§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to the number of(a) successful and (b) contested bids by British companies for Swiss or Swiss-based companies in each of the last five years; and if he will publish the names of the companies concerned.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeUnited Kingdom companies are not required to register overseas acquisitions of companies. From press reports, however, my Department has identified the following cases of United Kingdom companies acquiring Swiss companies:
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Acquiring Company Swiss Company acquired 1983 APV Holdings Gelruder Ott AG 1984 Bowater Roba AG Croda International Kolmar Cosmetics 1985 None 1986 None
Acquiring Company Swiss Company acquired 1987 John Crowther Wollimex AG Queen's Moat Houses Hotel Admiral 1988 Blue Circle Romag AG There may well have been other acquisitions in addition to those listed. There is no available information on whether any of these acquisitions was contested or whether there were other bids which were contested and failed.