TJ STRYDOM, AUTHOR OF THE UNAUTHORISED BIOGRAPHY OF CHRISTO WIESE

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Only a few days before the shares were issued, the news agency Reuters interviewed Christo Wiese. Experienced journalist, TJ Strydom and his colleague quizzed him on the chances of a Steinhoff-Shoprite merger. Giving nothing away, he said that to combine the two companies would be “a natural development”.

“People know that I am 75 years old, and I, fortunately, have a son who is in business with me, but as a family, we are continually looking at consolidating our business interests,” he added.
The story hit the wire and within minutes the share prices of both Shoprite and Steinhoff rose sharply – the market read it as a sign that a transaction was looming. Afterwards, Wiese was not happy about the story, probably because he and Markus Jooste were already planning a wedding between the two companies.
This is all covered in the unauthorised biography of Christo Wiese Risk and Riches written by TJ Strydom
2 May 2019 9AM English South Africa Business News · Investing

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