B&Q B&Q B&Q plc is a British multinational DIY and home improvement retailing company, headquartered in Eastleigh, England, United Kingdom and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingfisher plc. Founded by Richard Block and David Quayle in 1969 originally as Block & Quayle, the retail chain offers over 40,000 products across three hundred physical shops and online shops. Since 2015, B&Q has been closing a number of shops, in favour of converting some to outlets of Screwfix. The company also has some outlets in Ireland. Shops in Taiwan and China were unsuccessful, and closed down in 2007 and 2015 respectively. B&Q
North British and Mercantile Insurance became a subsidiary of the Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd in 1959. The company maintained head offices in Edinburgh until 1963 and in London until 1969. Since June 30 2006, it has been registered as a non-trading company. The company's name continues in a number of its former premises. North British and Mercantile Insurance The North British and Mercantile Insurance Company was a British-based company founded in 1809 in Edinburgh and absorbed as a subsidiary of the Commercial Union in 1959. The company was also known as the North British Insurance Company, North British Fire Office and North British Fire