Quick links: -
Purple Group (controlling shareholder in EasyEquities) is profitable again. Accelerate Property Fund needs R200 million from shareholders. Transaction Capital has made management changes. York Timbers raised debt from an international lender. Get these updates and more in Ghost Bites, brought to you by Fedgroup. -
Alligator pears, anyone? How about avocados? It turns out that these are the same things, with a marketing makeover that took avocados into the limelight - and the Super Bowl. Learn about how marketing drives consumer behaviour with the story of the avocado, told brilliantly by Dominique Olivier in this excellent article>>> -
There's a brand new Ghost Wrap podcast that brings you a useful overview of four recent examples of M&A on the local market. I covered MultiChoice / Canal+, Grindrod Shipping / Taylor Maritime, MC Mining / Goldway and the recent Sanlam deals related to Shriram in India. Brought to you by Mazars, you can get your fix in this fast-paced podcast. -
There's also a brand new episode of the Magic Markets podcast, this time featuring Harry Scherzer of Future Forex. A familiar voice to listeners, Harry updates us on the crypto arbitrage opportunity to boost portfolio returns and why South Africans shouldn't allow their R11 million annual offshore allowances to ever go to waste. Learn more here>>> -
Jeremy Maggs is a highly familiar name in local broadcasting and he hosts Investec's No Ordinary Wednesday podcast. The latest episode features award-winning fund managers Barry Shamley and Peter Vogel, bringing you their view on the markets. This podcast is brought to you by Investec and you can (and should) listen to it here>>> -
Artificial, or Artificial Intelligence? AI is dominating headlines everywhere, which means opportunities and risks. To discuss this phenomenon, Nico Katzke of Satrix joined me on the latest Ghost Stories podcast. Find it here>>>
|
|---|
|
|---|
Events: -
Bell Equipment is up next on Unlock the Stock. With plenty of activity around that stock in recent times, driven by strong earnings on one hand and the lack of a dividend on the other, this is sure to be a fascinating conversation with the management team. Put on your analyst hat and sign up to attend the event where you can pose your questions to the team. Attendance is free but you must register here>>>
|
|---|
|
|---|
Special Offer: -
Attention: business owners. Ghost Mail readers qualify for an exclusive webinar with yours truly and my fellow bizval co-founders if you value your business with bizval this April. Our offerings range from an online valuation tool through to a full-service, detailed look at your business. We can even help prepare you for a future sale! Choose one of our paid offerings here to qualify for the webinar, giving you a chance to ask whatever you want about business growth, valuation and sale preparation.
|
|---|
|
|---|
READ: Nobody wants to buy alligator pears
(by Dominique Olivier) |
|---|
|
|---|
Dominique Olivier's latest column in Ghost Mail is about the alligator pear - or, as we know it today, the avocado.
Here's the story of how the Super Bowl contributed to the rebrand and popularity of this err... fruit. Berry, in fact. |
|---|
| |
|---|
LISTEN: Ghost Wrap - the M&A edition |
|---|
|
|---|
Get the latest on four recent examples of M&A on the local market: MultiChoice, Grindrod Shipping, MC Mining and Sanlam.
Thanks to Mazars, it's all in this podcast>>> |
|---|
| |
|---|
LISTEN: Artificial, or Artificial Intelligence?
(with Nico Katzke of Satrix) |
|---|
|
|---|
Artificial Intelligence (or AI) is all over the headlines. Like with any hype trade, that's both an opportunity and a risk.
To bring some clarity to what this is and what this isn't, Nico Katzke of Satrix joined me on Ghost Stories. You'll really enjoy this podcast>>> |
|---|
| |
|---|
Local company news:
Ghost Bites is brought to you by Fedgroup.
Purple Group gave the market something to chew on, with a trading statement that shows a significant swing back into profitability. Full details are due to be released tomorrow, with the share price desperate for a momentum reversal after one-way downward traffic since early 2022. I wrote many times that the market had gotten way ahead of itself on valuation in a classic hype bubble. That doesn't mean that the underlying business won't be a long-term success.
Accelerate Property Fund is trying to fix its broken balance sheet and needs R200 million from shareholders to do it. This is a fully underwritten rights offer and the underwriter is getting paid a pretty penny for it. Unsurprisingly, the rights offer price is also at a huge discount to the prevailing price.
