| Type | Public (ASX: SOL) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Diversified |
| Founded | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (January 21, 1903) |
| Founder(s) | Caleb Soul Lewy Pattinson |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
| Key people | Robert Millner, Executive Chairman |
| Website | Whsp.com.au |
Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited (ASX: SOL) is an Australian investment company.
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In 1872, Caleb Soul and his son Washington opened their first store at 177 Pitt Street, Sydney, trading as Washington H. Soul and Co. They later moved to 158-160 Pitt Street, the present head office of the company.
Lewy Pattinson emigrated to Australia in 1881 after hearing of Soul's success and became good friends with him. They were never in competition in business, and in the early 1900s, the Souls asked Pattinson to buy their business.
As a result, Pattinson and Co, and Washington H. Soul and Co. merged to become Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, the company named out of respect for Pattinson's friend.
The first public offering of shares was in December 1902, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited was listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange (now the Australian Stock Exchange) on 21 January 1903. WHSP celebrated one hundred years as a listed public company in 2002.
The company's principal activities are diverse, spanning the following concerns:
WHSP's main investments in subsidiaries and associated investments include:
WHSP also operates nine pharmacies in Sydney, including two in the CBD and seven in the main Sydney metropolitan area.
WHSP also owned Orchy Fruit Juices for many years but sold it to Bevco in July 2004.