15 richest people on the Botswana Stock Exchange

The Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE), a thriving hub of financial activity in Southern Africa, has witnessed a remarkable surge in market capitalization, scaling a staggering 13.99 percent to reach BWP598.5 billion ($43.94 billion).

With its market capitalization now surpassing $40 billion, the BSE stands as the third-largest stock exchange in the region, serving as a fertile ground for wealth creation and investment endeavors. Among the notable figures shaping this financial landscape is Jonathan Gibson, leveraging his stakes in companies like Chobe Holdings for substantial benefits.

However, not every journey has been smooth, as exemplified by Ramachandran Ottapathu, whose challenges in his investment journey with a 24.65-percent stake in Choppies raise intriguing questions about the diverse outcomes experienced by investors on the BSE.

In response to the ever-changing fortunes of these investors, Billionaires.Africa, with data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, Africa has compiled a comprehensive list of the wealthiest shareholders and stock owners on the Botswana Stock Exchange.

The portfolio value of these individuals is based on the value of their equities at the end of trading on November 10, providing a snapshot of the financial landscape at that moment. Presented below are the 15 individuals who own the highest stock ownership positions on the Botswana Stock Exchange:

1. Ramachandran Ottapathu
   Portfolio value on the BSE: $34.96 million
   Holdings: Choppies, Far Property Company Limited
   As the longstanding CEO of Choppies, Ottapathu reigns as the retail giant’s largest individual shareholder. His 24.48-percent stake in Choppies, equivalent to 316,353,058 shares, is valued at $11.63 million. Ottapathu also holds a significant 28.85-percent stake in Far Property, the real estate backbone of Choppies, valued at over $23.33 million.

2. Jonathan Gibson
   Portfolio value on the BSE: $34.6 million
   Holdings: Chobe Holdings
   As the driving force behind Chobe Holdings, Jonathan Gibson’s portfolio value on the BSE amounts to $34.60 million, anchored by his ownership of 31,830,406 shares in the company. With its safari brands, including Desert & Delta Safaris, Chobe Holdings contributes significantly to Gibson’s substantial net worth.

3. Farouk Ismail
   Portfolio value on the BSE: $34.1million
   Holdings: Choppies, Far Property Company Limited
   Farouk Ismail’s father founded Wayside Supermarket, the modest family-owned business that evolved into Choppies Enterprises. The value of his 14.99-percent stake in the retailer is $9.99 million. His additional BSE holdings include a 28.83-percent shareholding in Far Property Company Limited worth $23.31 million and a 1.26-percent stake in Botswana Telecommunications Company.
   
4. Johannes “Jannie” Mouton
   Portfolio value on the BSE: $20.2 million
   Holdings: CA Sales Holding Limited
   South African entrepreneur Jannie Mouton stands tall as one of the major shareholders in CA Sales Holding Limited. His 9.3-percent ownership, comprising 44,151,747 ordinary shares, translates to a present value of $20.2 million.

5. Giorgio Giachetti
   Portfolio value on the BSE: $14.3 million
   Holdings: RDC Properties
   Giorgio Giachetti, a co-founder of RDC Properties, commands a portfolio value of $14.3 million on the BSE. His 86,448,622 ordinary shares in RDC Properties showcase his influence in the diverse real estate market spanning Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, the United States, and Madagascar.

6. Gulam Abdoola
   Portfolio value on the BSE: $12.37 million
   Holdings: Turnstar Holdings
   Founder of Turnstar Holdings, Gulam Abdoola, has etched his success in the property investment sector across Botswana, Tanzania, and the United Arab Emirates. His wholly-owned GH Group (Pty) Ltd. owns 80,148,355 ordinary shares of Turnstar Holdings, currently valued at $12.37 million.

7. Chandrakant Chauhan
   Portfolio value on the BSE: $11.84million
   Holdings: Sefalana Holding Company Limited
   Leading Sefalana Holding Company Limited, Chandra Chauhan’s 5.64-percent ownership in the retail giant amounts to 14,134,204 ordinary shares, currently valued at $11.84 million.

8. Hitesh Anadkat
   Portfolio value on the BSE: $5.27 million
   Holdings: Letshego
   Indian-Malawian financier Hitesh Anadkat owns 2.9 percent of Letshego Holdings, valued at $5.27 million. Letshego is a regional consumer financial services provider in Sub-Saharan Africa.

9. Adams Dambe
   Portfolio value on the BSE: $3.11 million
   Holdings: Chobe Holdings
   Adams Dambe Chilisa, a Botswanan entrepreneur with investments in the hospitality industry, owns three percent of BSE-listed Chobe Holdings, equivalent to 2,856,218 ordinary shares. His stake is currently worth $3.11 million.
   
10. Jillian Law
    Portfolio value on the BSE: $3.06 million
    Holdings: Chobe Holdings
    Jillian Law holds a three-percent stake in Chobe, equivalent to 2,812,500 ordinary shares, presently worth $3.06 million.
    
11. Eira Thomas
    Portfolio value on the BSE: $1.69 million
    Holdings: Lucara Diamond Corp
    Eira Thomas, a Canadian geologist, is the CEO of Lucara Diamond Corp, a Canadian diamond mining company with a producing mine and exploration license in Botswana. Thomas owns 1.26 percent of Lucara, which has a dual listing on Botswana and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
    
12. Catherine McLeod-Seltzer
    Portfolio value on the BSE: $1.32 million
    Holdings: Lucara Diamond Corp
    Catherine McLeod-Seltzer, a Canadian mining executive, owns 0.99 percent of Lucara Diamond Corp. The stake is currently worth $1.32 million.
    
13. Claude de Bruin
    Portfolio value on the BSE: $1.25 million
    Holdings: Minergy
    Claude de Bruin served as a Non-Executive Director of Minergy before stepping down in July last year. He still owns 9.07 percent of the coal mining and trading company, Minergy equivalent to 42,634,421 ordinary shares.
    
14. John Astrup
    Portfolio value on the BSE: $1.18 million
    Holdings: Minergy
    John Astrup, the Managing Director of Minergy Limited, owns an 8.57-percent stake in Minergy equivalent to 40,279,938 ordinary shares, currently worth $1.18 million.
    
15. Anthony Gilby
    Portfolio value on the BSE: $1.27 million
    Holdings: Tlou Energy
    CEO of Tlou Energy Limited, Anthony Gilby, holds a 4.9-percent stake of 34,489,580 ordinary shares, currently worth $1.27 million. Tlou Energy focuses on developing power solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa through gas-fired power and ancillary projects.