1978 Michael Ashcroft, having acquired 25 percent of Hawley-Goodall (Walsall), increased his holding to 47.5 percent. He also acquired 29.9 percent of Provincial Laundries.[1].
The companies made several acquisitions.
1980 Hawley Leisure acquired Cherry Leisure, amusement machine operator [2]
1980 Provincial acquired 20 percent of Pritchard Services, an industrial cleaning and contracting group.
1980 Hawley Leisure acquired Fry and Cowell wholesaler and retailer of sports equipment[3]
1981 Hawley Leisure, sports good retailer and amusement machine supplier, acquired Provincial (previously Provincial Laundries) forming a new company Hawley Group[4]
By 1983 the Hawley Group had a disparate range of interests including[5] subsidiaries:
- 85% of Colman Milne, limousines
- 60% of Kean and Scott, double glazing, showers, furniture
- 50.1% of Electro-Protective Corp, of USA
- 29.9% of Nu-Swift Industries, fire control
- 50% of September Purchasing
- 51% of Black and Edgington, camping goods
- 72% of Midepsa of Canada
as well as investments in
- 40% of Security Corporation of America
- 20% of Cope Allman and Co slot machines, packaging, engineering
- 22% of Miss World
- 12% of I. D. and S. Rivlin
1986 Hawley owned 49 percent of Henlys, a Canadian group which owned the motor dealers of the same name; Henlys owned 43 percent of Cope Allman and Co; Hawleys acquired the other 57 percent of shares in Cope Allman with the intention of combining the ownership[6]
1987 Hawley acquired British Car Auctions
1987 Hawley acquired ADT Inc of USA, the world's largest burglar and fire alarm services group[7]
1988 Hawley took control of Cope Allman and Co; Hawley changed its name to ADT[8]