Alec Hogg's Transcribed Interviews - Business & Financial Interviews

Ambitious Central Rand Gold which turned investment of R10 000 into just R15 gets a Chinese lifeline

17th December 20139th August 2013

Crown Mines in the south of Johannesburg is best known today for its golf course. But in the early years of the last century it was the highest producing gold mine on earth. Alongside other rich operations like CMR, Village Main and Simmer & Jack, its name was known by investors all over the world. … Read more

Cousin Meg’s husband shooting lights out as Mondi justifies the past year’s doubled share price

9th August 20139th August 2013

David Hathorn is married to my cousin Megan. They are both chartered accountants. We’re not close, but because of the family connection I’ve watched his career. Mostly in awe. David was identified as a rising star early on former Anglo American CEO Tony Trahar. And when Trahar, also a CA, was promoted from then wholly … Read more

Deal of the week: Serial entrepreneur Mark Lamberti gets an offer he couldn’t refuse

9th August 20137th August 2013

Mark Lamberti has family roots in Newcastle, the town in Northern KZN where I grew up. So from the time we met in the 1990s, I’ve kept a close watch on his progress – as one tends to do with a “home boy”. Mark’s creation, Massmart, is now worth R35bn, and in the ultimate accolade, … Read more

Sandton penthouse, a snip at R60-m – with pics of what it looks like inside

6th August 20136th August 2013

“Paul is a real estate novelist…” sang Billy Joel in his classic Piano Man, the perfect description for those who turn wrecks into renovator’s dreams; broom cupboards into cosy. But at R60m for a penthouse, you might expect more than a line opening with “Refrigerated walk-in wine room, 4 palatial bedrooms with the wooden floor … Read more

GPI demands closer look: dominance in LPMs and strong moves into fast food

6th August 20136th August 2013

There’s been a lot of noise around talented jockey S’Manga Khumalo becoming the first black to pilot a winner of the Vodacom Durban July. Rightly so. But in the excitement, an even bigger breakthrough is forgotten – 2011’s J&B Met when the Hassen Adams-owned Past Master made him the first black owner to win South Africa’s … Read more

At 33c, Village Main Reef too juicy to resist after dumping cash guzzlers Blyvoor and Buffels

5th August 20135th August 2013

I bought some Village Main Reef shares this afternoon. A full trading session since my interview with CEO Marius Saaiman (below), I’m fulfilling my internal rule of never using the advantageous timing we journalists enjoy to buy or sell a share. By now, the whole world could have studied what Saaiman told me on Friday … Read more

Video: Talent v Capital comes to media – my talk to the students at the Wits Journalism School

23rd November 20145th August 2013

It’s not as well known as it should be, but the real online publishing pioneer in South Africa is Kevin Davie, consulting business editor of the M&G. Kevin launched the country’s first news portal, WOZA, in the mid 1990s and built it into the Goliath of the early web age. He gave me my entry … Read more

Koegelenberg on developing Chinese partnerships – be patient and think big

6th August 20132nd August 2013

I visited China a few years back as a guest of SABMiller. Our little party travelled to Beijing and Tianjin to see, first hand, how the SA-founded group had developed its Snow brand into the biggest seller in the world’s most populous country. It was my first visit to China and a real eye opener. … Read more

Rock bottom for Arcelor Mittal SA? Perhaps. It surely can’t get much worse

18th August 20131st August 2013

For Newcastle-raised university students, the best vacation job by far is at the local Arcelor Mittal steel mill. I was lucky enough to land one over the 1979 Christmas holidays, spending it working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week as an Operator. Including the double time earned for overtime (and on Xmas Day … Read more

ABSA declares special divi on same day parent Barclays announces £5.8bn rights issue. Go figure.

4th August 201330th July 2013

The timing was most unfortunate. Not just for us on Power Lunch, but for the ABSA Group itself. Key point of the SA bank’s results for the half year to end June, was the declaration of a Special Dividend that will distribute R5bn to shareholders. With another R2.5bn payment declared through the 11% higher interim dividend (more … Read more