Redland plc

The company can trace its origins back to the Redhill Tile Company, which was a manufacturer of concrete tiles that was established in 1919.{{cite web |url = http://www.monier.co.uk/about-us/history.html |publisher = Monier Redland |title = History}}

During 1946, the company changed its name to Redland Tiles. In 1954, the firm expanded into Germany via its acquisition of a minority interest in Braas, a building materials business based in Heusenstamm. One year later, Redland Tiles was listed for the first time on the London Stock Exchange. During 1959, the company purchased the Bursledon Brickworks site located in the Hampshire village of Swanwick, near Southampton. Redland held control of this brickworks until 1974, at which point it ceased to exist.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bursledonbrickworks.org.uk/history |title=The History |publisher=Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum |access-date=4 February 2017}} In 1969, the firm started operating in Australia, acquiring a significant shareholding in Monier Ltd.

Another product line of Redland's was plasterboard; prior to 1990, its activities in this sector were operated through a 51 per cent stake in a joint venture with the Australian industrial group CSR Limited.{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/the-first-shots-in-the-british-plasterboard-war-were-fired-in-the-late-1980s-when-redland-and-german-company-knauf-challenged-bpb-industries-virtual-monopoly-position-although-redland-was-first-to-an-17-02-1994/ |title = The first shots in the British plasterboard war were fired in the late 1980s when Redland and German company Knauf challenged BPB Industries’ virtual monopoly position.Although Redland was first to an |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 17 February 1994}} The joint venture comprised Redland Plasterboard UK, Redland Plasterboard Ireland, Escogypse and Salsi in France, and Orebro paper in Sweden. Redland Plasterboard operated four plasterboard plants, these based Bristol (United Kingdom), Delfzijl (the Netherlands), Drammen (Norway) and Anzin (France); they had a combined capacity of approximately 90 million square metres.{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/27jul90-uk-redland-to-remain-in-plasterboard-26-07-1990/ |title = 27Jul90 UK: REDLAND TO REMAIN IN PLASTERBOARD |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 26 July 1990 }}

During July 1990, Redland announced the formation of a new and larger joint venture with the French industrial group Lafarge in which the firm held a minority share of 20 per cent in the venture.{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/03aug90-uk-redland-and-lafarge-merge-plasterboard-interests-02-08-1990/ |title = 03Aug90 UK: REDLAND AND LAFARGE MERGE PLASTERBOARD INTERESTS |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 2 August 1990}} At the time of its creation, the new joint venture was the second largest supplier of plasterboard in Western Europe. The Redland brand was used as a trade name for the joint venture within the UK market. Furthermore, both Redland and Lafarge agreed to pursue the construction of a second UK-based production site to meet demand;{{Cite web |url=http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1990/fulltext/286a9.1.pdf |title=Competition Commission Report 1990 |access-date=22 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204162508/http://www.competition-commission.org.uk//rep_pub/reports/1990/fulltext/286a9.1.pdf |archive-date=4 February 2009 |url-status=usurped }} the Bristol plant was also expanded shortly thereafter.{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/21dec90-uk-redland-exerts-further-pressure-on-bpb-by-expanding-bristol-plant-20-12-1990/ |title = 21Dec90 UK: REDLAND EXERTS FURTHER PRESSURE ON BPB BY EXPANDING BRISTOL PLANT |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 20 December 1990}}

The firm completed several acquisitions during the early 1990s, which was partially financed via a £280 million rights issue completed in 1991.{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/29mar91-uk-redland-wilson-bowden-and-bellway-announce-rights-issues-28-03-1991/ |title = 29Mar91 UK: REDLAND, WILSON BOWDEN AND BELLWAY ANNOUNCE RIGHTS ISSUES |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 28 March 1991 }} In May 1990, its US-based subsidiary acquired the concrete roof tile manufacturer Duratile;{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/18may90-usa-redland-acquires-assets-of-arizona-roof-tile-firm-17-05-1990/ |title = 18May90 USA: REDLAND ACQUIRES ASSETS OF ARIZONA ROOF TILE FIRM |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 17 May 1990 }} four months later, Braas acquired the prefabricated chimney system producer Schiedel for £30 million.{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/07sep90-west-germany-redlands-subsidiary-acquires-schiedel-chimney-systems-to-strengthen-mid-european-base-06-09-1990/ |title = 07Sep90 WEST GERMANY: REDLAND’S SUBSIDIARY ACQUIRES SCHIEDEL CHIMNEY SYSTEMS TO STRENGTHEN MID-EUROPEAN BASE |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 6 September 1990}} By 1991, Braas was reportedly contributing almost half the profits of the Redland Group.{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=exsPficA-xAC&dq=Redland+plc+founded&pg=PA117 |title = Having Their Cake: How the City and Big Bosses Are Consuming UK Business |first = Don |last = Young |chapter = 7: The Rise and Fall of Redland |publisher = Kogan Page |year = 2004 |ISBN = 978-0-7494-3861-6}}{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/07oct93-uk-braas-gives-lift-to-redland-as-group-profits-jump-22pc-07-10-1993/ |title = 07Oct93 UK: BRAAS GIVES LIFT TO REDLAND AS GROUP PROFITS JUMP 22PC |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 7 October 1993}} That same year, Redland purchased Marley's US-based roof tile subsidiary for £6.6 million.{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/14jun91-usa-redland-buys-tile-subsidiary-from-marley-13-06-1991/ |title = 14Jun91 USA: REDLAND BUYS TILE SUBSIDIARY FROM MARLEY |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 13 June 1991 }} During early 1992, the company acquired one of its major British-based competitors, Steetley plc in exchange for £1 billion;{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/10jan92-uk-redland-moves-nearer-in-bid-to-gain-control-of-steetley-09-01-1992/ |title = 10Jan92 UK: REDLAND MOVES NEARER IN BID TO GAIN CONTROL OF STEETLEY |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 9 January 1992}}{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/26mar92-uk-redlands-625m-hostile-bid-for-steetley-reaches-climax-26-03-1992/ |title = 26Mar92 UK: REDLAND’S £625M HOSTILE BID FOR STEETLEY REACHES CLIMAX |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 26 March 1992}}{{cite web |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/steetley-buy-boosts-redland-figures-earnings-per-share-fall-by-a-fifth-1499987.html |title = Steetley buy boosts Redland figures: Earnings per share fall by a fifth |first = Heather |last = Connon |publisher = The Independent |date = 26 March 1993}} however, this acquisition would prove to be particularly costly in the long run.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/french-losses-and-strong-pound-cost-redland-dear-1275483.html |title=French losses and strong pound cost Redland dear |work= The Independent |date=28 March 1997 |first = Tom |last = Stevenson |access-date=6 December 2015}} Less than a year after the deal's completion, Redland started selling off portions of the former Steetley business.{{cite web |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/redland-sells-three-steetley-businesses-1476642.html |title = Redland sells three Steetley businesses |first = Heather |last = Connon |publisher = The Independent |date = 5 January 1993}}{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/18feb93-uk-redland-sells-cranleigh-site-18-02-1993/ |title = 18Feb93 UK: REDLAND SELLS CRANLEIGH SITE |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 18 February 1993}}{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/25mar93-spain-redland-sells-spanish-aggregate-business-sold-25-03-1993/ |title = 25Mar93 SPAIN: REDLAND SELLS – SPANISH AGGREGATE BUSINESS SOLD |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 25 March 1993}}

