Wanna Argument?
Is UK plc being auctioned off overseas?
Harrods, another UK icon? © iStock.com
The British could claim that a number of their world-famous companies have been sold over recent years. Among the 'crown jewels' of British industry that have been sold to overseas firms in the past 15 years are:
- Rover Group (including the LandRover brand and the MG marque) to BMW of Germany in 1994, then latterly to Chinese manufacturer Nanjing Automobile Group in 2005
- LandRover was then sold to Ford in 2000
- Rolls Royce was sold to BMW in 1998
- Pilkington was sold to Nippon Sheet Glass in 2006
- Orange was sold by Vodafone in 2000 to France Telecom
- L'Oreal purchased Body Shop in 2006