Kingfisher plc. history, profile and corporate video Kingfisher plc. is an international home improvement company headquartered in London, England, United Kingdom. It offers home improvement products and services to consumers and trade professionals, including home appliances, tools, home furnishings, hardware, and garden supplies & plants. HISTORY Kingfisher’s roots go back to 1982 with the acquisition of FW Woolworth by Paternoster. At that time, Woolworths already owned a relatively small chain of home improvement stores called B&Q. B&Q was originally founded as Block & Quayle in 1969 by Richard Block and David Quayle, and was acquired by the F.…
Author: Darius
Darius
I've spent over a decade researching and documenting the stories behind the world's most influential companies. What started as a personal fascination with how businesses evolve from small startups to global giants turned into CompaniesHistory.com—a platform dedicated to making corporate history accessible to everyone.
Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. history, profile and corporate video Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. is a provider of city gas, energy and other related products and services. It is headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo Gas was founded in 1885 by Shibusawa Eiichi and Asano Sōichirō by acquiring the business of the Tokyo Prefecture Gas Bureau. In 1893, the company changed its name to Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., following the enactment of the Commercial Code. In 1912, Tokyo Gas merged with Chiyoda Gas. In 1913, Tokyo Gas merged with Kawasaki Gas. In 1944, Tokyo Gas…
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) history, profile and corporate video Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) is a semiconductor foundry company headquartered in Shanghai, China. SMIC Group provides semiconductor foundry and technology services to global customers on 0.35 micron to 14 nanometer process node technologies. HISTORY SMIC was founded in 2000 and was listed on the New York Stoc Exchange in 2004. In 2015, SMIC, Huawei, Qualcomm Global Trading Pte. Ltd., and IMEC International announced the formation of the SMIC Advanced Technology Research & Development (Shanghai) Corporation, an equity joint venture company. In 2016, SMIC acquired 70%…
Yum China Holdings, Inc. – history, company profile (overview) and corporate video Yum China Holdings, Inc. (百胜中国) is a restaurant company headquartered in Shanghai, China. HISTORY Yum China’s origins date back to 1987 when the first KFC restaurant was opened in Qianmen, Beijing, China. In 2016, Yum China was spun off from Yum! Brands, Inc., becoming an independent publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In 2020, Yum China was secondary-listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). In 2020, Yum China and Lavazza Group formed a joint venture to explore and…
Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. history, profile and corporate video Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. is a Chinese investment holding company headquartered in Shenzhen, China. Kaisa Group Holdings was founded in 1999 and was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2009. BUSINESSES Property Development – residential, office building, large urban complex, and industrial property;Kaisa Urban Renewal Group (formerly Kaisa Real Estate Group, established in 2013) – urban public service provider;Kaisa Health Group – health & medical;Kaisa International Resort (one-stop beach vacation destination) – tourism industry;Kaisa Culture Sports & Technology Group (established in 2013) – cultural & sports;Kaisa Prosperity Holdings…
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. history, profile and corporate video Intuitive Surgical, Inc. develops and manufactures robotic systems for the minimally invasive care field. It is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company’s history began in the late 1980s, when a non-profit research institute, SRI International, performed the research of the SRI System that eventually led to the development of the da Vinci Surgical System. In 1995, John Freund, who had recently left Acuson Corporation, acquired SRI’s intellectual property and incorporated a new company that was named Intuitive Surgical Devices, Inc. Freund wrote the business plan for the…
Industrivärden AB history, profile and corporate video Industrivärden AB is an investment company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. It focuses on long-term value-creating asset management through active ownership. The company’s equities portfolio comprises investments in Sandvik, Volvo, Svenska Handelsbanken, Essity, SCA, Ericsson, and Skanska. THE HOLDINGS Sandvik (26%)Volvo (25%)Handelsbanken (15%)Essity (12%)SCA (10%)Ericsson (6%)Skanska (5%) HISTORY The investment company Industrivärden was created in 1944 as a subsidiary of Handelsbanken. The name “Industrivärden” means “industrial values”, and was chosen in honor of the highly valued holdings in industrial companies that were being transferred to the new company. The fundamental…
Key Stats Market capitalization of approximately $70 billion as of November 2025 Annual revenue of $7.49 billion in fiscal year 2024 Holds 35% market share in the United States energy drink market Products sold in over 141 countries worldwide Employs more than 3,500 people globally Monster Beverage Corporation operates as a holding company based in Corona, California. The company develops and markets energy drinks through its subsidiaries across multiple continents. The corporation transformed from a small juice business into a global beverage powerhouse. The company’s portfolio includes flagship brands like Monster Energy, Reign, and Bang. These products target consumers seeking…
Hydro One Limited history, profile and corporate video Hydro One Limited is an electricity transmission and distribution service provider headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. HISTORY Hydro One history dates back to 1906 when the Ontario Legislature passed the Power Commission Act establishing the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario (HEPC). In 1974, the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario (HEPC) was renamed Ontario Hydro. In 1999, Ontario Hydro was restructured into five separate entities: Ontario Power Generation, Ontario Hydro Services Company, Independent Electricity System Operator, Electrical Safety Authority, and Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation. In 2000, the Ontario…
Invesco Ltd. history, profile and corporate video Invesco Ltd. is a global investment management company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. HISTORY Invesco was originally incorporated as H. Lotery & Co. Ltd. in 1935. In 1962, Invesco Asia-Pacific investments began. In 1978, INVESCO was founded in the U.S by a group led by Charles Brady. In 1988, INVESCO merged with Brittania Arrow (U.K). The same year, Invesco was listed on the London Stock Exchange. In 1990-1991, the company acquired the fixed income manager Primco capital management and a Dallas-based real estate company. In…