through his current company Bridgemere Investments Limited.

--tribalfootball.com 2004-05-12

[Up2U]

And from the Grauniad this morning :

Fight for Liverpool gets serious

Morgan's £73m offer will test Liverpool's commitment to far east deal

Dominic Fifield

Wednesday May 12, 2004

The Guardian

The power struggle within Anfield intensified last night as Steve Morgan, Liverpool's third largest shareholder, launched a counter-offensive in an attempt to deflect a potential investment in the club by the controversial prime minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra.

Morgan's proposal would see him inject up to £73m into the Premiership club, leaving the chairman David Moores, with whom he has endured a fractious relationship, facing a stark choice this morning which will shape Liverpool's future. Moores can either accept Thaksin's £56.5m offer, ignoring Thailand's dubious human rights record, or welcome his long-time adversary on to the board.

The club's chief executive Rick Parry was returning last night from constructive talks in Thailand, though supporters back on Merseyside are swaying towards Morgan, largely because the 51-year-old is seen as one of them. The Jersey-based founder of Redrow Homes, who boasts an estimated fortune of £312m and a 5% stake in the club, hand-delivered his proposal to Anfield yesterday.

He is offering to underwrite a rights issue worth £61m via his company Bridgemere Investments Ltd. This would be backed by a new shares issue, to be directed at fans, aimed at raising a further £12m. The rights issue would be open to all shareholders including the chairman, crucially offering Moores the chance to add to his current 51% stake and ensure he remains the major - if not necessarily the majority - shareholder at the club. In return, Morgan would expect the place on the board long denied him at Anfield.

"In my view, the future of Liverpool Football Club is best served by the people who love the club the most, its supporters, of whom I am proud to be one," said Morgan, who will detail more of his plans at a press conference this morning.

"This proposal will not only keep ownership of the club with its supporters, where it rightfully belongs, it will also inject £73m of new capital to strengthen the playing squad and help finance the proposed new stadium."

"In addition, the club's commercial rights to Asia and indeed any other part of the world would remain where they belong - in the owner ship of the club. This would enable LFC alone to benefit from the use of these rights, which is essential to generate future income."

Parry, accompanied by the director Keith Clayton and Ben Mingay of the financial advisers Hawkpoint Partners Ltd, is due to arrive back from Bangkok today, with Thaksin still convinced that his own £56.5m proposal for a stake of just under 30% in the club is on the verge of being agreed after exhaustive talks.

Their initial meeting took place at Liverpool's FA Cup third-round victory over Newcastle in January with Thaksin introduced to Liverpool by the sports marketing company Kentaro, an agency co-founded by the former head of IMG's global football division Philipp Grothe. Yet, four months on, it still remains unclear whether the money required would be generated through public funds in Thailand or via a private consortium fronted by the prime minister.

Regardless, a groundswell of opinion is building behind Morgan - who had a £50m proposal rejected in March with Moores unwilling to dilute his shareholding to about 37% - not least because of pressure from human-rights groups scrutinising Thailand's less than impressive record under the present coalition government led by Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party.

A spokesperson for Amnesty International stressed yesterday: "Besides looking at who invests in the club, Liverpool as a business have a responsibility to ensure that any relationships with clubs or suppliers which it develops in Thailand do not contribute to human-rights violations."

There is also suspicion of Thaksin's intentions in buy ing into the club. "There are a lot of fans asking: 'Who is this guy? What's his interest in Liverpool Football Club?'" said Steve Davies of the Independent Liverpool Supporters' Association.

"We have seen him photographed holding up a Manchester United shirt next to Sir Alex Ferguson and now he says he's always been a Liverpool fan. We are wary of the unknown, though most people trust Moores and Parry to do right by the club."

That trust will be put to the test now, with Liverpool's chairman of 13 years forced to contemplate welcoming a vociferous critic of his reign -not least at January's annual general meeting - on to the board.

"I think there is going to be a long-term fight over this," said Professor Tom Cannon of Kingston Business School. "It might get dirty."

