Thai sibling rivalry generates deals

A Thai businessman’s rumoured bid for Serie A football club AC Milan received media attention throughout the world last month. Bee Taechaubol, executive director of Thai Prime, a private equity firm, reportedly offered to pay the former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi 1 billion $1.1 billion for a controlling stake in the seven-time European champions.

Taechaubol’s younger brother Ben has attracted fewer headlines but his recent deal-making activities, although similarly glamorous, are probably built on more solid foundations and with more reliable expectations of success.

Earlier this year, his Country Group Development CGD unveiled a THB32 billion $980 million property project on the north bank of...