@Rollout, i do take your challenge on wealth held by American corps.
1. Bear Sterns by every 'wall street's' standard was big.
2. Lehmann filed for bankrulptcy being stripped as we talk selling some of its good businesses at throw away prices.
3. AIG after 60 years in business bailed by govt after taking too much risk in terms of insurance hedges (more than 0.5 trillion dollars)
4. Detroit based motor companies were basically kept alive by the govt so as to have chance while competing with the Toyota's & Nissan's of the world.
5. Wealth through Enron, Worldcom, Madoff c'mon!
6. Merryl Lynch bought by BOA that was saved by the govt.
7. Some of the largest IPO's have been out of the US.
8. Most of GE's operations are in China. Why?
9. Lots of insider trading that go into billions where people lose their pensions take the above and Sri Lankan as an example.
10. WB is even going to India for investment options.
11. Google being investigated for malpractices.
12. Using quants to make CDO's to make money. C'mon.
The list is endless.
Success stories in Africa:
1. Largest diamond co. from SA.
2. First cellphone money transfer safcom Kenya.
3. Mobile commerce. Still Mpesa/Zap Kenya.
4. After Grameen, Equity steps into the building.
5. Ask yourself why funds like soros, banks like HSBC are rushing in?
6. Scangroup. Wpp had to rush in.
7. Eabl. Diageo rushed in.
8. Bamburi. Larfarge came rushin in.
You being the investment banker i think you know why these companies are rushing in!
The list is endless and we do make clean money too even though corruption is here and lobbying is there.
'They say money cannot buy me happiness but when i compare when i had none and now, i'm happier' Kevin O'leary