Joint Consultation — Group Role Playing

Abstract

Peter Roach founded the business in his native Nottingham over fifty years ago. He was a master baker and used to take his wares to the various markets in the East Midlands. In the early days he would load his van with bread and cakes and take his family with him to work in the stalls at the market places. His business expanded largely as a result of his talent for making fancy cakes and he began to supply his products to shops and restaurants throughout the East Midlands. A limited liability company was incorporated in 1961 and a few years later the company went public. One of the larger insurance companies purchased a substantial number of the new ordinary shares and they still hold 30% of the equity. The insurance company make no attempt to interfere with the running of the company and so Peter’s son Robert, with 20% of the ordinary shares (carrying one vote each) is able to exercise full control. However the insurance company are now suggesting the time might be ripe for applying for a quotation on the London Stock Exchange. They link this with the need to widen the range of products.