Ghost Stories

Martin Slabbert, co-founder of Prime Kapital, is someone that you've become familiar with thanks to the ongoing corporate finance activity around MAS Real Estate. Prime Kapital has launched a voluntary bid to acquire all the shares in MAS, with the SENS announcement and circular having been distributed to shareholders. These documents can be complex to understand, so this podcast is aimed at explaining some of the key concepts of the deal and giving further insights into the recent noise in the market around MAS' relationship with Prime Kapital. I was joined by both Martin Slabbert and Johan Holtzhausen, Chairman of PSG Capital, in his capacity as advisor to Prime Kapital. This podcast will be a useful resource to help you research and understand the transaction.   Important disclosure: Prime Kapital has paid a market-related fee for the production and placement of this podcast. The views shared by each of Martin Slabbert, Johan Holtzhausen and The Finance Ghost in this podcast reflect their opinions on the topics covered herein and should not be seen as financial advice. As noted in the podcast, The Finance Ghost currently holds a position in Hyprop, although Hyprop's offer for MAS has been withdrawn. The Finance Ghost has no position in MAS. As always, do your own research in forming a view on this transaction.

Tinus Rautenbach from Clarity by Investec is passionate about the markets and the full spectrum of its participants, from traders through to long-term investors. Clarity caters to them all, with Tinus joining me to share useful tips and insights into how volatility should be managed by different types of equity enthusiasts. We covered concepts like the sources of volatility and its importance for long-term investors and traders alike, recognising the different goals of these players in the market. We also talked about how critical money management and position sizing are to the overall goal of protecting capital. The various tools used in risk management came up, as did the different kinds of inputs that traders and investors use in their processes. For newer and more experienced investors and traders alike, this is a great overview of many of the most important elements of a successful market strategy. As always, nothing you hear on this podcast should be taken as advice. Investec Corporate and Institutional Banking is a division of Investec Bank Limited, a licensed over-the-counter derivatives provider and an authorised Financial Services Provider, FSP number 11750.  

Martin Slabbert of Prime Kapital has strong views on the Hyprop offer to MAS shareholders. As a follow-up to the press release dealing with his concerns around the deal, he joined The Finance Ghost on this podcast to dig deeper into key concepts including: The backstory to the relationship between Prime Kapital and MAS; His views on why Hyprop has put in this offer; The conditional nature of the Hyprop bid and the risks that he believes that this introduces; The highly unusual structuring of the deal in terms of how long the offer is open for; The nature of an irrevocable undertaking; and What the future might look like if this deal goes ahead.   Important disclosure: Prime Kapital has paid a market-related fee for the production and placement of this podcast. The views shared by each of Martin Slabbert and The Finance Ghost in this podcast reflect their opinions on the topics covered herein and should not be seen as financial advice. As noted in the podcast, The Finance Ghost currently holds a position in Hyprop. As always, do your own research in forming a view on this transaction.

The latest C-suite Barometer study by Forvis Mazars paints a positive picture for private equity and alternative investments, with 26% of global executives planning to use these channels to raise funds in the year ahead. South Africa is no different to the global trend here, as evidenced by the extent of exits and capital raising transactions in private vs. public markets. But why is this the case? And will private equity continue to outpace IPOs as the exit mechanism for choice? To unpack these topics, I was joined by Wiehann Olivier and Johan Marais of Forvis Mazars in South Africa. Listen to this podcast if: you want to understand the structural advantages that private equity has over public markets, particularly for mid-sized companies.

With edgy branding and a highly unusual approach in South Africa of building from the ground up in public (i.e. while listed on the JSE), Altvest is playing life on hard mode. CEO and founder Warren Wheatley knows this, yet he remains steadfast in his belief about what they are building. With no shortage of critics (and a few negative clickbaity articles in the press along the way), Warren approached me to have a no-holds-barred conversation with him about literally anything that I felt was pertinent to Altvest investors. I also canvassed my followers on platforms like X to get a sense of the questions they wanted me to ask. The result? Over an hour of hard-hitting discussion on topics ranging from the branding strategy and underlying assets in Altvest through to the concerns in the market around remuneration and the related party transactions. As balanced and authentic discussions go, you won't find better than this. As always, the Ghost Mail platform is here to help you form your own view about what's out there in the market. Listen to this podcast and decide for yourself whether Warren and the Altvest team will make this a success or suffer a failure. Remember to speak to your financial advisor, as nothing you hear on the Ghost Stories podcast should be seen as advice.

