Heidelberg Materials UK: Difference between revisions
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In 1986 Hanson bought [[Smith Corona|SCM]], an [[United States|American]] chemicals to [[typewriters]] business. This included the paper division that was formerly the [[Allied Paper Corporation]]. Hanson sold most of the SCM business units and the headquarters building in New York City for a significant profit.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2004/nov/03/politics.politicalnews Legacy of the Lord with the Midas touch]</ref> |
In 1986 Hanson bought [[Smith Corona|SCM]], an [[United States|American]] chemicals to [[typewriters]] business. This included the paper division that was formerly the [[Allied Paper Corporation]]. Hanson sold most of the SCM business units and the headquarters building in New York City for a significant profit.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2004/nov/03/politics.politicalnews Legacy of the Lord with the Midas touch]</ref> |
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Its most significant single purchase, however, was probably its takeover of [[Imperial Tobacco|Imperial Tobacco Group]] in 1986.<ref name=obituary/> Hanson paid £2.5 billion for the group then undertook a major reorganisation; divestitures netted £2.3 billion, leaving Hanson with the hugely profitable tobacco business for "next to nothing."<ref name=obituary/> |
Its most significant single purchase, however, was probably its takeover of [[Imperial Tobacco|Imperial Tobacco Group]] in 1986.<ref name=obituary/> Hanson paid £2.5 billion for the group then undertook a major reorganisation; divestitures netted £2.3 billion, leaving Hanson with the hugely profitable tobacco business for "next to nothing."<ref name=obituary/> He sold off the food brands, Golden Wonder, Courage Brewery Group and Arthur Cooper (Wine Merchants) off licenses to the Dalgety Group in 1987. |
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In 1988 Hanson went on to buy [[Consolidated Gold Fields]] for £3.5bn.<ref name=obituary/> |
In 1988 Hanson went on to buy [[Consolidated Gold Fields]] for £3.5bn.<ref name=obituary/> |
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Revision as of 11:32, 9 June 2012
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Minerals |
| Founded | 1964 as Hanson Trust Ltd |
| Headquarters | London, England, UK |
Key people | Patrick O Shea (CEO) |
| Products | Building materials |
| Revenue | £4,133m (2006) |
| £563m (2006) | |
| £401m (2006) | |
| Owner | Heidelberg Cement |
Number of employees | 25,400 (2006) |
| Website | www.hanson.com |
Hanson plc (formerly Hanson Trust plc) is a British based international building materials company, headquartered in Maidenhead. Traded on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index for many years, the company was acquired by a division of German rival Heidelberg Cement in August 2007.
History
Hanson was built up by James Hanson, later Lord Hanson, and Gordon White, later Baron White of Hull, who set up Hanson Trust in 1964.[1]
Their policy was to purchase underperforming assets and turn them around. Hanson and White were willing to make any measures necessary to reform a business, including mass redundancies, and therefore attracted some opposition and accusations that they were "asset strippers",[2] but they also delivered value for their shareholders and swept away the complacency that had bedevilled British and American management for far too long.[2]
One of the most notable takeovers, at least to the general public, was the acquisition in 1983 of the United Drapery Stores,[2] or UDS, group, which owned many of Britain's most well-known high street clothes shops and department stores, including John Collier, Richard Shops and the chain of Allders department stores. To fund this purchase Hanson broke up UDS and sold John Collier to a management buy-out team, and Richard Shops to Habitat, keeping only the core department store business.
In 1986 Hanson bought SCM, an American chemicals to typewriters business. This included the paper division that was formerly the Allied Paper Corporation. Hanson sold most of the SCM business units and the headquarters building in New York City for a significant profit.[3]
Its most significant single purchase, however, was probably its takeover of Imperial Tobacco Group in 1986.[2] Hanson paid £2.5 billion for the group then undertook a major reorganisation; divestitures netted £2.3 billion, leaving Hanson with the hugely profitable tobacco business for "next to nothing."[2] He sold off the food brands, Golden Wonder, Courage Brewery Group and Arthur Cooper (Wine Merchants) off licenses to the Dalgety Group in 1987.
In 1988 Hanson went on to buy Consolidated Gold Fields for £3.5bn.[2]
An attempt in 1991 to purchase Imperial Chemical Industries, once seen by many in Britain as the nation's leading company but then in decline, was highly controversial and ended in failure.[2] Hanson did secure the takeover of Beazer, a major housebuilder, that year.[4]
By the mid 1990s conglomerates were no longer popular with the investment community. Some of the manufacturing businesses were spun off as U.S. Industries in 1995.[5]
In 1996 Hanson ended its time as a diversified conglomerate by breaking itself up into four separate listed companies: Hanson plc, Imperial Tobacco, The Energy Group and Millennium Chemicals.[1]
Lord Hanson stepped down as chairman in December 1997.[2] After Lord Hanson's departure the Company focussed on building materials. In 1999 the Company acquired Pioneer International, an Australian building materials business.[6]
In May 2007, Heidelberg Cement announced its intent to purchase Hanson PLC for £11 per share, a deal worth approximately £8 billion. This deal made the combined company the second largest cement and building materials company in the world. The transaction was completed through Heidelberg subsidiary Lehigh UK on 22 August 2007.[7]
Operations
Hanson's two largest markets are the United Kingdom and the United States, and it is also active in many other countries. It is the world's leading producer of aggregates (particles of rock, gravel and sand), and a major producer of bricks and concrete pipes.
References
- ^ a b Hanson: History
- ^ a b c d e f g h Obituary: Lord Hanson
- ^ Legacy of the Lord with the Midas touch
- ^ "Hanson to Buy Beazer In $609 Million Deal". New York Times. 17 September 1991. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ Hanson plans spin-off of 34 US Companies
- ^ Hanson seeks to buy Australian concern
- ^ Heidelberg to buy Hanson for £8bn
External links
Company data
http://hanson-share-history.yolasite.com
