SSL International

SSL International plc
Company type	Public limited company
Industry	Healthcare products
Predecessor	Seton, Scholl, London International Group
Founded	1929
Defunct	November 2010
Fate	Acquired and absorbed by Reckitt
Successor	Reckitt
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
Area served	Worldwide (over 30 countries)
Key people	Stuart Wallis (inaugural chairman)
Products	Durex, Scholl, Sauber, Mister Baby, Orthaheel, Crest Condoms
Owner	Reckitt (from 2010)
Parent	Reckitt (from 2010)

SSL International plc was a UK-based manufacturer specializing in healthcare products, widely recognized for its flagship brands such as Durex and Scholl. Other significant product lines included Sauber and Mister Baby. The company’s name originated from its predecessor firms, Seton Scholl London International. Established in 1929, SSL remained publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange until it was acquired and absorbed by Reckitt in November 2010.

Scholl plc

Dr. Scholl's was founded in 1906 by podiatrist William M Scholl from Chicago, with its first retail location opening in London in 1913. Following Dr. Scholl’s passing, the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972 and earned a spot on the Fortune 500 list. In 1978, it was purchased by Schering-Plough, and then in 1984, its international brand rights and operations outside North America were sold to European Home Products, a home appliance firm based in Basingstoke.

London Rubber Company

The London Rubber Company was established in 1915 by LA Jackson, initially focusing on the sale of imported condoms and barber equipment. The firm later rebranded as London International Group (LIG) plc and diversified into consumer health and beauty sectors with products such as Durex, medical supplies including Regent surgical gloves, and business-to-business markets through Marigold Industrial Gloves.

Seton Healthcare plc

Seton Healthcare plc was created in 1952 by Ivor Stoller, beginning with the distribution of tubular bandages. It entered the public market via the London Stock Exchange in 1990. In 1992, Seton broadened its portfolio into over-the-counter pharmaceuticals by acquiring Blackburn-based Cupal for $12.4 million, thereby obtaining brands like Cuprofen, Full Marks Mousse, Meltus, along with manufacturing and marketing rights for Betadine antiseptics.

Merger of Seton and Scholl

In July 1998, Scholl combined forces with Seton to establish 'Seton Scholl plc.’ A year later, this entity merged with LIG to form Seton Scholl London International Group plc, eventually known as SSL International. Stuart Wallis served as SSL’s inaugural chairman during this consolidation until his exit in 2001.

From 2002 through 2004, SSL concentrated on refining its brand focus by divesting non-core medical and industrial divisions. This process entailed selling 21 over-the-counter brands to Thornton & Ross Limited in March 2002; offloading Marigold Industrial Gloves to Comasec SAS in November 2003; transferring wound care products to Medlock Medical Limited (backed by Apax Partners) in May 2004; and divesting Regent Infection Control—which produced Biogel gloves and Hibi antiseptics—to Apax Partners for £173 million that same month. Additionally, the Silipos business was sold to Langer Inc in October 2004.

In November 2007, SSL expanded by acquiring Orthaheel, an Australian firm known for podiatrist-designed insoles marketed under Phillip Vasyli. The company further enhanced its sexual health segment in 2008 through the acquisition of Crest Condoms, a Swiss brand.

Takeover

By early 2010, SSL was a constituent of the FTSE 250 index, operating commercially across more than thirty countries with manufacturing sites located in the UK, Spain, China, India, Thailand, and the CIS region. In July 2010, SSL agreed to be acquired by household goods company Reckitt for £2.5 billion. The acquisition finalized in November 2010, after which SSL was fully integrated into Reckitt’s operations.

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