Who owns Crown Agents?

For many years Crown Agents was a British public corporation. It transferred to the private sector in 1997 as a limited company owned by a new entity, The Crown Agents Foundation, a company limited by guarantee. Members of the Foundation are companies and other organisations with a keen interest in our activities and include firms, non-governmental organisations and international bodies.

History of Crown Agents

Crown Agents originated in 1833, when the Joint Agents General for Crown Colonies were appointed by H.M. Government. The Agents’ remit was to reduce costs and increase efficiency in the procurement of goods and services to the Crown Colonies. Over the next 100 or so years the nature of the services provided by Crown Agents responded to the development of the British Empire and, more recently, to the independence movement among the former colonies. However, the principal services provided were always in the fields of procurement, finance and human resources.

On 21 March 1997 Crown Agents, after more than 160 years in the public sector, transferred to the private sector. A new company, limited by guarantee, The Crown Agents Foundation, became the holding entity, with The Crown Agents for Oversea Governments & Administrations as the principal operating company.

For more information about Crown Agents' activities around the world visit our main corporate website: www.crownagents.com