Cookson, then named Lead Industries, listed on the London Stock Exchange
1930 - 1973
Cookson is primarily a paint business
1973
Roland Cookson retires as then Chairman
1930 - 1973
Cookson is primarily a paint business
1978
AJ Oster Company, an American producer of non-ferrous metals, is acquired to initiate Cookson's entry into the US market
1978 - 1989
Cookson is a diversified industrial conglomerate operating in tioxide and lead paint markets while growing several new business lines including electronics, ceramics and precious metals
1979
Cookson expands its US market with acqusition of Anzon antimony business
1978 - 1989
Cookson is a diversified industrial conglomerate operating in tioxide and lead paint markets while growing several new business lines including electronics, ceramics and precious metals
1982
Company changes its name to Cookson Group
1978 - 1989
Cookson is a diversified industrial conglomerate operating in tioxide and lead paint markets while growing several new business lines including electronics, ceramics and precious metals
1984
Acquisition of Alpha Inc electronics business and Stern Metals, US jewellery fabricator
1978 - 1989
Cookson is a diversified industrial conglomerate operating in tioxide and lead paint markets while growing several new business lines including electronics, ceramics and precious metals
1985
Acquisition of Alpha Metal (Hong Kong) marks Cookson's expansion into Asia
1978 - 1989
Cookson is a diversified industrial conglomerate operating in tioxide and lead paint markets while growing several new business lines including electronics, ceramics and precious metals
1986
First 50% of Vesuvius Crucible Company of Pittsburgh acquired – a global supplier of ceramics to the steel industry
1978 - 1989
Cookson is a diversified industrial conglomerate operating in tioxide and lead paint markets while growing several new business lines including electronics, ceramics and precious metals
1987
Ceramics business strengthened with acquisition of remaining 50% interest in Vesuvius Crucible Co
1978 - 1989
Cookson is a diversified industrial conglomerate operating in tioxide and lead paint markets while growing several new business lines including electronics, ceramics and precious metals
1989
Flo-Con Systems Inc acquired as a further addition to Vesuvius
1978 - 1989
Cookson is a diversified industrial conglomerate operating in tioxide and lead paint markets while growing several new business lines including electronics, ceramics and precious metals
1991
Electronics 'boom' provides opportunities for Cookson to acquire further electonrics companies
1991 - 1994
Cookson is still a conglomerate with 4 divisions in 9 markets and 100+ companies
1994
European Precious Metals fabrication business of Johnson Matthey acquired; Lead Fabrication business disposed
1991 - 1994
Cookson is still a conglomerate with 4 divisions in 9 markets and 100+ companies
1998
Flogates/KSR acquired further bolstering Ceramics business
1998 - 2000
Cookson becomes more focused with 3 divisions with the main growth in electronics
1999
Acquisition of Premier Refractories and Enthone in Ceramics and Electronics businesses
1998 - 2000
Cookson becomes more focused with 3 divisions with the main growth in electronics
2000
Through the 1990's 11 businesses had been sold for £400m and £1bn invested in acquisitions across three core division – Electronics, Ceramics and Precious Metals
1998 - 2000
Cookson becomes more focused with 3 divisions with the main growth in electronics
2001
Electronics industry bubble bursts
2003
Disposal of cyclical Speedline business from Electronics division
2003 - 2007
Sale of loss-making businesses. Electronics exposure halved
2005
New strategic plan announced, aimed at improving operational performance, reducing debt and resuming a dividend programme.
2003 - 2007
Sale of loss making businesses. Electronics exposure halved
2006- 2007
By early 2007 the cyclical Laminates business from the Electronics division and 13 other non-core businesses had been sold
2003 - 2007
Sale of loss making businesses. Electronics exposure halved
2007 - 2009
Cookson retains 3 divisions but is now a company with a strong presence in the speciality ceramics markets
2007 - 2008
Having restored the Group's operational performance and financial strength, the £600m acquisition of Foseco was announced in October 2007 and completed in April 2008
2007 - 2009
Cookson retains 3 divisions but is now a company with a strong presence in the speciality ceramics markets
2009
In January 2009, in response to the global economic crisis, a £241m rights issue was announced to bring down debt in addition to a substantial cost reduction programme, which reduced headcount by some 20%
Cookson Group plc is a FTSE 250 leading materials science company operating on a worldwide basis, in Ceramics, Electronics and Precious Metals
2007 - 2009
Cookson retains 3 divisions but is now a company with a strong presence in the speciality ceramics markets
2007 - 2010
• Cookson retains 3 divisions but is now a company with a strong presence in the speciality ceramics markets
