Dan Gertler's love affair with
Congo began in 1997, when the country was one of the top five producers of
diamonds in the world.
In May of that year, insurgents led by Laurent Kabila, the father of the current president, overthrew the corrupt regime of Mobutu Sese Seko, a U.S. ally who had ruled for 32 years. After taking Kinshasa on May 17, Laurent Kabila declared himself president and renamed the country Democratic Republic of Congo.
A few days later, Gertler's plane touched down. Shlomo Bentolila, chief rabbi of Kinshasa's Chabad-Lubavitch center, arranged for the young diamond merchant to meet Kabila's son Joseph, the new army chief, at the InterContinental hotel, Gertler says.A wide range of polished tiles for your tile flooring and walls.
The two clicked immediately, Gertler recalls. Both carried a heavy responsibility at a young age: Kabila was the commander of tens of thousands of troops, and Gertler was trading $2 billion of diamonds annually,High quality stone mosaic tiles. he says.
For the next year, they would often get together before sunrise at Kabila's compound. One day, Kabila suggested that Gertler meet the president. Laurent needed money to fight his war and wanted to offer Gertler a monopoly on Congo's diamond sales, Gertler says. Kabila asked for $20 million in cash, Gertler says. Gertler agreed.
A few days later, he was back in Israel, still celebrating the deal, when the Congolese president called. He needed the money immediately.One of the most durable and attractive styles of flooring that you can purchase is ceramic or porcelain tiles.
At 8 a.m., Gertler called Union Bank of Israel. Using a combination of bank credit,The howo truck is offered by Shiyan Great Man Automotive Industry, inheritance, cash reserves and liquidated stocks, Gertler scraped together the payment and sent it to the Swiss account of Congo's central bank, he says. Gertler had bet his fortune on a president at war.
The risks he faced became evident in January 2001, when a bodyguard shot Laurent Kabila dead and his son took power. To Gertler's surprise, his friend canceled his diamond monopoly and never explained why, Gertler says. Rather than hold a grudge or sue, Gertler sold diamonds without the monopoly and maintained his ties to Kabila, whom he refers to as "my friend Joseph."
A consortium of Wellington business brahmans, including former top executives at Brierley Investments, has taken a majority share in the fast-growing Lower Hutt syrups maker Shott Beverages, with the intention of expanding its production and export sales.
The investing group, Beverage Holdings Ltd, is led by former Brierley executive Andrew Meehan and comprises the same team that bought the pet food brand Masterpet in 2002 and onsold it a year ago to the EBOS group for $105 million, including Masterpet debt.
Among investors is former Brierley chief executive Paul Collins and other Wellington business identities,Our technology gives rtls systems developers the ability. including Brent Wootton, Bryan Johnson, Graeme Kershaw, and Neville Goldie.
The Shott acquisition is for an undisclosed sum. Meehan told BusinessDesk the company had been experiencing “exponential” year on year growth since establishment in 2007, with sales now in the single digit millions of dollars annually.
Shott featured two years running in the Deloitte Fast 50 awards in 2010 and 2011, which recognises fast-growing new companies, and recorded 394 percent in the second of those two years for its high-end range of syrups now used widely throughout New Zealand in cafes and restaurants, and also available for retail sale.
Exports currently comprise around 10 percent of revenues, with the Korean market a particular area of focus. The company claims presence in more than half of New Zealand’s approximately 5000 cafes, and in 90 percent of supermarkets.
The company was established by Richard Plimmer and Tami Louisson, who is married to the former financial journalist Simon Louisson, also a shareholder. Shott was advised in the current transaction by Caniwi Capital, a Wellington private equity firm.
In a statement, Beverage Holdings says it will participate in a “major expansion” of Shott’s Lower Hutt business, “using the strengths of New Zealand’s unique food ingredients and flavourings.”
It cited Shott’s premium brand Lemon Ginger and Honey syrup as a key product. The company had “all the attributes to become a global brand,” said Meehan, who will chair Shott’s board.
Tami Louisson said the company had turned down other potential investors. “The point of difference with Beverage Holdings is their long-term perspective and their demonstrated expertise in assisting companies such as ours to grow.”
