Thaksin plans $5b equity fund

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra plans to set up a private equity fund with up to $5 billion to invest in Asian companies if he regains access to family assets frozen over graft charges.

Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006, and was later charged with corruption and had nearly $2 billion of family assets frozen.

"If I get my money back I will set up a private equity firm with friends to invest in Asia," Thaksin told reporters in Dubai on the sidelines of a business conference yesterday.