Alec Hogg’s regular column covering investment, economics, moneycraft and, occasionally, something very personal.
There was a time when Richemont chairman Johann Rupert enjoyed the public stage. But one too many broadsides from Julius Malema encouraged the country’s most powerful businessman to stay away from the spotlight.
South Africa’s embattled President Jacob Zuma characteristically admitted yesterday that the ruling political party is “in trouble”. By association, he added, so is the country.
Jooste added another notch to his impressive record yesterday when announcing the biggest corporate takeover in South African history. Steinhoff’s R63bn acquisition of Christo Wiese’s Pepkor has another interesting result, closing the circle on a three decade friendship.
Next time he’s tackled on the subject, Bezuidenhout might point out to inquisitors that Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and, in a local context, Jeremy Ord have all done rather well without the support of a formal qualification.
After yesterday’s disclosure on SENS, there will be renewed debate around the sale of shares by Ellies chairman Elliot Salkow. In his daily newsletter Alec Hogg explores the glaring lessons investors can learn from the events leading up to the sale.
Alec Hogg’s daily video editorial, The Rational Perspective is gaining momentum after an unassuming experiment proved to be a winner.
Calculating what the 74-strong national cabinet costs SA taxpayers, is starting to irritate citizens in a country that faces significant tax increases in the February Budget.
The South African financial sector is painfully aware that the country’s global credit rating is dangerously close to dropping to “Junk” status. In this insightful discussion, Futuregrowth’s Wikus Furstenberg explains to Alec Hogg why there’s been such a precipitous slide in recent years.
“I’ve observed that many acquisition-hungry managers were apparently mesmerised by their childhood reading of the story about the frog-kissing princess. Remembering her success, they pay dearly for the right to kiss corporate toads, expecting wondrous transfigurations.”
The nation has cut its output target for the end of the decade to a third of its earlier estimate, as difficult geology, lack of infrastructure and limited exploration rights conspire against its shale gas ambitions.