Washington H. Soul Pattinson

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited (asx|SOL) is an Australian public company.

The company's principal activities are diverse, spanning the following concerns:
*ownership of shares and properties,
*coal mining,
*bulk handling,
*commercial television licensee and operator,
*program and television production,
*telecommunications carrier,
*retailing of pharmaceutical products,
*manufacture, processing and marketing of seasonings, essences, food colours, perfumes and aromatic chemicals,
*fruit juices,
*reconstitution of polyethylene film.

WHSP's main operating subsidiaries currently are:
*New Hope Corporation Limited Group
*SP Telecommunications Limited
**NBN Television Limited
*Keith Harris & Co. Ltd

WHSP also operated Orchy Fruit Juices for many years but sold it to [http://www.bevco.com.au/ Bevco] in July 2004.

WHSP also has associated investments in:
*Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (23%)
*Brickworks Limited (49%)
*Clover Corporation Limited (29%)

WHSP also operates nine pharmacies in Sydney, including two in the CBD and seven in the main Sydney metropolitan area.

History

In 1872, Caleb Soul and his son Washington opened their first store at 177 Pitt Street, Sydney, trading as "Washington H. Soul and Co". They later moved to 158-160 Pitt Street, the present head office of the company.

Lewy Pattinson emigrated to Australia in 1881 after hearing of Soul's success and became good friends with him. They were never in competition in business, and in the early 1900s, the Souls asked Pattinson to buy their business.

As a result, Pattinson and Co, and Washington H. Soul and Co. merged to become "Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited", the company named out of respect for Pattinson's friend.

The first public offering of shares was in December 1902, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited was listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange (now the Australian Stock Exchange) on 21 January 1903. WHSP celebrated one hundred years as a listed public company in 2002.

Board of directors

*Robert D. Millner - Chairman
*Michael J. Millner - Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chairman.
*Peter R. Robinson - Executive Director.
*Graeme L. Robertson - Non-Executive Director.
*David J. Fairfull - Non-Executive Director.

External links

* [http://www.whsp.com.au/ Washington H. Soul Pattinson]
* [http://www.soulpattinson.com.au/copy.asp?id=about_home Soul Pattinson company history]