In 1996, a group of Asian investors including Malaysian billionaire Quek Leng Chan of Hong Leong Malaysia, his Singaporean cousins who control Britain's listed Millennium Copthorne Hotels and Indonesian billionaire Liem Sioe Liong teamed up to buy over 21% of Brierley.

CNN: A glimpse into the future of Thai politics

Hong Leong Financial Group, a Malaysian lender controlled by the country's sixth-richest man Quek Leng Chan, in January offered to take its 79 percent-owned investment banking arm Hong Leong Capital private.

FORBES: Quek Leng Chan

Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, a Malaysian lender controlled by the country's sixth-richest man Quek Leng Chan, in January offered to take its 79 percent-owned investment banking arm Hong Leong Capital Bhd private.

FORBES: Quek Leng Chan