British American Tobacco (BAT) has agreed to invest US$4.7 billion as part of Reynolds American’s proposed acquisition of Lorillard enabling BAT to maintain its 42% equity position in the enlarged business. The boards of both Reynolds American, an associate company of BAT, and Lorillard have today announced in the USA the proposed purchase of Lorillard … Read more
In April 1997, David Shapiro was my very first guest on the very first daily business programme to hit South African airwaves. During the decades since, for most of that time we’ve worked together daily. So it’s an understatement to say we’re relaxed in each other’s company. Sometimes too relaxed as you might pick up … Read more
Among its many problems, South Africa is struggling to be a moral nation, a nation where ethical standards are upheld and people behave in a morally commendable way. In pursuing this goal, the country faces many challenges. As Cynthia Schoeman, the MD of the Ethics Monitor points out, South Africa is facing a number of … Read more
Glencore Xstrata is only starting to get used to life as a listed company. CEO Ivan Glasenberg, a South African by birth and upbringing, has not yet granted a broadcast interview. Not on television or radio. Colleagues tell me it will happen. Maybe. But not just yet. So with the central character in today’s R713bn … Read more
In the 1980s I spent many hours inputting the individual holdings of unit trusts. Knowing what professionals are buying is invaluable info for small investors. This piece from SA’s hottest asset manager, Allan Gray, explains its thinking on the Top 10 holdings which between them account of 57% of AG’s total share investment.