SSL International

2025-03-10T18:31:51Z

201.218.207.218:

{{short description|Defunct British company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = SSL International plc
| logo =SSLlogo.PNG
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1999}}
| defunct = {{end date and age|2010}}
| fate = Acquired by and folded into [[Reckitt]]
| location = [[London]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| industry = [[Healthcare]]
| products = [[Durex]]<br />[[Dr. Scholl's|Scholl]]
| revenue = [[Pound sterling|£]]642.4 million (2009)<ref name="AR">{{cite web |title=RB – Healthier Lives, Happier Homes |url=http://www.ssl-international.com/InvestorCentre/FinancialInfo/AnnualReport09/pdf/ssl_financial_2009.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827032550/http://www.ssl-international.com/InvestorCentre/FinancialInfo/AnnualReport09/pdf/ssl_financial_2009.pdf |archive-date=2010-08-27 |accessdate=19 July 2016 |publisher=}}</ref>
| operating_income = [[Pound sterling|£]]89.5 million (2009)<ref name=AR/>
| net_income = [[Pound sterling|£]]55.5 million (2009)<ref name=AR/>
| num_employees =
| parent = [[Reckitt]]
| subsid =
| homepage =
| footnotes =
}}

'''SSL International plc''' was a British manufacturer of healthcare products. Its best known brands were [[Durex]] and [[Dr. Scholl's|Scholl]]; other significant brands were Sauber and Mister Baby. The company's name was an abbreviation of ''Seton Scholl London International'', its predecessor businesses. The company was founded in 1929 and was listed on the London Stock Exchange. In November 2010, SSL International plc was folded into [[Reckitt]].

==Background==

===Scholl plc===
{{main|Dr. Scholl's}}
[[Dr. Scholl's]] was founded in 1906, by [[Chicago]]-based [[podiatrist]] [[William Scholl|William M Scholl]]. Opening its first shop in London in 1913, after the death of Dr Scholl it was listed publicly on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] in 1972, and became a member of the [[Fortune 500]]. Bought by [[Schering-Plough]] in 1978, the company sold the global brand and non-North American operations to [[Basingstoke]]-based home appliance electrical manufacturer European Home Products in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/23/business/william-scholl-81-designer-of-a-sandal-that-set-a-trend.html|title=William Scholl, 81, Designer Of a Sandal That Set a Trend|date=23 March 2002|work=New York Times|accessdate=10 April 2017|archive-date=27 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527212430/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/23/business/william-scholl-81-designer-of-a-sandal-that-set-a-trend.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===London Rubber Company===
The '''London Rubber Company''' was founded in 1915 by LA Jackson, selling imported condoms and barber shop supplies. Subsequently renamed '''London International Group''' ('''LIG''') plc, it developed a consumer based product portfolio, spanning health and beauty products including [[Durex]], medical markets with Regent [[surgical gloves]], and business-to-business with Marigold Industrial Gloves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walthamstowmemories.net/pdfs/Bill%20Bayliss%20-%20London%20Rubber%20Co.pdf|title=The London Rubber Company|publisher=Walthamstow memories|accessdate=10 April 2017|archive-date=11 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411055015/http://www.walthamstowmemories.net/pdfs/Bill%20Bayliss%20-%20London%20Rubber%20Co.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Seton Healthcare plc===
Seton Healthcare plc was founded in 1952 by Ivor Stoller, selling tubular bandages. The company floated on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in 1990 and, in 1992, it added [[over the counter]] consumer drugs to its portfolio when it bought Blackburn-based patent medicines maker Cupal - and with it brands including Cuprofen, Full Marks Mousse and Meltus - for the equivalent of $12.4 million, as well as acquiring the rights to manufacture and market [[Betadine]] antiseptics.<ref>[http://www.thepharmaletter.com/file/16066/seton-healthcare-acquires-cupal.html ''Seton Healthcare acquires Cupal'', 7 December 1992, Pharmaletter, London]. Retrieved: 18 July 2012.</ref>

==Merger of Seton and Scholl==
In July 1998, Scholl and Seton merged to become '''Seton Scholl plc.''' In 1999, Seton Scholl and LIG merged to become ''Seton Scholl London International Group plc,'' shortened to SSL International.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_/ai_n14237903|title=FindArticles.com - CBSi|publisher=|accessdate=19 July 2016}}</ref> The integration of these two businesses was led by Stuart Wallis, the first chairman of SSL, who left the company in 2001.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/resignation-demand-at-ssl-over-breakdown-in-boardroom-relations-691166.html 10 Resignation demand at SSL over breakdown in boardroom relations]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The Independent, 10 February 2001</ref>

