Biography

The Mufindi Tea Co. Ltd was incorporated on 16 December 1940 as a subsidiary of Matheson & Co. Ltd for the purpose of farming tea estates in Tanganyika. The initial acquisition, maintenance and development of the company's properties was carried out in advance of the incorporation by its Agents, the F.R.S. Syndicate Ltd (Lord Francis Scott, Captain Kenyon-Slaney, Major A.W. Foster and Mervyn A. Ridley) and W.D. Usher, who were financed and directed by the firm's Managing Agents, Jardine, Matheson & Co. (East Africa) Ltd. Matheson & Co. Ltd's business with the company was overseen in London by E.W. Bovill. The investment was not a success for the firm, and in 1946 Matheson & Co. Ltd agreed to sell its interests in the company. Jardine, Matheson & Co. (East Africa) Ltd was acquired by E.W. Bovill and J.K. Matheson (of Jardine, Matheson & Co. (East Africa) Ltd), and became Bovill, Matheson & Co. Ltd. The Mufindi Tea Co. Ltd was purchased by Bovill, Matheson & Co. Ltd and the Tanganyika Tea Co. Ltd. Matheson & Co. Ltd settled all outstanding issues relating to the sale in 1947.

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