Redland plc

Redland plc
Industry Building materials
Fate Acquired
Successor Lafarge
Founded 1919
Defunct 1997
Headquarters Reigate, UK
Key people Rudolph Agnew, (Chairman)
Robert Napier, (CEO)

Redland plc was a leading British building materials business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

History

The Company was established in 1919 as a manufacturer of concrete tiles trading as the Redhill Tile Company.[1]

In 1946 the Company changed its name to Redland Tiles.[1] In 1954 it expanded into Germany taking a minority interest Braas, a building materials business based in Heusenstamm.[1] The Company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1955.[1] In 1969 it started operating in Australia acquiring a significant shareholding in Monier Ltd.[1]

In 1990 it diversified into the manufacture of plasterboard forming a joint venture with Lafarge for that purpose.[2]

By 1991 Braas was contributing almost half the profits of the Group.[3] The Company acquired Steetley plc, a major competitor, in 1992.[4] It sold its UK brick manufacturing business to Ibstock in 1996.[4]

The Company was acquired by Lafarge in 1997.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Monier Redland: History
  2. ^ Competition Commission Report 1990
  3. ^ Having Their Cake: How the City and Big Bosses Are Consuming UK Business By Don Young, Chapter 7 The Rise and Fall of Redland, Kogan Page, 2004 ISBN 978 0749438616
  4. ^ a b French losses and strong pound cost Redland dear The Independent, 28 March 1997
  5. ^ Redlands needs White Knights, The Independent, 16 October 1997