Duple takeover secured

18th September 1970, Page 119

18th September 1970

Page 119

Page 119, 18th September 1970 — Duple takeover secured

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As foreshadowed in CM last week, the control of Duple Motor Bodies Ltd has passed to Capitarium Ltd, a private investment company. Last Saturday Mr Frank B. Ford, who has become chairman in place of Mr J. 0. R. Darby, told CM that formal acceptances of the offer of 5s 3d each for the shares were sufficient to make the purchase unconditional. The founder of Duple, 93-year-old Mr H. R. White, has agreed to continue as president of the company and Mr George Hughes of Capitarium has been appointed managing director.

Duple is one of Britain's largest coach and bus body builders and among its subsidiaries is Willowbrook Ltd, of Loughborough, maker of all-metal single and double-deck stage buses. The Duple organization was founded in 1919 at the start of the expansion of the road passenger industry. During 1969, Duple coach bodywork production was concentrated at the Vicarage Lane works, Blackpool, claimed to be one of the largest luxury passenger vehicle building units in the world.

Mr John McHugh, an ex-director of Leyland Motors Ltd, has also been elected a director of the Duple Group board.