Pentos plc was a British holding company that operated between 1972 and 1995 and was best known for its ownership of the Dillons, Wilding Office Equipment, Ryman and Athena retail brands.
[1] Pentos was established from a shell company by Terry Maher in January 1972 as a vehicle for his investment in the publisher Marshall, Morgan & Scott and the joinery company Austin Hall Group.
[2] By May 1972 Pentos had acquired a listing on the London Stock Exchange through its reverse takeover of the listed Cape Town & District Gas, Light & Coke company.
[3] Pentos entered the retail trade through its purchase of the Birmingham-based Hudsons Bookshops chain by its subsidiary Marshall, Morgan & Scott in 1972.
[6] Pentos' shares were suspended and the company went into receivership on 1 March 1995.