While the firm was still reporting positive results throughout 1994, exceeding market expectations,{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/07apr94-uk-redland-exceeds-city-hopes-improved-results-from-germany-and-the-us-helped-redland-exceed-city-expectations-last-week-with-a-26-per-cent-rise-in-pre-tax-profits-to-279-million-for-t-07-04-1994/ |title = 07Apr94 UK: REDLAND EXCEEDS CITY HOPES. Improved results from Germany and the US helped Redland exceed City expectations last week with a 26 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £279 million |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 7 April 1994}} the company was compelled to reduce its dividend by one-third and openly acknowledge the need to address its financial performance by April 1995.{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/cash-squeeze-forces-redland-to-cut-dividend-06-04-1995/ |title = Cash squeeze forces Redland to cut dividend |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 6 April 1995 }} Less than a year later, Redland commenced restructuring and discussion options for the sale of its brick making division.{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/redland-set-to-join-restructuring-wave-08-02-1996/ |title = Redland set to join restructuring wave |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 8 February 1996}}

During mid 1996, Redland sold its brick business to the British building materials firm Ibstock in exchange for £160 million.{{cite web |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/sections/news/redland-takeover-bid-under-oft-spotlight-02-05-1996/ |title = Redland takeover bid under OFT spotlight |website = constructionnews.co.uk |date = 2 May 1996 |first = Bill |last = Fishlock}} By early 1997, speculation of the company's potential breakup was rampant, although this prospect was denied by senior management.{{cite web |url = https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA59818048&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=09561382&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7Ecf547ad9&aty=open-web-entry |title = Redland may break up to thwart Lafarge bid |first = John |last = Waples |date = 19 October 1997 |publisher = Sunday Times}} During October of that year, it was announced that Redland had been acquired by Lafarge for £1.8 billion.{{cite web |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/the-investment-column-redlands-needs-white-knights-1236196.html |title = Redlands needs White Knights |publisher = The Independent |first = Sameena |last = Ahmad |date = 16 October 1997}}{{Cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m1030_9_en.pdf |title=Case No COMP/M.1030: REDLAND/LAFARGE |publisher = COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |date = 16 December 1997}}{{cite web |url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB876735003511890500 |title = Lafarge Launches Hostile Offer To Buy Redland for $2.71 Billion |publisher = Wall Street Journal |first1 = Douglas |last1 = Lavin |first2 = Charles |last2 = Goldsmith |date = 14 October 1997}}

During 2008, the roofing division was divested by Lafarge.{{cite web |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2c8d402c-8405-11db-9e95-0000779e2340.html#axzz2CCmYTPrx.html |title = Lafarge sells roofing unit |publisher = The Financial Times |date = 5 December 2006}} The company, which initially was named Monier Ltd led to the return of the Redland Brand in the UK; the company was subsequently rebranded as Monier Redland Limited (part of the Monier Group of companies) and is based in Crawley in West Sussex. From 2017, the business has been called BMI Redland, part of BMI Group, where BMI is an abbreviation of Braas Monier and Icopal.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

• [http://www.redland.co.uk Monier Redland Ltd]
• [https://www.bmigroup.com/uk/ BMI Group]

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{{Construction industry of the United Kingdom}}

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Category:Building materials companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Companies based in Surrey

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1919

Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1997

Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange

Category:British companies established in 1919

Category:1919 establishments in England

Category:1997 mergers and acquisitions