James Wilkes

Printer of business forms, supplier of office equipment, of Bilston

1951 Company borrowed money from ICFC to enable expansion

Produced to make continuous forms for business systems, teleprinters, etc.

As computers were introduced, the company worked with the main manufacturers to develop forms for their printers, as well as producing secure printing of documents such as dividend warrants.

1961 Introduced automatic paper handling for business printing

1967 ICFC offered shares in the company for sale by tender; the company was in the computer section

1968 Business forms and office equipment maker of Bilston

1970 Company supplying office equipment and business forms

1973 Producer of business forms; based in Staffordshire

1974 Maker of business forms and equipment

1982 Sold its business forms division to Deanson (Holdings)

By 1986 had acquired Deritend Engineering (1983)

1987 Board adopted a strategy of expansion by acquisition - purchased Cumbria Land

1988 Sheffield based packaging, print, property and engineering group. Subsidiaries included:

• Deritend, engineering
• John Quarmby, promotional material,
• Cumbria Land, waste disposal site operator,
• T. C. Thompson, printing machinery, where there had been closures.

MBO by 3 directors; the group's 4 divisions would be used as the basis for expansion by acquisition.

1988 Bought Peter Stubs from James Neill Holdings except for the bi-metal strip business which would stay in the hand and cutting tool business which Neill would expand

1989 Acquired Easterbrook, Allcard and Co

1993 James Wilkes was acquired by the conglomerate Suter plc.

1995 Suter plc was in its turn acquired by Ascot Holdings.

See Also

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