Directors

Dr Kinesh Pather

He hails from the medical fraternity, and post his practice completed his MBA, went into the investment arena, therafter joining Letsema Investments, and CEPPWAWU Invesments.

Kinesh has extensive experience in the trade union investment arena – he was previously the CEO of the Chemical and Petroleum Union Investment Company. In this role in 2001, he concluded the first significant BEE transaction in the PharmaCo sector through a strategic equity acquisition into Aspen Pharmacare (SA’s largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturer). This has led to enormous benefits for the Union and its members over the last 13 years. He gained immense insight into the sector and the value proposition to the partners.

Kinesh played a key role in the transformation of the Petroleum sector in SA over the previous decade and has access, through direct relationships, with Major Oil Companies and Financiers in this sector. He participated in Total South Africa in formulating its empowerment strategy and approach and is also currently a shareholder of Total SA.

Kinesh was instrumental in the deal structuring of Impala Platinum’s Marula Platinum Mine and lead the consortium to acquire 27% of Marula Platinum in 2005. Kinesh acts as Advisor to Tubatse Platinum and the Marula Community Trust, two of the empowerment partners in the 27% stake of Marula. Kinesh is still retained as advisor on all matters relating to the empowerment stake, and on the community matters.

Kinesh is currently Chairman of Kilimanjaro Capital, a strategic investment company holding equity holdings in the petroleum sector.  He also is Chairman of AvaCap which is a boutique corporate advisory house, and an Executive Director of Kefolile Group.

Kinesh also has extensive relationships in both the business and political arena of SA and in various parts of the Globe.

Steven Looper – Director

A seasoned independent oil and gas producer since 1982 drilling and operating wells in Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming Project management in Botswana, Canada, South Africa and Zimbabwe Since 1993 Mr Looper focused on development of large resource plays in West Texas at Riata Energy, Inc and most recently in the Barnett Shale trend, where his capital providers achieved 100 rates of return Mr Looper is an alumni of West Texas State University, T Boone Pickens School of Business and participated in the Harvard Business School, Executive Management Program 2003 2007.

Wole Fagbulu – Director

25+ years of experience in providing, private financial advisory service to Oil and Gas companies, Mining and Mineral companies globally. Strong network in Africa namely Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Guinea Conakry, Angola, CAR, Namibia, Zambia, South Africa and Nigeria, with further projects in the UK, USA, and Canada. Co-Founder of Westlumba Copper-Gold project, North western Province, Zambia.

He has set up several International and Domestic Hedge Funds, and Global Macro Hedge Fund platforms while in Boston, and was the Finance Manager at Bain Capital LLC, Boston, USA for two years, where he was responsible for managing the operations of Brookside Capital Partners Fund, a multi-Billion US Dollar Hedge Fund.

He holds all B.Sc. Honours, Accountancy, and M.Sc. Financial Management in Economics (Uni. of London).

John-Mark Coates – Director

Highly experienced oil and gas professional with a career emphasis on large scale unconventional resource development. Currently involved in Helium development, carbon capture, oil and gas, and geothermal projects. An educational background in geology, geochemistry and engineering led to an initial career with Advanced Resources International, a domestic and international technical consulting firm at the fore front of unconventional resource development and Carbon Capture technology. Joined MCN Corp (now DTE Energy) in a senior management role to successfully develop a multi TCF natural gas reserve base in the US. Cofounded an E&P company Patrick Energy with the funding of a family office that has led to a series of privately funded ($200MM capital) E&P companies built and sold over the past twenty years. Currently identifying and acquiring high quality helium, oil and gas, geothermal and carbon capture projects during this latest energy transition cycle. He holds a MS Geologic Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, and BSc. Honours in Geochemistry, University of London, England. Member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Potential Gas Committee of the U.S.