By Pavida Pananond and Thitinan Pongsudhirak

Just when Thailand’s corporate footprints in the global marketplace are gaining visibility with recent high-profile takeovers of foreign companies by local titans such as ThaiBev and CP Group, its largest-ever domestic takeover deal is generating the wrong kind of publicity.

Following some unusual share price movements, the Thai authorities have belatedly launched an investigation of CP All’s $6.6bn purchase of the cash-and-carry Siam Makro, 64-per-cent owned by Dutch conglomerate SHV Holdings.

Officials need to make sure the case is handled properly, given the country’s poor record with such investigations. If Thailand wants to join the big league of capital markets, alongside Hong Kong and Singapore, its financial regulators need a stiff upgrading. Continue reading »