History
1930
- 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
