Booth White , insolvency accountants

Booth White was formed in 1967 as Booth White and Company as a result of a merger between Parkin S Booth and Company, insolvency accountants of London and Liverpool, and Francis Nicholls White and Company, insolvency accountants of London. The new firm moved to 1 Wardrobe Place, Carter Lane, St Pauls, London in 1967, and to 9 Raleigh House, Admirals Way, Waterside, London in 1989. Its name was shortened to Booth White in 1989. The firm has branches at Bristol, Chatham, Chester, Ipswich, Llandudno, Liverpool, Medway, Preston, Sidcup, Southend-on-Sea and Watford. The Liverpool office of the firm still practises under the name Parkin S Booth and Company.

Francis Nicholls White and Company originated before 1858 as Robinson, Nicholls and Company of 13 Old Jewry, London. In 1863 the name was changed to Francis Nicholls White and Company, in 1866 to Nicholls and Leatherdale and, in 1885, back to Francis Nicholls White and Company. From its beginnings, the firm practised as accountants dealing only with insolvency matters; it also acted as proprietors of a debt collection business known as the British Mercantile Agency and of a number of trade associations. The practice continued at 13/14 Old Jewry Chambers until 1924 when it moved to 73 Cheapside; in 1954 it moved to 19 Eastcheap. In 1967 the firm amalgamated with Parkin S Booth and Company.

Francis Nicholls White and Company acted as proprietor of a debt collection business known as the British Mercantile Agency which had been established in 1855. The firm also owned a number of trade associations formed as specialised branches of the agency, in particular the Paper Trade Protection Association, the Wholesale Chemists and Allied Trades Protection Association and Cooper Craigs Limited (which dealt with the drapery, hosiery, millinery and textile trades). The aims of these associations were to safeguard their members against the risk of bad debts, to recover overdue accounts and to minimise the loss to members in insolvencies. In 1924, when Francis Nicholls White and Company moved from 13/14 Old Jewry Chambers, the British Mercantile Agency moved to 90 Queen Street, London. In 1966 it relocated to Sidcup House, Station Road, Sidcup. Subsequently the agency was acquired by Woods Management Services. They sold it to Legal and Trade who dropped the name of British Mercantile Agency, since when it has ceased to exist.

Parkin S Booth and Company, an insolvency practice, was founded by Parkin S Booth in Liverpool in 1907. The founder also acted as proprietor of the Palatine Trade Protection Office. The firm opened an office in London, at Kimberley House, Holborn Viaduct, in 1949. In 1967 it amalgamated with the insolvency practice Francis Nicholls White and Company to form Booth White and Company (now Booth White). The Liverpool office, at 5 Rumford Place, Chapel Street, Liverpool, continues to practise under the name Parkin S Booth and Company.