Dhanin planned to retire by age 58, according to a case study on the group by Harvard Business School led by Professor William C. Kirby. Faced with the Asian financial crisis triggered by the Thai baht’s devaluation in July 1997, he changed his mind and negotiated with his brothers to take charge again. As the family empire faltered under foreign loans, Dhanin froze debt payments, halted dozens of ventures and sold assets to save the group.