York Timbers has raised debt from an international lender. There's some interesting structuring of the debt profile here, with a forestry business obviously needing to manage the expected cash flows of a harvesting cycle.
Also, Transaction Capital has made more management changes (including bringing back another one of the founders) as the company commences its comeback fight after unbundling WeBuyCars.
Get the details in Ghost Bites at this link>>> |
|---|
|
|---|
LISTEN AND READ: The Investec Nikkei 225 Autocall
with Brian McMillan of Investec |
|---|
|
|---|
Brian McMillan of Structured Products at Investec talked to me about the Investec Nikkei 225 Autocall.
It offers exposure to the Nikkei 225 index over a period of up to five years with an enhanced return of up to 17% per annum in ZAR or 11.5% per annum in USD. Importantly, there is 100% capital protection provided the index does not drop by more than 30%.
Listen to this podcast to find out more. Alternatively, you can read this article about the product. |
|---|
| |
|---|
LISTEN: Magic Markets podcast |
|---|
|
|---|
In Episode 170 of Magic Markets, Harry Scherzer of Future Forex returned to the platform to update us on the crypto arbitrage opportunity and how it boosts portfolio returns.
This is a very clever way to make sure that your total annual offshore investment allowance of R11 million doesn't go to waste. Listen to the show here>>> |
|---|
| |
|---|
Macroeconomic Update Markets are on edge this morning as traders await Israel's response to yesterday's attack by Iran. Reaction in the markets has been fairly muted for now. Developments in the Middle East will be closely watched in days to come.
Despite what you would expect in this scenario, Brent Crude opened marginally lower and gold is trading flat. PGMs have started the week on a negative note.
Key indicators: USD/ZAR R18.83; US 10-year 4.56%; Gold $2,356; Platinum ZAR R18,290; Brent Crude $90.19
This macroeconomic update is based on TreasuryONE's morning update. |
|---|
|
|---|
READ: Dive into your DIY investing adventure
(by Duma Mxenge of Satrix) |
|---|
|
|---|
Yes, you can take investing into your own hands - you just need a sensible approach to it.
In this excellent article, Duma Mxenge gives sensible, easy-to-follow tips on how to get more involved in your wealth creation journey. |
|---|
| |
|---|
International company news:
There's a change in tune at Nike, after the company spent the last few years focusing on its direct-to-consumer business and shutting out many wholesalers in the process. A brand the size of Nike always gets forgiveness from wholesalers of course, as they are desperate to carry the product.
In a CNBC interview on Friday, Nike CEO John Donahoe noted that they went too far with this strategy. The problem with kicking wholesalers out of the system is that Nike needs to take on the full cost of inventory and opening stores, while allowing competitors (like specialist running stores) to get a foothold in wholesalers who were desperate for stock.
This is how it goes in business. You make changes, see how they turn out and then adjust accordingly. When your swoosh is on Scottie Scheffler's cap and shirt as he wins the Masters, you have enough brand equity to take some risks.
Will Foot Locker be the beneficiary of this less severe approach at Nike? Donahoe didn't specifically touch on this. The Foot Locker share price is languishing at horrible levels, thanks largely to Nike pulling back on that relationship. Any swing back towards Nike could do very good things for their share price.
Our latest show in Magic Markets Premium is a detailed recap on Disney, which drove me to sell my shares after the recent rally. Why is that? Subscribers find out by accessing our entire research library for just R99/month. It pays to know what's going on out there - literally.
|
|---|
|
|---|
You should expect us in your inbox Monday – Friday. If you don’t receive an email, please check your spam, or junk folder and “move us” into your primary inbox to ensure you get it each morning.
Disclaimer
Our content is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only. You must do your own analysis before executing any investments or strategic decisions, based on your own circumstances. We do not provide personalised recommendations or views as to whether an investment approach or corporate strategy is suited to the needs of a specific individual or entity. You should take independent financial advice from a suitably qualified individual who gives due regard to your personal circumstances.
Whilst every care is taken, we accept no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in any of our content.
The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in our content belong solely to the author or quoted individuals and/or entities, and not necessarily to the author's employer, organisation, committee or other group or individual, or any of our affiliates or brand partners. |
|---|
|
|---|
|
|