[taxexile]

A spokesperson for Amnesty International stressed yesterday: "Besides looking at who invests in the club, Liverpool as a business have a responsibility to ensure that any relationships with clubs or suppliers which it develops in Thailand do not contribute to human-rights violations."

There is also suspicion of Thaksin's intentions in buy ing into the club. "There are a lot of fans asking: 'Who is this guy? What's his interest in Liverpool Football Club?'" said Steve Davies of the Independent Liverpool Supporters' Association.

"We have seen him photographed holding up a Manchester United shirt next to Sir Alex Ferguson and now he says he's always been a Liverpool fan. We are wary of the unknown, though most people trust Moores and Parry to do right by the club."

That trust will be put to the test now, with Liverpool's chairman of 13 years forced to contemplate welcoming a vociferous critic of his reign -not least at January's annual general meeting - on to the board.

"I think there is going to be a long-term fight over this," said Professor Tom Cannon of Kingston Business School. "It might get dirty."

this promises to be a great story and it will be very interesting to see how it is reported in both thailand and england.

its the poverty stricken scally scousers v. the thai billionaire

its homer simpson v. mr. burns

its perfect!!

bring 'em on and let battle commence.

suddenly i am a liverpool supporter.

[marquess]

The front page of the Bangkok post, says that Toxin is planning to use public money. What a joke! When listening to CNBC Asia, the analyst said that, the country could not really afford it; and that such funds would be better spent on education and the like. How can he be allowed to get away with this?

[george]

Thai leader says chances of Liverpool deal "fifty-fifty" after rival bid

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's prime minister said Wednesday that chances for a Thai purchase of a one-third stake in English soccer club Liverpool are only "fifty-fifty" after a rival bid by the team's third largest shareholder.

Thaksin Shinawatra agreed Tuesday to a US$100 million deal with a Liverpool delegation, including chief executive Rick Parry, who had flown to Bangkok.

But Liverpool's third largest shareholder, Steve Morgan, said he would fight the bid. Morgan had a 50-million-pound (US$87.5 million) offer turned down by the Liverpool board earlier this year, and now promises to increase it to 73 million pounds (US$127.8 million).

"The chance is fifty-fifty after Morgan's bid," Thaksin told reporters.

--AP 2004-05-12

[Dutchy]

Thai leader says chances of Liverpool deal "fifty-fifty" after rival bid

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's prime minister said Wednesday that chances for a Thai purchase of a one-third stake in English soccer club Liverpool are only "fifty-fifty" after a rival bid by the team's third largest shareholder.

Thaksin Shinawatra agreed Tuesday to a US$100 million deal with a Liverpool delegation, including chief executive Rick Parry, who had flown to Bangkok.

But Liverpool's third largest shareholder, Steve Morgan, said he would fight the bid. Morgan had a 50-million-pound (US$87.5 million) offer turned down by the Liverpool board earlier this year, and now promises to increase it to 73 million pounds (US$127.8 million).

"The chance is fifty-fifty after Morgan's bid," Thaksin told reporters.

--AP 2004-05-12

I actually hoped the sale would go through... it would make Thailand look really stupid in the world, a governmnet that buys stakes in a footballclub and misuse of public funds...

The good thing with Thaksin is that it's only a matter of a couple of weeks to do something "unconventional" of which bad reporters will write bad things...

Dutchy

[plachon]

Like I said - sports and politics make bad bedfellas - which somebody is gradually learning. As for the notion of a country owning a footie team, it's as ridiculous as having a war against a concept, as another couple of leaders (Pinky and Perky) are slowly trying to come to terms with. Won't stop these loonies trying though.

[stumonster]

they all want to make their mark in history...

--snip--

Inappropriate wording removed.

/Admin

Edited May 12, 2004 by george

[george]

Thai lottery 'to fund Liverpool deal'

Buy one lottery ticket and you get a share of Liverpool

BANGKOK: -- THE prime minister of Thailand may use a national lottery game to fund his multi-million pound investment into Liverpool FC, the Daily Post can reveal.

Billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, (left), is considering using public money to buy a stake in the Anfield club.

But any such move may cause deep unease in the country and across Asia - where millions of people in rural Thailand still live in poverty.

Mr Thaksin told his cabinet of his bid to invest £75m in the club for a 30% stake.

But on Merseyside, property magnate Steve Morgan yesterday launched a counter-bid which was formally hand-delivered to Anfield shortly before noon.

He is offering to underwrite a new share issue to the value of £61m, with an extra £12m of shares offered to supporters to buy.

A spokesman for the Thai prime minister said the deal with Liverpool was "almost 100% complete" but the former telecommunications tycoon distanced himself from earlier claims that the investment would come totally from his own $1.4bn fortune.

Instead, government officials said there was a possibility of Government money or even a public lottery being used to fund the deal.

A spokesman said: "The prime minister doesn't want the club to be considered his personal asset. It should be considered a national asset.

"We can confirm that the deal is almost 100% complete and is now in the British court.

"The money might be taken from government funds or some private money."

A government source close to Thaksin added that three funding formulas were being considered by the Prime Minister - private money, money from government agencies or cash raised by a lottery.

The source added: "The idea is, if you buy one lottery ticket you get a share of Liverpool. The prime minister is afraid that using money directly from state coffers could give opponents political ammunition."

He said the prime minister initially wanted to make a personal investment but changed his mind after "seeing how acquiring a Liverpool stake could be incorporated into national development plans."

The prime minister is reported as telling a Thai national newspaper: "Let Thailand clinch the deal first, then we can sort out whether it should be through government or private money."

Last night it emerged a Thai brewer is interested in replacing Carlsberg as Liverpool's shirt sponsor.

Thanit Thamsukati , spokesman for Chang Beverages, said: "What interests us is putting our logo on the chest of their jersey. But we have to see if it's worth spending that much."

Liverpool FC chief executive Rick Parry was due to arrive back in the UK from Thailand early today.

Liverpool FC last night remained tight-lipped about any possible agreement with Thaksin, whose family controls Thailand's largest telecom holding firm, Shin Corp.

A statement said: "Liverpool FC today confirmed that it had received two indicative proposals for investment in the club. These will be presented to the board of directors."

--IC Liverpool 2004-05-12

[elsie]

A spokesman said: "The prime minister doesn't want the club to be considered his personal asset. It should be considered a national asset.

An asset... an English football club as our national asset... mmmm... and public funds... and making the deal at government office... smart move, Mr Toxin

[johnny k]

There should be no way that TS should be allowed anywhere near my club. As a supporter in exile in the LOS, I can see that a lot of the criticism has been harsh, but the simple fact of the matter is that he's not in it for the good of the club - only his & maybe Thailand's interests.

There are plenty of other things he should be focusssing his attention on.

I'm going to get onto Tony see if he'll consider buying Bec Tero Sasana !!

[george]

Corruption claims could sink Thai deal

ANY deal between Liverpool FC and the Thai Prime Minister which uses public money would be corrupt, a senior politician claimed last night.

The possibility of the Thai public financing an injection of between £60m and £75m into Liverpool has prompted outrage across South East Asia.

And, last night, Thailand's opposition Democrat party condemned Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and said public money must not be used to bankroll the deal.

A Democrat spokesman, Ong-art Klampaiboon, said: "I see this as a policy that facilitates corruption. They want Liverpool shares but use sport promotion policy to justify the use of state money to buy them."

Meanwhile, Mr Thaksin refused to be drawn into a bidding war after Liverpool shareholder Steve Morgan announced the club had seven days to accept his own £73m investment plan.

The 51-year-old property magnate, who grew up in Garston, Liverpool, yesterday admitted he would one day like to take over the running of the club.

If accepted, Mr Morgan's plans will generate £61m via a rights issue for new shares and underwrite a second share issue to raise a further £12m.

