Minute Book: Board of Directors; AGMs

These volumes contain minutes of meetings of the board of directors, as well as minutes of annual meetings of shareholders.

There is an index at the front of the first volume, which is an index to both volumes.

Most of the copies of minutes have been signed by the Secretary, but some have not.

Meetings were held on a more regular basis than at the beginning of the company's existence. Meetings of the board of directors were held every three or four months. Though meetings of shareholders were nominally annual, they could be adjourned until later dates so that, in effect, they could be held two or three times a year. This could be to transact extraordinary business that would in the UK require an EGM, or it could be because there was not a quorum of shareholders present at the original AGM.

Reports on the business of the company are given at some meetings. Otherwise, minutes simply document the administrative decisions, regulatory resolutions and so on passed at meetings. An example of these might be resolutions to allow staff and directors to operate the company's bank account. Remuneration of directors is documented at some meetings.

Some minutes of meetings of the William Cooper Export Company, a wholly owned subsidiary, are included in the volumes.

Some copies of agreements entered into by the board appear as appendices to minutes.

A "substantial" increase in business is noted on pp. 6-7.

Agreement to consider starting up a pension plan is noted on pp. 12-13.

A trial of selling "Pulvex" products through supermarkets, in Florida, is noted on p. 64.

A plan to introduce a life insurance scheme for company employees, and directors, is noted on pp. 143-4.

An executive committee of the board was set up to run the affairs of the company, as noted on pp. 200-202.

On pp. 279-280 there are details of agreements made in connection with the early retirement of the president.

Consideration given to purchasing a serum production business is noted on pp. 286-287. The acquisition of 'The Denver Serum Company' is noted on pp. 327-328.

On pp. 292-294 (meeting of 26 Oct 1964) the minutes are endorsed "also discussed 'in committee' and at length plans for future development of Coopers USA operations."

A special meeting of the board, documented on pp. 386-387, authorises borrowing up to USD$150,000 from Burroughs Wellcome & Co (USA).

16 May 1951 - 19 Jan 1970

2 items Two volumes created from one original volume, the break occurring in minutes dated 1960. pp. 208 onwards are in the second volume.

Please see main WF collection description (ref. 'WF').