Centurion team strikes it rich

Centurion Press managers have been catapulted into The Sunday Times Rich List 2002 after the firms 42m acquisition by Communisis.

Lord Evans of Watford, chairman and founder of the print management firm, was at number 51 due to the 12.24m he received for his 51% stake, sneaking in ahead of Rod Stewart, Charlie Watts and Ridley Scott in joint 52nd place.

Managing director Simon Tate made 111th thanks to the 6.24m he made from his 26% stake.

Lord Evans son Richard and Centurion director Caroline Smith both netted 2.61m for their stakes of 9%, making them joint 349th.

The Irish Earnings 25, also published by The Sunday Times, was dominated by those benefiting from the sale of Jefferson Smurfit to Madison Dearborn. Chairman Michael Smurfit personally pocketed 108m to head the list, compared to 24th last year.