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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Eddie Stobart to list its shares | Eddie Stobart to list its shares |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Eddie Stobart, the UK's best-known road haulage business, is motoring towards a listing on the London Stock Exchange. | Eddie Stobart, the UK's best-known road haulage business, is motoring towards a listing on the London Stock Exchange. |
| The move follows after the firm announced plans to join with property and logistics group Westbury Property Fund in a complex reverse takeover. | The move follows after the firm announced plans to join with property and logistics group Westbury Property Fund in a complex reverse takeover. |
| While Westbury is paying £138m to buy Eddie Stobart, Stobart's owners are buying Westbury's property portfolio for £142m. | While Westbury is paying £138m to buy Eddie Stobart, Stobart's owners are buying Westbury's property portfolio for £142m. |
| The merged group will be called Stobart and take up Westbury's share listing. | The merged group will be called Stobart and take up Westbury's share listing. |
| Fans can now invest and own a part of the business Eddie Stobart | Fans can now invest and own a part of the business Eddie Stobart |
| It will combine Eddie Stobart's road transport, warehouse and rail freight operations, with Westbury's own rail freight business and port at Runcorn in Cheshire. | It will combine Eddie Stobart's road transport, warehouse and rail freight operations, with Westbury's own rail freight business and port at Runcorn in Cheshire. |
| Eddie Stobart's current owners, William Stobart and Andrew Tinkler will run the merged company, taking up the roles of chief executive and chief operating officer respectively. | Eddie Stobart's current owners, William Stobart and Andrew Tinkler will run the merged company, taking up the roles of chief executive and chief operating officer respectively. |
| Westbury's property portfolio is being bought for £142m by Mr Stobart and Mr Tinker through their separate business WADI Properties, which will operate independently from the merged Stobart group. | Westbury's property portfolio is being bought for £142m by Mr Stobart and Mr Tinker through their separate business WADI Properties, which will operate independently from the merged Stobart group. |
| Cult following | Cult following |
| Founded in 1970, Eddie Stobart has a cult following among members of the public. | Founded in 1970, Eddie Stobart has a cult following among members of the public. |
| William Stobart and Andrew Tinkler will run the merged business | William Stobart and Andrew Tinkler will run the merged business |
| Its distinctive lorries, each sporting a unique female name, have inspired a fan club, members of whom compete for the most sightings of Eddie Stobart trucks. | Its distinctive lorries, each sporting a unique female name, have inspired a fan club, members of whom compete for the most sightings of Eddie Stobart trucks. |
| A range of toys and T-shirts are also available, and there has even been an animated TV series centred on a truck called Steady Eddie. | A range of toys and T-shirts are also available, and there has even been an animated TV series centred on a truck called Steady Eddie. |
| "Eddie Stobart has a large and loyal fan base," the firm said in a statement. | "Eddie Stobart has a large and loyal fan base," the firm said in a statement. |
| "There are thousands of fans who collect memorabilia and attend events, and a large number who compete in the 'Spotters League Table'. | "There are thousands of fans who collect memorabilia and attend events, and a large number who compete in the 'Spotters League Table'. |
| "For many, the metamorphosis of Eddie Stobart to a publicly-listed company will mean that they can now invest and own a part of the business." | "For many, the metamorphosis of Eddie Stobart to a publicly-listed company will mean that they can now invest and own a part of the business." |
| Based in Carlisle, with sister sites in Warrington and Daventry in Northamptonshire, Eddie Stobart operates from 27 sites across the UK. | |
| Mr Tinkler and Mr Stobart will hold 28.5% of the new company following the merger. | Mr Tinkler and Mr Stobart will hold 28.5% of the new company following the merger. |
| Westbury has also announced the acquisition of Widnes-based freight handling firm O'Connor for £23m, alongside the Eddie Stobart merger. | Westbury has also announced the acquisition of Widnes-based freight handling firm O'Connor for £23m, alongside the Eddie Stobart merger. |
| The merger of Westbury and Eddie Stobart still requires the approval of Westbury shareholders, but this is expected to be successful. | The merger of Westbury and Eddie Stobart still requires the approval of Westbury shareholders, but this is expected to be successful. |
| Are you a "Stobart spotter"? Do you have pictures of Stobart vehicles? If so, you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk | Are you a "Stobart spotter"? Do you have pictures of Stobart vehicles? If so, you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |