Share John Hartman wears a pair of crocodile-skin boots he made for himself with the help of the craftsfolk at RM Williams. They look flash, like the $190 million deal he did on behalf of Andrew and Nicola Forrest to buy the iconic boot and outback clothing maker in October, but looks can be deceiving. To outsiders, it seemed as if a sentimental billionaire swooped down from the top of a mountain of iron ore money and snatched RM Williams from the clutches of private equity giant TPG Capital. Hartman’s version is the Forrests and their private company, Tattarang, were more like a crocodile with their eyes just above the water waiting patiently to strike after a long stakeout.