Consolidated Mines Selection Company
| Company type | Public limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Engineering |
| Predecessor | British South Africa Company, Charter Consolidated, Charter plc |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Fate | Acquired by Colfax Corporation |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Welding, cutting and automation technologies (ESAB); air and gas handling equipment (Howden) |
Charter International plc was a prominent engineering enterprise headquartered in London, United Kingdom. In January 2012, it became part of Colfax Corporation through acquisition.
History
The origins of Charter International trace back to the British South Africa Company, which was established in 1889 by Royal Charter. In 1965, driven by the efforts of Anglo American Corporation, it combined with The Central Mining & Investment Corporation and The Consolidated Mines Selection Company to create Charter Consolidated. Anglo American held just over one-third of the shares at that time. Originally, the company concentrated on mining investments, emphasizing global mineral exploration and the development of mining operations.
During the 1980s, Charter Consolidated shifted its focus from international mining ventures to British engineering by selling off its foreign mining holdings. It acquired an 80% interest in Morrison Construction, though ownership returned to the Morrison family in 1989 when they repurchased the stake.
In 1993, the company adopted the name Charter plc. It pursued growth through acquisitions, including the purchase of ESAB in 1994 and Howden in 1997.
At the start of 1999, Charter initiated a plan to divest its subsidiary Pandrol Rail Fastenings, which was eventually sold to Delachaux, a French company, in 2003.
A corporate reorganization in 2008 resulted in the formation of an Irish-based holding entity named Charter International plc. The company was ultimately absorbed by the American technology firm Colfax Corporation in January 2012.
Operations
The business concentrated on two primary sectors:
- ESAB: providing welding, cutting, and automation technologies
- Howden: manufacturing equipment for air and gas handling
External links
- Articles with short description
- Engineering companies of the United Kingdom
- Defunct companies based in London
- Non-renewable resource companies established in 1965
- 1965 establishments in the United Kingdom
- British South Africa Company
- Technology companies disestablished in 2012
- 2012 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
- Tax inversions
- 2012 mergers and acquisitions
- Non-renewable resource companies disestablished in 1965