Unlike a £50m bid which was rejected earlier in the year, current chairman David Moores would be able to retain control of the club under the current plan.

At a press conference in Cheshire yesterday, Mr Morgan said: "The offer is a counter-bid to talks currently taking place with the Prime Minister of Thailand.

"None of us know the details of the bid from the Thai Prime Minister. I do have a concern that someone who does not have the interest of the club at heart would end up owning 30% of it.

"The season has been a frustrating and disappointing one for the club, fans and shareholders alike.

"The transfer window is short. The squad needs strengthening right now. There is no point in Nero fiddling while Rome burns."

Hours later, in Bangkok, Mr Thaksin said he now had only a 50-50 chance of buying a key stake in LFC, but he ruled out putting more money on the table.

However, last night confusion still reigned over exactly whose money he had put on the table in the first place.

A spokesman told the Daily Post it was unlikely Mr Thaksin would invest any of his own £1.4bn fortune.

The communications tycoon is Thailand's richest man and owns a luxury marble mansion in Hua Hin beach on Thailand's "Sunshine Coast".

Jakrapob Penkair confirmed possible options could include a national lottery game or the creation of a company which would issue Liverpool shares to the people of Thailand.

But he still refused to rule out the use of state funds, saying: "Nothing can be ruled out".

He said: "The priority would be to have the Thai people a part of this and all join together.

"Organisations and private firms in Thailand could also bid into the game.

"I think that Liverpool fans and stakeholders would be thrilled that, for the first time in the world, a country is attempting to partially own stock in a successful sporting enterprise like Liverpool. It is a historic deal to be part of. Money will not be a problem."

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry arrived back in Liverpool yesterday after negotiations with Mr Thaksin.

He is expected to outline the Thai proposals at a board meeting at Anfield today.

Liverpool Football Club yesterday declined to comment. Instead, a spokeswoman referred enquiries to a statement released on Tuesday.

The statement said: "Liverpool FC today confirmed that it had received two indicative proposals for investment in the club. These will be presented to the board of directors."

--IC Liverpool 2004-05-13

[Dutchy]

Jakrapob Penkair confirmed possible options could include a national lottery game or the creation of a company which would issue Liverpool shares to the people of Thailand.

"I think that Liverpool fans and stakeholders would be thrilled that, for the first time in the world, a country is attempting to partially own stock in a successful sporting enterprise like Liverpool.

ha ha ha, "the world will be thrilled". Shameless false information from a government that does not hesitate to forcefeed the public puroposely incorrect information...

I start to think that the non-confrontational Thai culture will not survive in a globalizing world, the world has no excuse for stupidity. It's high time Toxin should be held accountable for giving Thailand a bad reputation across the world...

Dutchy

[Foggy Bottom]

Will farangs be allowed to buy those lottery tickets?

And apart from the one ticket - one share incentive, what will the prize money be like?

That particular lottery could become like the Elite card - open only to the mega rich .... do the maths - need to raise $99,000,000 @ roughly B40 to the dollar = roughly 4,000,000,000 to be raised.

BOI website states roughly one third of Thailands 64 million are over the age of 21 (i.e. working) = 22 million with money = approx B182 per person. Add to that a contribution for prizes (or it cannot be a lottery) that will need to be substantial enough financial and numerically - say another 100 million needed - pushes the share per adult up to B186 per person, but half the qualifying population are unwaged, retired, or scaping a living on a farm with only a few thou' a month of income, so per capita contribution becomes around B350

..... and as other criteria kicks in to whittle down those eligible as "share holders" (e.g. those in jail, in the monkhood etc) then the contribution increases until a ticket in that lottery becomes the equivalent of an Elite card in cost relation to average national disposable income.

More self-servance from the already wealthy elite?

[george]

Liverpool board rejects Steve Morgan's 73-million-pound bid

Thaksin appear to hold the upper hand

LIVERPOOL: - Liverpool's board has turned down an offer by local property developer Steve Morgan that would have injected 73 million pounds ($179.2 million Cdn) into the club through a share sale.

