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[July 2000]
Royal Crown Derby given Shareholder approval
Shareholders in Royal Doulton plc have given their overwhelming approval for the world-famous Royal Crown Derby to be sold to a group of private buyers led by its managing director.
Hugh Gibson started his career as a graduate management trainee at the company in 1969 and was appointed managing director in 1989. He has led a group of private buyers to purchase Royal Crown Derby and the famous museum collection for £16.5 million. This year marks the company's 250th anniversary.
"Since the announcement of the proposed buy-out was made in early June, we have received hundreds of letters, e-mails, faxes and telephone calls from trade customers, collectors and industry colleagues across the world. Their unanimous message is that Royal Crown Derby is a very special company that will, once again, thrive as an independent company," explained Mr Gibson.
"When my colleagues and I announced the plans to our 250 staff they were delighted. I was also able to tell them that it is business as usual with no planned redundancies from the workforce in Derby."
Royal Crown Derby is Britain's oldest manufacturer of fine china company and more than 16,000 people across the world are members of the collectors guild. Last year 66,000 people toured the visitor centre, museum and shop at the historic factory on Osmaston Road, Derby and the figure is increasing.
Hugh Gibson, who is also a keen collector of Royal Crown Derby, said: "We occupy a very special place in the international ranking of highly decorative fine china. Our tableware and paperweights are unique both in style and decoration and are collected world-wide. They are produced by a dedicated and highly skilled workforce in Derby. These products are more naturally suited to an independent specialist manufacturing company rather than as part of a far larger organisation."
He has invited Roger Boissier CBE to be chairman of the new company. Mr Boissier is chairman of Pressac plc, whose group head office is based in Derby, and also pro-chancellor of Loughborough University. The current management team will remain in position supported by Stuart Hughes FCA, a newly appointed finance director.
ENDS