With half of 2025 in the rearview mirror, it's been a period in which investors have actively looked for opportunities beyond the United States. That's good news not just for alternatives like Europe, but emerging markets like India and China as well. Kingsley Williams (Chief Investment Officer of Satrix*) joined The Finance Ghost to talk about the key drivers and opportunities in each of China and India. The discussion also included insights from Ghost's bottoms-up analysis of US-based companies and what those strategies teach us about what is happening elsewhere in the world. There's a lot more in the markets than just the S&P 500. This podcast will appeal to anyone looking to broaden their horizons and enhance their understanding of global investment opportunities. This podcast was first published here. For more information, visit https://satrix.co.za/products *Satrix is a division of Sanlam Investment Management. Disclaimer: Satrix Investments (Pty) Ltd & Satrix Managers (RF) (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial services provider. The information does not constitute advice as contemplated in FAIS. Use or rely on this information at your own risk. Consult your Financial Adviser before making an investment decision. While every effort has been made to ensure the reasonableness and accuracy of the information contained in this document (“the information”), the FSP’s, its shareholders, subsidiaries, clients, agents, officers and employees do not make any representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or suitability of the information and shall not be held responsible and disclaims all liability for any loss, liability and damage whatsoever suffered as a result of or which may be attributable, directly or indirectly, to any use of or reliance upon the information. For more information, visit https://satrix.co.za/products

PSG Financial Services is the proud sponsor of the Think Big South Africa competition, in collaboration with Economic Research Southern Africa (ERSA). PSG wants to encourage South Africans to get involved in their country at the highest level, bringing forward policy ideas and constructive solutions to drive conversations and real change in our country. The 2025 topic is How Capital Markets Enhance Economic Performance and Facilitate Job Creation. Papers are due for submission by 30 August 2025. In addition to the fantastic opportunity to drive change in our country, there's an impressive first prize of R500,000 and there are several other cash prizes as well. To discuss the importance of this competition and why PSG is so proud to be involved, PSG Financial Services CEO Francois Gouws joined me on this podcast. You can find out more about the competition at this link.

Five years ago, the world was a wild place. We were "staying home and staying safe" - and global central banks were cutting rates dramatically in an effort to stimulate economies under impossible circumstances. This created an unprecedented situation for equities in particular. It's certainly been a great time to be invested in the markets, but which indices have done well and which ones have been disappointing in relative terms? How does the local vs. offshore story stack up? What about developed vs. emerging markets? And what of government bonds? With a great selection of statistics to share with the listeners, Siyabulela Nomoyi of Satrix was a wealth of knowledge in this podcast. This podcast was first published here. For more information, visit https://satrix.co.za/products Satrix Investments Pty Limited and Satrix Managers RF Pty Limited are authorised financial services providers. Nothing you have heard in this podcast should be construed as advice. Please do your own research and visit the Satrix website for more information on all their ETF products.

Ever wondered how the nuts and bolts of ETFs work? What goes into index tracking and making sure that it is achieved at the lowest possible cost? And are all indices created equal from a complexity perspective? In answering these questions (and many more), Lauren Jacobs at Satrix* shows you what a day in the life of a portfolio manager looks like. As you'll learn in this podcast, a great deal of work goes on behind the scenes to make Satrix ETFs as efficient as possible for investors. This podcast was first published here. For more information, visit https://satrix.co.za/products Satrix Investments Pty Limited and Satrix Managers RF Pty Limited are authorised financial services providers. Nothing you have heard in this podcast should be construed as advice. Please do your own research and visit the Satrix website for more information on all their ETF products.