From 2002 to 2004 the company disposed of its medical and industrial products to focus on its two main brands as part of a "strategic repositioning". The first major diversification was of 21 [[Over-the-counter drug|OTC]] brands to Thornton & Ross Limited in March 2002.<ref>[http://www.pharmj.com/editorial/20020323/news/ssl.html SSL sells 21 brands for £13.5m] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122124636/http://www.pharmj.com/Editorial/20020323/news/ssl.html |date=2008-11-22 }}</ref> Marigold Industrial Gloves was sold to Comasec SAS in November 2003.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100108084425/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/marigold-gloves-maker-sells-industrial-division-734483.html Marigold Gloves maker sells Industrial Division]</ref> The wound management products were sold to Medlock Medical Limited (owned by [[Apax Partners]]) in May 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5987/is_200405/ai_n24181160|title=FindArticles.com - CBSi|publisher=|accessdate=19 July 2016}}</ref> Regent Infection Control (makers of Biogel surgical gloves and Hibi antiseptics) was also sold to a business owned by Apax Partners in May 2004 for £173 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/ssl-sells-regent-to-apax-in-pound173m-deal-564441.html|title=SSL sells Regent to Apax in £173m deal|website=[[Independent.co.uk]]|date=23 May 2004|publisher=|accessdate=19 July 2016|archive-date=17 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817233802/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/ssl-sells-regent-to-apax-in-pound173m-deal-564441.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The final sale was of the minor Silipos business to Langer Inc in October 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-new-york/1040744-1.html |title=Langer closes on $15.5m acquisition |access-date=19 October 2008 |archive-date=6 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106143722/http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-new-york/1040744-1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2007 the company acquired ''Orthaheel'', an [[Australia]]n business selling insoles designed and marketed by [[podiatrist]] Phillip Vasyli.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/nov/19/retail1|title=Durex is not just for Christmas, SSL hopes as it repositions brand|first=Julia|last=Finch|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=19 November 2007|publisher=|accessdate=19 July 2016|archive-date=25 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232018/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/nov/19/retail1|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2008, the company acquired Crest Condoms, a [[Switzerland|Swiss]] based condom brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mandadeals.co.uk/m-and-a-deals/m-and-a-deals/815552/ssl-to-acquire-switzerlands-crest.thtml|title=Growth Business|publisher=|access-date=19 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005203806/http://www.mandadeals.co.uk/m-and-a-deals/m-and-a-deals/815552/ssl-to-acquire-switzerlands-crest.thtml|archive-date=5 October 2011}}</ref>

==Takeover==
By the beginning of 2010, the company was listed on the [[FTSE 250]], and had a commercial presence in over thirty countries, and manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom, [[Spain]], [[China]], [[India]], [[Thailand]] and CIS. In July 2010, SSL agreed to be bought by household products company [[Reckitt]] in a £2.5 billion deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10708737|title=Durex maker SSL agrees £2.5bn bid from Cillit Bang firm|publisher=BBC News|date=July 21, 2010|accessdate=July 21, 2010|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512155008/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10708737|url-status=live}}</ref> The takeover was completed in November 2010 and SSL was then folded into Reckitt.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/rbdot/7901992/Reckitt-Benckiser-agrees-2.5bn-deal-for-SSL-International.html|title=Reckitt Benckiser agrees £2.5bn deal for SSL International|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=July 21, 2010|access-date=22 December 2018|archive-date=23 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223030043/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/rbdot/7901992/Reckitt-Benckiser-agrees-2.5bn-deal-for-SSL-International.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.durex.com/ Durex subsidiary site]
* [https://www.scholl.com/ Scholl subsidiary site]

{{Reckitt Benckiser}}

{{Authority control|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Health care companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in London]]
[[Category:Multinational companies]]
[[Category:Health care companies established in 1999]]
[[Category:British companies disestablished in 2010]]
[[Category:Reckitt]]
[[Category:2010 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1999]]
[[Category:Health care companies disestablished in 2010]]

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SSL International