John Holt Plc

Infobox_Company
company_name = John Holt
company_logo =
company_type = Public (RC2662)
foundation = 1897
location_city = flagicon|NGR Lagos flagicon|UK Liverpool
location_country =
key_people =
area_served =
industry = Conglomerate
products =
revenue = 12 billion NGN (2006)
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees = 1,200 (2006)
parent =
subsid =
homepage = [http://www.jhplc.com John Holt Plc]
footnotes =

John Holt Plc is a Nigerian conglomerate. It has been an important participant in many areas of the economy.

History

[
brass manilla, previously used in some parts of Nigeria as currency and a five-point star, which signifies the Group's enduring connection with Liverpool.]

The company was founded in 1862 when John Holt, 20 years old at the time, with £27 in his pocket, sailed from Liverpool to take up appointment as a shop assistant in a grocery store in Fernando Po (now Equatorial Guinea). Five years later, he bought out his employer and subsequently built up a produce trade with the Delta Ports. Palm Oil, Palm Kernels, Rubber and Cocoa were exported to England. Imports included textiles from Lancashire and bicycles from Birmingham. In 1897, John Holt established his first VENTURE in Lagos, Nigeria.

Up to the World War II, much of John Holt's business was in distribution and export of produce. A fleet of ships operated a fortnightly service from Liverpool to West Africa and the Company also had its own fleet of river craft.

Apart from produce and merchandise, these river craft also carried cash. Where banks did not exist, John Holt had strong rooms. Even after banks were established, many Nigerians preferred to deposit their cash with John Holt.

John Holt & Company (Liverpool) Limited was incorporated in 1897. In 1961 the company was incorporated in Nigeria as John Holt Limited. It became a public company and was quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in May 1974.

External links

* [http://www.jhplc.com/ John Holt Plc Corporate Web-site]