ABSA (ABG) is one of the largest banking groups operating in Africa. It has well-established branches in 12 African countries and representative offices in at least 6 more. It offers a range of products for personal and business banking, credit cards, insurance, and asset management. Obviously, as one of the "big five" banks, ABSA has been impacted by the...
African Rainbow Capital (AIL) is a BEE investment company that was formed in 2015 and listed on the JSE in September 2017. Since it was formed, AIL has invested in more than forty listed and unlisted investments in a wide range of industries from telecommunications to mining, construction, energy, property, agriculture, insurance, asset management and banking. ARC...
AYO is a black-owned technology company that was spun out of AEEI and in which AEEI still holds 49,4%. There were suspicious circumstances with a massive R4,3bn investment by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) which has been the subject of a court action by the PIC and finally settled on 31st March 2023 with the AYO paying the PIC R619m.In effect the PIC...
British American Tobacco (BTI) describes itself as a "leading consumer goods company" - which is a euphemistic way of saying that they produce and sell an enormous number of cigarettes and related products world-wide. It is also the second largest company on the JSE after Naspers. In recent decades, cigarette companies have become increasingly oppressed. Their...
Coronation (CML) is one of South Africa's largest asset managers and the only one listed on the JSE. Founded in 1993, the company grew very well until 2015. At that point, the founding CEO resigned and a new CEO, Adrian Pillay, took over. Pillay is eminently well-qualified for the job, but things have not done well since he took over. The company was heavily...
Previously known a Net1 UEP Technologies, Lesaka is listed on the Nasdaq and the JSE (LSK). It is a provider of fintech products in a number of countries. Its universal electronic payment system (“UEPS”) uses biometrically secure smart cards that operate in real-time but offline, which allows users to enter into transactions at any time. In the first quarter to...
Marshall (MMP) say the following about their business: "Based in the UK, with strategically located offices, globally, Marshall Monteagle PLC is a diversified investment holding company. The company provides procurement, logistics and trading in various hard and soft commodities, industrial raw materials, consumer food and non-food products. Other non-operational...
Metair (MTA) produces energy solutions (batteries) and components for the vehicle manufacturing business. It has operations in Africa and in various European and Middle East countries. The company's energy storage business is located in Turkey in an operation called "Mutlu". The business it is in has the prospect of growing rapidly as electric motor vehicles...
Reinet (RNI) is an investment holding company whose main asset is a holding of roughly 2,12% of British American Tobacco (BAT) worth about $1,8bn which now accounts for 31% of its net asset value (NAV) - down from 85% ten years ago. This decline from a year ago is because the price of BAT shares has fallen. Most of this reflects the more difficult legal...
Tharisa (THA) is a mining company that mines and beneficiates platinum group metals (PGMs) and chrome. The company is listed in London and on the JSE. The Tharisa mine on the south-west limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC) is an open pit operation with an estimated life of 17 years. The company owns a subsidiary, Arxo Metals, which beneficiates chrome to...
Transaction Capital (TCP) is a company which has three divisions - minibus taxis, risk services, and 75% of WeBuyCars. Its subsidiary, SA Taxi, specialises in financing, repairing, insuring and selling minibus taxis in South Africa. It completely dominates the entire value chain associated with the minibus taxi industry. The company listed in June 2012 and since...
Sygnia (SYG) describes itself as a "specialist financial services group". It is South Africa's largest provider of exchange traded funds (ETF) and has a number of unit trusts. The company has R217,7bn under management and appears to be taking market share away from other asset managers. Sygnia Itrix makes it possible for Sygnia to attract funds looking for...
Nampak (NPK) is Africa's largest packaging company with interests in South Africa and ten other African countries. About 60% of its turnover comes from South Africa, but only 36% of its trading profit. The rest of Africa accounts for 59% of trading profit and only 31% of turnover. The company also has small interests in the UK and Ireland. It produces four kinds...
Lighthouse Capital (LTE) (previously Greenbay) was one of the Resilient group of REIT's (real estate investment trusts) along with Resilient itself, Rockcastle and Fortress. These companies were the subject of a damning report by 36One Asset Management who said that their share prices were too high because of their cross-shareholdings. Because of this,...
Capprec (CTA) is a fintech company offering payments and payment infrastructure as well as software and services. Patrice Motsepe's African Rainbow Capital (ARC) owns a stake. The payments side of the business is done through African Resonance and Dashpay. The software side involves systems development and consulting. The company owns 17,5% of Resonance Australia...
The Resilient group of companies (Resilient, Lighthouse - previously Greenbay, Rockcastle and Fortress) used to be the high-flyers of the property sector until the beginning of 2018 when a damning report was produced by 360ne Asset Management. The report claimed that the high prices enjoyed by the shares of these four real estate investment trusts (REIT) was...
Reinet (RNI) is an investment holding company whose main asset is a holding of roughly 2,12% of British American Tobacco (BAT) worth about $1,8bn which now accounts for 31% of its net asset value (NAV) - down from 85% ten years ago. This decline from a year ago is because the price of BAT shares has fallen. Most of this reflects the more difficult legal...
Afdawn (ADW) is a small micro-lending company, listed on the Alt-X in 2004. Its share price rose as high as 550c in November 2007, but has since fallen back to 21c. The company is in the process of transforming itself into a venture capital company, selling non-core assets and settling debt - some of which is owed to SARS. The company has two operating divisions -...