Theo Botha

Theophilous James Bennett "Theo" Botha (born 1 March 1960) is a South African shareholder activist.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] He has queried many companies in the area of good corporate governance,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] ethics,[17][18][19][20] executive compensation,[21][22][23] environmental practices[24] and Black Economic Empowerment.[25][26][27] He has also criticized South African corporate governance guidelines as too lenient.[28]

Theophilous James Bennett Botha
Born (1960-03-01) 1 March 1960
Occupationself-employed

Theo Botha first decided to pursue shareholder activism after an investment in a small life insurance company (The Sage Group).[29] The company was making huge losses in the United States that it refused to disclose to the South African shareholders.[6]

In a press interview it was found that "Botha doesn’t appear to be making money off this enterprise; in most instances he buys only one share."[7]

Activism

Botha's usual approach is not unlike his first encounter with Sage in which all he did was pose a few questions which usually make the companies in question edgy. He spends time going through company financial reports to note discrepancies which he will use to compile his questions which he asks during company AGM's.

The South African companies Botha has confronted include The Sage Group,[29] Sappi,[30][31]Absa,[32][33] Sasol,[34][35] SABMiller,[36][37] Pick n Pay Stores,[23][38] Tiger Brands,[39] Avusa,[40] Anglo Platinum,[17][41][42] Pretoria Portland Cement Company,[16][24] Mutual & Federal,[21] Bidvest,[11][12][27] Wesizwe Platinum,[43] and Liberty Holdings Limited.[44]

