Smile of steel: John Anderson bites off a far-flung empire.

Smile of steel: John Anderson bites off a far-flung empire

BY CYNDIA ZWAHLEN

AT 7:15 a.m. on the day of the big earthquake, John E. Anderson, financier, lawyer, philanthropist and entrepreneur, was at his desk, bargaining by telephone with the largest buyer of Anderson-distributed beverages in the Virgin Islands.

"We can't give you better terms," said Anderson. "But countered his customer, "I don't have the money."

"Well, said Anderson, "I'll tell you what, I will go to the bank -- I have this kind of trust and confidence in you -- and I will guarantee a loan to you."

"What about the interest?" pressed the client. "Will you GO 50-50 with me on the interest?

Then the door on his grandfather clock opened and the chimes and pendulum swung out, then crashed back inside against the clock case.

The rumbling continued. ""Lewis," I said, 'I want to tell you something. I think we're having an earthquake and it's a real big one. You've got 10 seconds. You want the deal or not?

It was a tough way to cut a deal, and the episode speaks volumes about Anderson, 69, founder and owner of Topa Equities Ltd., a $375 million (sales) private holding company. He is personable, helpful, but also very, very tough when it comes to cutting a deal.

Says an ex-employee, "He's a nice guy on the surface, but he's all business right underneath, and frankly, I found that extremely refreshing. It doesn't take very long working with him to see how focused and direct he is. As a result he has done phenomentally well.

Says Brenda Seuthe, chief financial officer of Topa Equities Ltd: "He truly loves doing business. He loves the challenge.

Founding partner of Kindel & Anderson law firm in 1953, which once reigned as Los Angeles' premier law firm in securities law, Anderson has had plenty of opportunities to wheel and deal.

Building upon the capital, contacts and knowledge developed by his law firm, Anderson branched out from law roughly 15 years ago and began to buy and start companies. To date, he has built a private empire of 23 wholly owned subsidiaries doing business in wholesale beverage distribution, financial services and real estate, all under the umbrella of Topa Equities.

Financially, it has been a smart move: Today, Topa's chief financial officer estimates Anderson's worth at $310 million, give or take a few million -- better than even the heftiest legal fees would have garnered.