News: Rotherham businessmen in Times Rich List 2009

Businessmen at the head of two prominent Rotherham companies feature in The Sunday Times Rich List 2009.

The list is made up of Britain's richest 2,000 and sees Chris Rea and family of AES Engineering at 1,077 and Ken and James Booth of scrap metal business, CF Booth, at 1,750.

Rea's worth is listed at £50m, the same as in 2008, but the struggling economy has meant he has risen up the list from 1,446th last year.

The figure is based on his majority stake in the award-winning Rotherham company AESSEAL, the world leading designers and manufacturers of mechanical seals. When investors 3i bought a 40% stake in 2007, the company was valued at £100m and it has been reported that AESSEAL pulled in an impressive £80m in sales this year.

Ken and James Booth's worth is listed as £31m, down from £70m in 2008. The falling demand for metal has seen them fall down the list from 1,118 last year.

The brothers run one of Europe's largest independently run recycling companies with the business worth an estimated £28m.

Earlier this year, Tony Stewart, the owner of Rotherham company ASD Lighting and Rotherham United Football Club was listed at joint 98th in Management Today's Top 100 Entrepreneurs 2009. The list stated that Mr Stewart's wealth stands at £20m.

The Sunday Times Rich List 2009
AESSEAL website
CF Booth website
Rotherham

Image: timesonline.co.uk