Kingfisher plc
Kingfisher plc is a British retailer with an international orientation, a large number of retail companies had in the past and is currently specializing in hardware stores. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and listed in the FTSE 100 Index.
History
The company was founded in 1982 at the Sale of the British Woolworths chain by Paternoster Sores Ltd, which later changed its name to Woolworth Holdings plc. Group logo of Kingfisher ( Kingfisher english ).
Ongoing acquisitions of retail companies such as B & Q, Superdrug, Comet and MVC could expand the Group. In 1994, he was renamed Kingfisher plc. Further acquisitions of European companies such as Castorama, BUT and the Berlin company photo radio Wegert / ProMarkt led to the top of the retail companies in the UK to the rise of the company. 1999 failed takeover of British rival retailer Asda, because the American competitors Wal- Mart won the bidding contest. On Kingfisher Group from 1998 to 2003 included the German electrical retail chain ProMarkt, as well as the Internet portals Yagma.com and Heimwerken.de In the following years, Kingfisher has focused on the acquisition of hardware stores.
The group was led 1984-2002 by Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy. Because of this interest for sailing, the company was the main sponsor of the British sailor Ellen MacArthur.
On September 30, 2013 it was announced that Kingfisher with his hardware store brand " Screwfix " wants to expand to Germany.
Investments
The group has (as of 2009 ):
- B & Q, operating in the UK, Ireland and China
- Brico Dépot in France, Poland and Spain
- DIY chain Castorama in France, Poland, Russia
- Hornbach Holding AG in Germany ( minority participation, strategic alliance with Hornbach - majority ownership of the shares of Hornbach family owned )
- Koctas in Turkey
- Screwfix Direct in the UK