British Empire - the history

1889
British empire securities and general trust PLC established.
1984
Open offer and change of management to Asset Value Investors Limited (formerly Laurwood, clan and ISAM). Net assets £6 million.
1985
4 for 1 rights issue increases size from £6 million to £30 million.
1986
Successful acquisition of Ashdown investment trust for a consideration of c. £66 million.
1989
Offer for Schroder Global Trust leading to its unitisation.
1995
Acquisition of Selective Assets Trust plc for c. £42 million followed by its immediate re-structure and integration.
1999
Holding of 6.8% in Rue Impériale de Lyon was sold for £45.9 million, realising a profit of £25.6 million.
2001
Company exceeds the MSCI World Index by 20 percentage points.
2005
The Company's NAV exceeds the MSCI World Index for a seventh consecutive year, by 26 percentage points on a total return basis.
2007
NAV per Share reaches 517.8p. The Company's positive performance continues, 5.9 percentage points above the MSCI World Index on a total return basis.
2008
NAV per Share reaches 521.1p, a record level, before market turmoil causes it to fall.
2009
A volatile year in which NAV total return per share fell over 10% in the first half of the fiscal year, then gained over 31% in the second half, ending the year with a NAV per share of 459.3p.