In a brief statement Thursday, the board said it found Morgan's bid "unattractive," but would seek an improved offer. Meeting for six hours, the statement said the board was also considering a rival bid by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, but did not characterize it. Thaksin has offered to pay $140 million Cdn for a 30 per cent stake in the club.

The statement said Morgan's bid undervalued the club's worth.

"The board has therefore concluded that the ... proposal as currently constituted is not attractive. It intends to discuss its response to both these proposals with the respective parties."

Any decision would have to be reported to the London Stock Exchange.

Public sentiment was leaning toward Morgan.

A Liverpool Echo newspaper poll Thursday showed 87 per cent favoured Morgan's bid over that of Thaksin.

A billionaire businessman turned politician, Thaksin's offer would bring an Asian investor into the ownership structure and could give Liverpool access to the area's rapidly growing commercial possibilities.

Morgan is hoping to trump Thaksin's offer. A longtime Liverpool fan, Morgan is listed as Britain's 137th-richest man and is emphasizing the need to keep the ownership in local hands.

Thaksin's offer has prompted criticism in Thailand after reports suggesting the funding may come from public money. On Thursday in Bangkok, Thaksin said he would look to invest in other English clubs if turned down by Liverpool.

Asked if he had contacted other clubs, Thaksin said: "Yes, but I can't reveal who because it could cause problems. Let's just work with one club at a time."

Human rights activists in Britain have criticized Thailand's bid, citing, among other things, alleged rights violations in the government's crackdown against Islamic militants in the south of the country.

Morgan emphasized his local roots as the board met.

"I have been born and raised in Liverpool and only have the club's interest at heart," he said. "My message to the board is to accept the offer with the honesty and the integrity that it is meant.

"Think first of the good of the club, because that is what I am doing," he added. "And make the right decision. If they think the right decision is to take the Thai offer then I will accept that. But I do not honestly believe that it is the right decision."

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, who has been openly criticized by Morgan, came out of the board meeting after just 45 minutes.

Speaking to reporters, he defended the team's fourth-place finish and blamed injuries for not doing better.

"I firmly believe that finishing fourth is a massive achievement considering the circumstances," he said. "We've had too many injuries really.

"Despite all this we've kept our head up and come through the storm. Some of the criticism we've received has been unfair."

Morgan, the club's third largest shareholder, has demanded a seat on the board as part of his share offer. That would set him against club chairman and majority owner David Moores. Morgan has been critical of Moores' management.

"You don't put this kind of money in to get a huge return, football is not like this," Morgan said. "But I have been very successful in my businesses and made a bit. Now I want to put something back into the community from where I belong, I was born here and love the club."

--AP 2004-05-14

Morgan bid 'unattractive' to Reds

Liverpool have dismissed Steve Morgan's proposal to invest £73million in the club as "unattractive".

The club revealed that the property magnet's valuation of the Anfield outfit did not represent that of the board's.

Rival bidder Thaksin Shinawara, the Prime Minister of Thailand, would now appear to hold the upper hand.

After a lengthy meeting of the Anfield directors, chaired by David Moores, to discuss the bids, they released a statement through www.liverpoolfc.tv.

It read: "Liverpool Football Club confirms that it has received two indicative proposals for investment in the club, the Thai Investment Proposal and the Bridgemere Proposal backed by Mr Steve Morgan.

"The board of Liverpool Football Club have today met with their financial advisors, Hawkpoint Partners, to consider these proposals.

"The board note that the Bridgemere Proposal, at £1.750 per share, implies a current value of £61million for the entire club, which is a substantial discount to the value placed on the club by the board.

"The board have therefore concluded that the Bridgemere Proposal as currently constituted is not attractive.

"They intend to discuss their response to both these proposals with the respective parties.

"A further announcement will be made in due course."

--Agencies 2004-05-14

[Foggy Bottom]

So now it will be Canadian dollars

were they declared during the asset hiding case in 2001?