Charter International
Charter International plc was a large British engineering business based in London. It was acquired by Colfax Corporation in January 2012.History
The British South Africa Company was founded in 1889 by Royal Charter. In 1965 it merged with The Central Mining & Investment Corporation and The Consolidated Mines Selection Company to form Charter Consolidated.
In the 1980s Charter Consolidated disposed of its overseas mining concerns to concentrate on its British engineering interests.
In 1993 the company's name changed to Charter plc.
In 1994 it acquired ESAB and in 1997 it acquired Howden.
In 2008 the business was restructured with the creation of a new Irish resident holding company, Charter International plc.
The company was acquired by Colfax Corporation, an American company, in January 2012.Operations
The company had two main businesses:
