The Sheffield Wednesday Owls, one of England’s oldest football clubs, is being acquired from Milan Mandaric by Dejphon Chansiri, whose family owns the Bangkok, Thailand-headquartered Thai Union Frozen Group (TUF), a major producer of frozen shrimp and the world’s largest packer of canned tuna. The price paid was said to be approximately £30 million (US $45.4 million).
“I believe this club has huge potential and I can assure all our supporters that I will be working extremely hard to bring the success that I already sense from my short time in your city our supporters so desperately crave,” Chansiri commented on the club’s website (www.swfc.co.uk).
It’s official. Dejphon Chansiri shakes hands with Milan Mandaric to seal the Sheffield Wednesday Owls acquisition deal.
He added: “My son Att, who was a mascot at the recent Blackpool game, is passionate about football and I know will be my inspiration in this project. I have made the same promise to him as I do our supporters.”
“Once the final details and Football League approval have been concluded I will step down as chairman and as a director, but will retain an advisory role. Wherever Dejphon needs my help, I will only be too pleased to assist,” said Mandaric, the Serb-American businessman who has led the Owls for the past four years.
The new owner is the son of Kraisorn Chansiri, chairman of the Thai Union Frozen Group. The company, which rang up approximately $3.6 billion in sales during 2013, has been on an acquisition spree in recent years. On December 19 it entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Bumble Bee Seafoods for $1.51 billion. The San Diego, California-based company is North America’s largest branded shelf-stable seafood company.
Organized in 1867, Sheffield Wednesday is the fourth oldest League club in England. The Owls won national championships four times and took the FA Cup on three occasions.
