Revealed: Australia's newest gas billionaire
By Stephen Mayne
February 2, 2010
Dear Mayne Report subscribers,
Greetings from the Qantas Club where I'm getting ready for tonight's Q & A panel discussion with Tony Jones on the ABC at 9.30pm and have just discovered that Australia seemingly has another billionaire.
Recorded as being the best performing investment fund in the world over one, three and five years by Bloomberg, Mathews Capital is run by a former stockbroker named Phil Mathews.
Phil Mathews lives in Mosman in Sydney and runs Mathews Capital out of Bell Potter's Sydney office. A few years ago it is reported that he cleaned up to the tune of over $100 million by punting in pokies giant Aristocrat.
Additionally, a big bonanza has been the Queensland coal-seam methane gas plays where his main fund, the Sabre fund, is said to have returned 200% over the past 12 months and now stands at more than $2 billion. Two other funds also occupy the Mathews Capital stable - the Tomahawk and Velocity funds totaling more than $1.5 billion. The big question is, how much of the $3 billion-plus fund is his own money and how big were Phil's performance fees?
The word on the street in Mosman and around Bell Potter is that the lad is now in billionaire territory.
Only nine days ago, he popped up as a substantial shareholder in Santos with more than 30 million shares worth $600 million-plus. Check out the announcement.
Other substantial share holdings include 19.6 million shares in Nexus Energy, 15.4 million in Arrow Energy, 9.6 million in Metgasco and 6.5 million in Pure Energy. Additionally, the Mathews funds holds 93 million shares or 10.5 per cent of Renison Mining House.
We attempted to contact Phil today, but were given the perennial run-around. We were first transferred to his office and were told he was in a meeting. We then got put through to 'Sue's phone' where some bloke answered. Apart from not knowing who Sue was, this guy refused to reveal himself also.
We just wanted to congratulate possibly Australia's newest billionaire, but was simply told that "we cannot help you". We asked if it was possible to speak to him later but was told again of the automated response "we cannot help you". You would think that becoming possibly Australia's newest billionaire would excite him and enthuse his staff. Don't be embarrassed Phil, be proud. We just wished to say congratulations.
Too much of Australia's resources dowry is controlled by multi-nationals so whilst most institutions were asleep at the wheel ahead of the gas boom, it's good to see a local hedge fund has cleaned up.
Meanwhile, here are a few new names for our Rich List which is now approaching 1100 names.
Bruce Batchelor: Queensland based founder of A-Mart All Sports, he sold his 70 per cent stake for around $77 million.
Sam Kurtz: owns at least 25 retail properties ranging from Mornington to Malvern. He has no debt and heaps of cash in the till.
Marli and Franz Ranacher: owners of the Bullo River Station, located 800 kilometres southwest of Darwin near the Western Australian border, is their 500,000 acre home. They also offer guest stays at the property which is becoming an icon in the Top End. With rural property exploding, their holding is said to be worth more than $80 million.
Peter Sherwin: another Top End farmer selling up taking advantage of exploding rural property prices. Recently sold Alroy Downs on the Barkly Tableland for $70 million, three years after he bought it for $30million.
Ben Tapp and family: after many years bull catching and contract mustering, Ben and his family are settled on Mountain Valley station. The station covers more than 1500 sq.km on the edge of Arnhemland and they own more than 11,000 head of Brahman cattle. Within the last 12 months, rural property prices have soared. They are negotiating selling another smaller station for up to $80 million.
Andrew Willink: Cannex founder and current co-owner of Rate City which deals in retail banking products. It is said to be worth more than $75 million, and is currently looking for new capital injection.
That's all for now.
Do ya Best, Stephen Mayne
* The Mayne Report is a multi-media governance website published by Stephen Mayne with occasional email editions. To unsubscribe from the emails click here.
Greetings from the Qantas Club where I'm getting ready for tonight's Q & A panel discussion with Tony Jones on the ABC at 9.30pm and have just discovered that Australia seemingly has another billionaire.
Recorded as being the best performing investment fund in the world over one, three and five years by Bloomberg, Mathews Capital is run by a former stockbroker named Phil Mathews.
Phil Mathews lives in Mosman in Sydney and runs Mathews Capital out of Bell Potter's Sydney office. A few years ago it is reported that he cleaned up to the tune of over $100 million by punting in pokies giant Aristocrat.
Additionally, a big bonanza has been the Queensland coal-seam methane gas plays where his main fund, the Sabre fund, is said to have returned 200% over the past 12 months and now stands at more than $2 billion. Two other funds also occupy the Mathews Capital stable - the Tomahawk and Velocity funds totaling more than $1.5 billion. The big question is, how much of the $3 billion-plus fund is his own money and how big were Phil's performance fees?
The word on the street in Mosman and around Bell Potter is that the lad is now in billionaire territory.
Only nine days ago, he popped up as a substantial shareholder in Santos with more than 30 million shares worth $600 million-plus. Check out the announcement.
Other substantial share holdings include 19.6 million shares in Nexus Energy, 15.4 million in Arrow Energy, 9.6 million in Metgasco and 6.5 million in Pure Energy. Additionally, the Mathews funds holds 93 million shares or 10.5 per cent of Renison Mining House.
We attempted to contact Phil today, but were given the perennial run-around. We were first transferred to his office and were told he was in a meeting. We then got put through to 'Sue's phone' where some bloke answered. Apart from not knowing who Sue was, this guy refused to reveal himself also.
We just wanted to congratulate possibly Australia's newest billionaire, but was simply told that "we cannot help you". We asked if it was possible to speak to him later but was told again of the automated response "we cannot help you". You would think that becoming possibly Australia's newest billionaire would excite him and enthuse his staff. Don't be embarrassed Phil, be proud. We just wished to say congratulations.
Too much of Australia's resources dowry is controlled by multi-nationals so whilst most institutions were asleep at the wheel ahead of the gas boom, it's good to see a local hedge fund has cleaned up.
Meanwhile, here are a few new names for our Rich List which is now approaching 1100 names.
Bruce Batchelor: Queensland based founder of A-Mart All Sports, he sold his 70 per cent stake for around $77 million.
Sam Kurtz: owns at least 25 retail properties ranging from Mornington to Malvern. He has no debt and heaps of cash in the till.
Marli and Franz Ranacher: owners of the Bullo River Station, located 800 kilometres southwest of Darwin near the Western Australian border, is their 500,000 acre home. They also offer guest stays at the property which is becoming an icon in the Top End. With rural property exploding, their holding is said to be worth more than $80 million.
Peter Sherwin: another Top End farmer selling up taking advantage of exploding rural property prices. Recently sold Alroy Downs on the Barkly Tableland for $70 million, three years after he bought it for $30million.
Ben Tapp and family: after many years bull catching and contract mustering, Ben and his family are settled on Mountain Valley station. The station covers more than 1500 sq.km on the edge of Arnhemland and they own more than 11,000 head of Brahman cattle. Within the last 12 months, rural property prices have soared. They are negotiating selling another smaller station for up to $80 million.
Andrew Willink: Cannex founder and current co-owner of Rate City which deals in retail banking products. It is said to be worth more than $75 million, and is currently looking for new capital injection.
That's all for now.
Do ya Best, Stephen Mayne
* The Mayne Report is a multi-media governance website published by Stephen Mayne with occasional email editions. To unsubscribe from the emails click here.