biography
| name: |
Holmes a Court, (Michael) Robert Hamilton
|
pronunciation:
[hohmz uh kaw(r)t]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1937–90)
|
| biography:
| Entrepreneur, born in South Africa. He studied in South Africa, New Zealand, and at the University of Western Australia, Perth, and became a lawyer. He acquired his first company in 1970, and went on to establish the Bell Group, where he demonstrated his skill in managing takeovers, even making money out of unsuccessful takeover bids such as those for the Ansett Transport Group and Elders. The Bell Group owned the Herald and Weekly Times newspaper group, among numerous other interests, and in 1984 stunned the business world by bidding for BHP, Australia's largest company. The Bell Group was debilitated after the 1987 stock-market crash, but by 1990, when he died, Holmes a Court's private company was recovering well, consolidating his position as one of the wealthiest people in Australia. He had a significant collection of Australian art and was involved in horse breeding and racing. His widow Janet Holmes a Court (1944– ) became chair of the $400 million family company Heytesbury Holdings after her husband's sudden death. |
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