Intengo Market is a revolutionary independent digital marketplace for debt instruments in South Africa. Incubated by RMB in 2020 and having launched as a standalone business in 2024, the platform is growing to improve the market for all participants through outcomes like increased liquidity and price discovery. You can look forward to receiving insights into the debt market in South Africa from Intengo in months to come. In this podcast, we covered topics like: Why is the debt market so important? For what reason would a company or state-owned enterprise go the route of public debt markets? What are the trends in public vs. private debt markets? How does Intengo play a role in price discovery, debt raising strategies and the associated processes? What role do ratings agencies play in this ecosystem? If you're ready to learn about debt markets, you're in the right place. Debt arrangers, advisors, treasurers, CFOs and debt investors who want to learn more about Intengo Market can visit the website here.

STADIO Holdings has a growth story to tell. That's a rare thing on the South African market. The tertiary education space is booming and STADIO is addressing that demand through a combination of contact learning and distance learning offerings. On this podcast, CEO Chris Vorster and CFO Ishak Kula joined me to talk through the strategy, the growth prospects, the capital allocation strategy and the risks that keep them up at night. If you want to really dig into the STADIO business model, you're in the right place! Please note: this podcast has been sponsored by STADIO. Where I work directly with companies, I always craft the questions myself without any influence from the company. My thanks to STADIO for valuing the broader Ghost Mail audience and for stepping into a new era of investor engagement. As always, you must do your own research and treat this podcast as only one part of your research process.

With the markets in disarray in the aftermath of tariffs, it looks like the theme this year is more around risk management in a bear market rather than which growth stocks to buy. Of course, this can change, as markets are volatile and are driven by a number of factors including geopolitics. This volatility is exactly why diversification is so important. The risk of "diworsification" is ever-present in the strategic asset allocation decision, which is why it ends up being even more important than stock picking. A quantitative approach to strategic asset allocation is baked into the Satrix Balanced Index Fund and related products. Kingsley Williams, Chief Investment Officer of Satrix, joined me to talk through the key concepts in diversification and the usefulness of a balanced fund. This podcast was first published here. For more information, visit https://satrix.co.za/products Satrix Investments Pty Limited and Satrix Managers RF Pty Limited are authorised financial services providers. Nothing you have heard in this podcast should be construed as advice. Please do your own research and visit the Satrix website for more information on all their ETF products.  

With the dust having settled on the Budget Speech and the proposals that parliament will need to vote on, Tertius Troost of Forvis Mazars in South Africa joined me to reflect on the key drivers behind the headlines.  VAT has been the focus area, but is it true that a VAT increase is anti-poor? And is it correct to rebut the "South Africa has a small taxpayer base" argument by pointing out that everyone pays VAT? What is bracket creep and how does it affect middle-class South Africans? Perhaps most importantly, what was not said in the Budget Speech? This podcast is a great way to make sure you are on top of the key drivers behind the fiscal strategy in our country.

Tax-free savings accounts (TFSA) are one of the most building blocks in any equity portfolio. The advantage of compounding tax-free returns over a long period is incredibly powerful and can really turbocharge a long-term wealth creation journey. To discuss the importance of TFSA investments and the opportunities available to investors in the ETF universe, familiar voice Siyabulela Nomoyi of Satrix* returned to the Ghost Stories podcast.  *Satrix is a division of Sanlam Investment Management Satrix Investments Pty Limited and Satrix Managers RF Pty Limited are authorised financial services providers. Nothing you have heard in this podcast should be construed as advice. Please do your own research and visit the Satrix website for more information on all their ETF products. This podcast was published on the Satrix website here.  

Kevin O'Brien is incredibly passionate about his work as the Group Sustainability Executive at Spar. Having stuck with the group through tumultuous recent times, Kevin is focused on Spar's role as a corporate citizen in South Africa and the European markets in which it operates. There's an important difference between governing sustainably and the governance of sustainability. ESG far too often becomes a tick-box exercise rather than a way to embed better business practices throughout a group. In this discussion, the first such example of a Ghost Stories podcast that puts the spotlight on corporate reports beyond just the earnings announcement, Kevin shares his journey with us and his approach to sustainability. You'll find Spar's sustainability report at this link for further reading.