Those who argue that pale males are no more useful in the new South Africa than an evolutionary throwback with no discernible function could do well to consider the case of MTN’s Robert Nesbit.
The company’s financial director is one of a small coterie of white South Africans who have grown spectacularly rich as empowerment beneficiaries.
Nesbit is one of the largest single shareholders, with a 5,6% stake in Newshelf 664, MTN’s largest shareholder. Newshelf, owned by 2 400 of MTN’s staff, is buying 18% of MTN over a period of six years from its previous owner, Transnet.
The shares were bought in March 2003 at R13,90 a share, valuing the stake at R4,3-billion. The deal is billed as one of the largest empowerment transactions the country has seen.
MTN shares were trading this week at R46,15, meaning the Newshelf stake is now worth R14,2-billion.
The deal is principally funded by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), the state pension fund administrator, which coincidentally is MTN’s second largest shareholder, with a 10,3% share of the company.
Nesbit, with two others, is the second largest shareholder in Newshelf after chief executive Phutuma Nhleko, who has a 7,9% stake.
Five MTN executives share 25% of Newshelf, the other 75% being owned by 2 400 MTN staffers.
Nhleko last year said that his Newshelf stake would be worth R135-million at a share price of R30 at the end of the six-year period.
He said the executive directors of MTN, acting in their private capacities, led the process which secured financing of more than R4,3-billion from a number of financial institutions to secure the Transnet stake.
This was done after Transnet had not succeeded in placing the stake with a buyer for about one year.
MTN’s share price at the time was R27. At current prices, it is 50% up on Nhleko’s calculation of R30, suggesting that if the price is maintained his Newshelf shares will be worth R200-million and Nesbit’s R143-million.
Nesbit’s wealth is not limited to his empowerment shares. As MTN’s financial director, he earned R10,5-million last year, nearly 50% more than that of Telkom chief executive Sizwe Nxasana.
Nesbit’s salary eclipses that of many chief executives. He, for instance, earns much more than Anglogold chief executive Bobby Godsell, whose package last year was worth R8,6-million.
He also earns considerably more than chief executives such as Maria Ramos (R2,6-million), who is tasked with running Transnet, Tito Mboweni (R2,59-million) who runs the Reserve Bank and Thabo Mbeki (R791 000), who runs the country.
Besides his empowerment shares, Nesbit has both matured and maturing share options in MTN.
MTN’s annual report records his matured share options at R40-million, with a further R28-million, at current values, which will mature between September this year and January 2008.