The foundation was started by London-based hedge-fund investor Christopher Hohn and his wife.

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Either way, the prolonged takeover battle has been a successful investment for Mr Hohn.

ECONOMIST: Face value

Anti-retrovirals are supplied to poor children jointly with the Children's Investment Fund Foundation of Chris Hohn, a hedge-fund boss.

ECONOMIST: Face value

Mr Hohn rarely speaks to the press himself, but instead makes his views known in the financial press via articulate spokesmen.

ECONOMIST: Face value

Mr Hohn's misgivings over the wisdom of the deal were shared by other British and American shareholders, including the mighty Fidelity Investments.

ECONOMIST: Seifert��s stock crumbles | The

He was particularly scathing about Mr Hohn, who could justifiably, if he wished, claim to be one of the leaders of the swarm.

ECONOMIST: Face value

Mr Hohn's skilful choice of investments and successful campaigns for change have provided returns of more than 40% in each of the past three years.

ECONOMIST: Face value

Its origins lie in Mr Hohn's background.

ECONOMIST: Face value

Mr Hohn is reclusive by nature.

ECONOMIST: Face value

Besides Branson (along with his wife, Joan), Pinchuk and Tan, the new Pledgers are: Andrew and Nicola Forrest (Australia), Patrice and Precious Motsepe (South Africa), Hasso Plattner (Germany), Vladimir Potanin (Russia), Azim Premji (India) and John Caudwell, Chris and Jamie Cooper-Hohn, Mo Ibrahim, David Sainsbury (all from the U.K).

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