In May of that year, insurgents led by Laurent Kabila, the father of the current president, overthrew the corrupt regime of Mobutu Sese Seko, a U.S. ally who had ruled for 32 years. After taking Kinshasa on May 17, Laurent Kabila declared himself president and renamed the country Democratic Republic of Congo.
A few days later, Gertler's plane touched down. Shlomo Bentolila, chief rabbi of Kinshasa's Chabad-Lubavitch center, arranged for the young diamond merchant to meet Kabila's son Joseph, the new army chief, at the InterContinental hotel, Gertler says.A wide range of polished tiles for your tile flooring and walls.
The two clicked immediately, Gertler recalls. Both carried a heavy responsibility at a young age: Kabila was the commander of tens of thousands of troops, and Gertler was trading $2 billion of diamonds annually,High quality stone mosaic tiles. he says.
For the next year, they would often get together before sunrise at Kabila's compound. One day, Kabila suggested that Gertler meet the president. Laurent needed money to fight his war and wanted to offer Gertler a monopoly on Congo's diamond sales, Gertler says. Kabila asked for $20 million in cash, Gertler says. Gertler agreed.
A few days later, he was back in Israel, still celebrating the deal, when the Congolese president called. He needed the money immediately.One of the most durable and attractive styles of flooring that you can purchase is ceramic or porcelain tiles.
At 8 a.m., Gertler called Union Bank of Israel. Using a combination of bank credit,The howo truck is offered by Shiyan Great Man Automotive Industry, inheritance, cash reserves and liquidated stocks, Gertler scraped together the payment and sent it to the Swiss account of Congo's central bank, he says. Gertler had bet his fortune on a president at war.
The risks he faced became evident in January 2001, when a bodyguard shot Laurent Kabila dead and his son took power. To Gertler's surprise, his friend canceled his diamond monopoly and never explained why, Gertler says. Rather than hold a grudge or sue, Gertler sold diamonds without the monopoly and maintained his ties to Kabila, whom he refers to as "my friend Joseph."
A consortium of Wellington business brahmans, including former top executives at Brierley Investments, has taken a majority share in the fast-growing Lower Hutt syrups maker Shott Beverages, with the intention of expanding its production and export sales.
The investing group, Beverage Holdings Ltd, is led by former Brierley executive Andrew Meehan and comprises the same team that bought the pet food brand Masterpet in 2002 and onsold it a year ago to the EBOS group for $105 million, including Masterpet debt.
Among investors is former Brierley chief executive Paul Collins and other Wellington business identities,Our technology gives rtls systems developers the ability. including Brent Wootton, Bryan Johnson, Graeme Kershaw, and Neville Goldie.
The Shott acquisition is for an undisclosed sum. Meehan told BusinessDesk the company had been experiencing “exponential” year on year growth since establishment in 2007, with sales now in the single digit millions of dollars annually.
Shott featured two years running in the Deloitte Fast 50 awards in 2010 and 2011, which recognises fast-growing new companies, and recorded 394 percent in the second of those two years for its high-end range of syrups now used widely throughout New Zealand in cafes and restaurants, and also available for retail sale.
Exports currently comprise around 10 percent of revenues, with the Korean market a particular area of focus. The company claims presence in more than half of New Zealand’s approximately 5000 cafes, and in 90 percent of supermarkets.
The company was established by Richard Plimmer and Tami Louisson, who is married to the former financial journalist Simon Louisson, also a shareholder. Shott was advised in the current transaction by Caniwi Capital, a Wellington private equity firm.
In a statement, Beverage Holdings says it will participate in a “major expansion” of Shott’s Lower Hutt business, “using the strengths of New Zealand’s unique food ingredients and flavourings.”
It cited Shott’s premium brand Lemon Ginger and Honey syrup as a key product. The company had “all the attributes to become a global brand,” said Meehan, who will chair Shott’s board.
Tami Louisson said the company had turned down other potential investors. “The point of difference with Beverage Holdings is their long-term perspective and their demonstrated expertise in assisting companies such as ours to grow.”
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