References
  1. Crotty, Ann; Renée Bonorchis (2006). Executive pay in South Africa: who gets what and why. Cape Town, South Africa: Juta and Company Ltd. p. 74. ISBN 1-77013-109-4. External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. Mamtse, Dikatso (5 February 2007). "Theo Botha – shareholder activist, troublemaker". MoneyWeb.com. Johannesburg, South Africa: Moneyweb Holdings. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  3. Barron, Chris (20 July 2008). "Chairmen often can't stand the sight of him". Financial Mail. Johannesburg, South Africa. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  4. Crotty, Ann (18 August 2009). "Jesting skills of activist Botha are invaluable". BusinessReport. Johannesburg: Independent Online. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  5. Benjamin, Chantelle (29 August 2007). "Avusa shareholder questions bonuses". The Star. Gauteng, South Africa. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  6. Newmarch, Jocelyn (10 May 2007). "Keeping Tycoons on Their Toes". Mail & Guardian Online. Cape Town, South Africa: Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  7. Rose, Rob (9 February 2007). "Bashful activist raises hackles of corporate SA". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  8. West, Edward (8 April 2008). "Sustainability is new governance watchword". Business Day (South Africa). Johannesburg. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  9. Crotty, Anne (20 April 2009). "Governance by directors, for directors". BusinessReport. Johannesburg: Independent Online. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  10. Hogg, Alec (interviewer) (19 August 2008). "Gold Reef's proposed share incentive scheme amended. Theo Botha - shareholder activist". MoneyWeb.com. Johannesburg, South Africa: Moneyweb Holdings. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  11. Ashton, Marc (17 November 2008). "Bidvest fields tough questions". fin24.com. Sandown, South Africa: Finweek. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  12. Hasenfuss, Marc (27 November 2009). "Brand damage". fin24.com. Sandown, South Africa: Finweek. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  13. Matutu, Nolulamo (17 November 2008). "Firms fail responsibility test". fin24.com. Sandown, South Africa: Finweek. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  14. Creamer, Martin (17 December 2009). "Sacked Wesizwe CEO scrapes back in pyrrhic victory". Mining Weekly. Johannesburg.
  15. Petros, Nontyatyambo; Ann Crotty; Justin Brown; Mzwandile Jacks (18 August 2009). "Botha has his say, but Remgro gets to unwrite history". IOLTechnology.co.za. Johannesburg: Independent Online. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  16. Cokayne, Roy (27 January 2009). "Activist Botha warns PPC on audit committee chair". IOLTechnology.co.za. Johannesburg: Independent Online. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  17. Brooks, Nicola (31 March 2008). "141 deaths in the last six years". MoneyWeb.com. Johannesburg, South Africa: Moneyweb Holdings. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  18. Speckman, Asha (18 August 2009). "Wesizwe shareholders restore ousted bosses". IOLTechnology.co.za. Johannesburg: Independent Online. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  19. Rob, Rose (20 July 2008). "Super Group: Dealing with a debacle". Financial Mail. Johannesberg, South Africa. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  20. Rose, Rob (17 October 2008). "Where to for the Rupert Family Empire?". Financial Mail. Johannesberg, South Africa. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  21. Carte, David (29 April 2009). "M&F exec pay questioned". MoneyWeb.com. Johannesburg, South Africa: Moneyweb Holdings. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  22. Cokayne, Roy (29 January 2009). "Super Group pay questioned". BusinessReport. Johannesburg: Independent Online. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  23. Cohen, Mike (18 June 2010). "Pick n Pay Shareholders Say Chairman's $400,000 Fee Sets 'Bad Precedent'". New York: Bloomberg. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  24. Salgado, Ingi (11 February 2008). "PPC: Clean air versus profit is a dilemma" (PDF). Business Report. Johannesburg: Independent News & Media. p. 21. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  25. Mantshantsha, Sikonathi (15 February 2007). "Astral found wanting on BEE". fin24.com. Sandown, South Africa: Finweek. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  26. Radebe, Sibonelo (17 October 2008). "BEE debate rages on". Financial Mail. Johannesberg, South Africa. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  27. Hasenfuss, Marc (24 October 2005). "Monday Bruise: Who's chairing Bidvest?". fin24.com. Sandown, South Africa: Finweek. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  28. Carte, David (19 May 2009). "King 3's too soft: Too much carrot, not enough stick says activist Theo Botha". MoneyWeb.com. Johannesburg, South Africa: Moneyweb Holdings. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  29. Hazelhurst, Ethel (3 August 2005). "Attorney considers lawsuit against Sage on behalf of minority shareholders". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  30. Ashton, Marc (4 November 2008). "Sappi slammed for €720m deal". fin24.com. Sandown, South Africa: Finweek. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  31. "Sappi rights offer will dilute value, says activist". The Star. Gauteng, South Africa. 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  32. Crotty, Ann (4 August 2009). "Absa investors stuck with R1bn executive gamble". BusinessReport. Johannesburg: Independent Online. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  33. Crotty, Ann (23 April 2009). "Absa 'was not asked to assist Barclays last year'". BusinessReport. Johannesburg: Independent Online. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  34. Mchunu, Sandile (30 November 2007). "Sasol feels shareholder's heat". fin24.com. Sandown, South Africa: Finweek. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  35. Jacks, Mzwandile (19 October 2009). "Sasol Nitro should open its books to farmers, not only the tribunal". Independent Online. South Africa. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  36. Crotty, Ann (3 August 2009). "SABMiller unfazed by dual role of chief". Independent Online. South Africa. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  37. Rose, Rob; Adele Shevel (2 August 2009). "SABMiller loses its cheer for PIC's Molefe". TimesLive. Johannesburg: AVUSA. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  38. Rose, Rob (22 September 2009). "Accounting slip-up at Pick n Pay". TimesLive. Johannesburg: AVUSA. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  39. Gedye, Lloyd (5 October 2008). "Tiger Slaps its Own Wrists". Mail & Guardian Online. Cape Town, South Africa: Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  40. Benjamin, Chantelle (22 September 2009). "Avusa shareholder questions bonuses". Business Day (South Africa). Johannesburg. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  41. Bain, Julie (31 March 2008). "New Anglo Pt CEO named in April". miningmx.com. Finweek. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  42. Schumacher, Ines (30 March 2009). "Anglo Plats minorities angry". miningmx.com. Finweek. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  43. "Sacked Wesizwe CEO scrapes back in pyrrhic victory". 18 December 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  44. Wessels, Vernon (28 May 2008). "Standard Bank May Miss Lower Profit Goal on Bad Loans". New York: Bloomberg. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
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