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Theophilous James Bennett Botha
Born (1960-03-01) 1 March 1960 (age 64)
Occupationself-employed

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]

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][excessive citations]

Activism

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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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]

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

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  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.
  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. ^ a b Newmarch, Jocelyn (10 May 2007). "Keeping Tycoons on Their Toes". Mail & Guardian. Cape Town, South Africa. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  7. ^ a b 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. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ a b Ashton, Marc (17 November 2008). "Bidvest fields tough questions". fin24.com. Sandown, South Africa: Finweek. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  12. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Cokayne, Roy (27 January 2009). "Activist Botha warns PPC on audit committee chair". IOLTechnology.co.za. Johannesburg: Independent Online. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  17. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Salgado, Ingi (11 February 2008). "PPC: Clean air versus profit is a dilemma" (PDF). Business Report. Johannesburg. 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. Cape Town, South Africa. 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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