Ron Brierley
Encyclopedia
Sir Ronald Alfred "Ron" Brierley (born 2 August 1937) is a New Zealand investor and corporate raid
er, chairman and director of a number of companies in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. He founded "R. A. Brierley Investments" (BIL; from October 2007 GuocoLeisure ) in March 1961 with no capital. By 1984 BIL was the largest company in New Zealand by market capitalization, and in 1987 had 160,000 shareholders, with a stake in over 300 companies, including Paris department store Galleries Lafayette and Air New Zealand
.
during 1937 to middle class parents. He went to primary school at Island Bay School, and Wellington College
high school. At high school he joined the New Stamp Dealers Federation, and began his first business venture selling stamps to students and staff. Brierley is a fan of cricket, being a Trustee of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust 1988-96, and President of New Zealand Cricket
in 1995. He also likes travelling by train. He was knighted on 18 May 1988.
after a short time. In 1956 he created a sharemarket tip sheet “New Zealand Stocks and Shares”, which he delivered unsolicited to all listed New Zealand companies. Subsequently he billed the companies for the sheet, most of whom paid. "Investment Funds New Zealand" was Brierley’s first investment company, started in 1959. He unsuccessfully attempted to get elected to the board of Hallensteins when just 23.
In the 1970s the company grew, much as a result of Brierley’s detailed and extensive market research, and by 1981 was one of the 20 largest companies in New Zealand by market capitalisation. After the sharemarket crash of 1987, the company focused on a smaller number of assets. In 1977-78 along with Ravensdown Fertiliser it took over Kempthorne Prosser
Limited, New Zealand's largest drug and fertiliser company removing it from the market.
Brierley’s first acquisition in contential Europe came in 1988, by buying stakes in three French department stores.
During the technology boom of the 1990s, Brierley kept away from technology companies, instead concentrating on financial and industrial companies in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Brierley withdrew from direct involvement in 1990 and become founder president; in 2001 he retired from the company, on the 40th anniversary.
(GPG). As chairman Brierley publicly attacked and successfully defeated the plan to merge the London Stock Exchange
with Deutsche Börse
in 2001.
Corporate raid
A corporate raid is an American English business term for buying a large interest in a corporation and then using voting rights to enact measures directed at increasing the share value...
er, chairman and director of a number of companies in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. He founded "R. A. Brierley Investments" (BIL; from October 2007 GuocoLeisure ) in March 1961 with no capital. By 1984 BIL was the largest company in New Zealand by market capitalization, and in 1987 had 160,000 shareholders, with a stake in over 300 companies, including Paris department store Galleries Lafayette and Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
.
Personal life
Brierley was born in WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
during 1937 to middle class parents. He went to primary school at Island Bay School, and Wellington College
Wellington College (New Zealand)
Wellington College is a state secondary school for boys in Mount Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand.-History:Wellington College opened in 1867 as Wellington Grammar School in Woodward Street, though Sir George Grey gave the school a deed of endowment in 1853. In 1874 it opened at its present...
high school. At high school he joined the New Stamp Dealers Federation, and began his first business venture selling stamps to students and staff. Brierley is a fan of cricket, being a Trustee of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust 1988-96, and President of New Zealand Cricket
New Zealand Cricket
New Zealand Cricket, formerly the New Zealand Cricket Board, is the governing body for professional cricket in New Zealand. Cricket is the most popular and highest profile summer sport in New Zealand....
in 1995. He also likes travelling by train. He was knighted on 18 May 1988.
Early career
During the 1950s, Brierley was as a clerk at the Sun Alliance Company, and dropped out of part-time accountancy study at Victoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
after a short time. In 1956 he created a sharemarket tip sheet “New Zealand Stocks and Shares”, which he delivered unsolicited to all listed New Zealand companies. Subsequently he billed the companies for the sheet, most of whom paid. "Investment Funds New Zealand" was Brierley’s first investment company, started in 1959. He unsuccessfully attempted to get elected to the board of Hallensteins when just 23.
Brierley Investments Ltd (BIL)
Brierley founded BIL in 1961 with the mission to acquire significant shareholdings in Australia and New Zealand listed companies, seeking companies with a low share price but high assets. The company initially struggled for success despite exaggerated advertising. In 1964 BIL purchased a share in the Australian company Industrial Equity, which subsequently became BIL’s investment vehicle there.In the 1970s the company grew, much as a result of Brierley’s detailed and extensive market research, and by 1981 was one of the 20 largest companies in New Zealand by market capitalisation. After the sharemarket crash of 1987, the company focused on a smaller number of assets. In 1977-78 along with Ravensdown Fertiliser it took over Kempthorne Prosser
Kempthorne Prosser
Kempthorne Prosser & Co. Ltd, also known as the New Zealand Drug Company Ltd, was the leading drug and fertiliser manufacturer in New Zealand from 1869 until 1978. Their complete name was Kempthorne Prosser & Co.'s New Zealand Drug Co. Ltd, established in Dunedin.Thomas Whitelock Kempthorne and...
Limited, New Zealand's largest drug and fertiliser company removing it from the market.
Brierley’s first acquisition in contential Europe came in 1988, by buying stakes in three French department stores.
During the technology boom of the 1990s, Brierley kept away from technology companies, instead concentrating on financial and industrial companies in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Brierley withdrew from direct involvement in 1990 and become founder president; in 2001 he retired from the company, on the 40th anniversary.
Post BIL
On 29 March 1990 Brierley was appointed chairman of investment holding company Guinness Peat GroupGuinness Mahon
Guinness Mahon was an Irish merchant bank originally based in Dublin but more recently with major operations in London.-History:The firm was founded in Dublin in 1836 by brewer Robert Rundell Guinness, cousin of the brewer Arthur Guinness, and John Ross Mahon, an estate agent. A London office...
(GPG). As chairman Brierley publicly attacked and successfully defeated the plan to merge the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
with Deutsche Börse
Deutsche Börse
Deutsche Börse AG is a marketplace organizer for the trading of shares and other securities. It also is a transaction services provider. It gives companies and investors access to global capital markets. It is a joint stock company and was founded in 1993. The headquarters are in Frankfurt,...
in 2001.
Quotes
- "Ron is direct - he likes to call a spade, a spade." Blake Nixon, GPG's managing director
- "Ron and Gary Weiss don't often come second when they fight, and when they do, they usually walk away with a lot of money." - Investment banker