Company history

Schroders acquired the remaining 50% of Wertheim, which it later renamed Schroder and Co. Inc.

Schroders acquires a 50% interest in Wertheim & Co. Inc., a leading New York investment bank and securities firm and Schrobanco is sold to the Industrial Bank of Japan.

Schroders merges with Helbert, Wagg & Co., a stock broking firm founded in 1823, which specialised in issues for domestic clients and develops into an important investment advisory side to its business.

Schroders develops a presence in each of the major financial markets of the world. Subsidiary and Associated companies are established to undertake investment banking activities in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and other Continental European countries.

Schroders becomes a quoted public company and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Helmut Schroder is appointed as Chairman and remains until 1965.

The name of J. Henry Schröder & Co. is anglicised and the partnership is converted into a private company.

Helmut Schroder becomes the firm's senior partner. He also becomes Chairman of Schrobanco which continues to develop as an independently managed US banking firm.

J. Henry Schröder & Co. develops the investment management activities of the firm and an investment department was created.

One of the key consequences of the First World War was the emergence of New York as a financial centre to rival London. In 1923 the Schroder partners took advantage of this, establishing a firm in New York, the J Henry Schroder Banking Corporation or Schrobanco as it came to be called.

Bruno Schroder inherits the London firm.

The beginning of the 20th century was a glorious time for Schroders. One of the highlights of this period was the firm's decision to buy out a £15 million loan on behalf of the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. These funds were required for an ingenious and controversial scheme to stabilise the price of coffee. The success of this initiative enormously enhanced Schroders' reputation, and it was a key factor in establishing the firm in the top tier of London merchant banks.

(Rudolph) Bruno Schröder, becames a partner and immediately revises how the business operates considerably increasing profits. Along with his partner, Frank Tiarks, he goes on to lead the business for the first four decades of the twentieth century.

Schroders introduces the Japanese government's first foreign loan to the London market. This raises £1 million to finance the construction of the Tokyo-Yokohama railway. Upon repayment, Schroders was presented with a testimonial on silk by the Minister of Finance, thanking the firm for the 'trouble' that they had taken in connection with this loan.

Schroders' strong connections with Latin America led to the firm being appointed as the British agent for the sale of Peruvian guano – an important fertiliser at the time. A specialist department was established to handle the guano business and for the next decade it made a significant contribution to the firm's profits.

J. Henry Schröder & Co takes a big step forward when it begins issuing bonds for overseas borrowers in the London market. The firm's first bond was given to merchants in the Cuban sugar trade to finance the Matanzas and Sabanilla Railway.

Schröder Stiftung, a charitable trust, was launched.

J. Henry Schröder & Co. was established.

Schroders' history began in 1804 when Johann Heinrich Schroder became a partner in his brother's London-based firm. The company rapidly became a prosperous business, focusing on the finance of trade between America and Europe, particularly in tobacco, cotton, sugar and rice.