Esken

Esken

Esken Limited (LSE: ESKN), formerly Stobart Group Limited, is a British infrastructure, aviation and energy company, with operations in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company is registered in Guernsey but has its operational head office in London, England. The company originally started in January 2002 as the Westbury Property Fund Limited, a closed-ended real-estate investment fund. In August 2006, realising that property prices were reaching the peak of the market, the Westbury Property Fund decided to re-position its portfolio towards the logistics sector, buying Weston Point Docks in Runcorn, AHC Warehousing and the rail operations of Victa Westlink Rail in March 2007. It then agreed an asset swap deal in August 2007 with the privately owned investment company WA Developments, whereby Westbury would sell 90% of its non-logistics related property portfolio to WA Developments in return for its Eddie Stobart Ltd subsidiary. Eddie Stobart Chairman Andrew Tinkler became CEO, whilst his brother-in-law, the Managing Director William Stobart became COO of the renamed Stobart Group, which subsequently diversified into other sectors. After boardroom changes in 2013, in 2014 a 51% stake in its original transport business was sold, becoming Eddie Stobart Logistics with William Stobart as its CEO. The Group retained the rights to the brand Eddie Stobart, licensing it out to the new company. With Andrew Tinkler remaining CEO at Stobart Group, it re-positioned itself around its remaining interests. In June 2018, Andrew Tinkler left the company and in May 2020, Stobart Group announced the sale of the Eddie Stobart and Stobart brand names to Eddie Stobart Logistics, requiring it to change its corporate name by February 2021. In January 2021, Stobart Group announced that following shareholder approval, it would change its name to "Esken Limited" in February 2021. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange. However, unlike most UK public companies, the company retains its "Ltd" status as it is incorporated in Guernsey and not England & Wales or Scotland, which would require it to change its suffix to "plc" status.

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