Our corporate team is pleased to have advised publishing logistics specialist, Worldwide International Ltd (trading as Publiship), on its transition to employee ownership. Under the new structure, Publiship has become 100% employee‑owned through the creation of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Publiship is a specialist global logistics provider serving the printing and publishing industry, with a heritage dating back to 1983. Headquartered in the iconic Royal Liver Building in Liverpool, the company has developed into one of the industry’s most trusted freight‑forwarding partners, recognised for its expertise in managing the complex logistics underpinning international book production and distribution.
As part of the transition, James Doyle, Gerard Lyons and Andrew Hughes have joined the board of directors of Publiship, alongside existing directors Sam Higgins and Sue Kelly.
Matt Noon, corporate partner and the head of our Liverpool office, led on the provision of legal advice to Publiship, assisted by senior associate Ben Correia de Sousa. Claritas (led by Peter Hully) provided tax advice to support the transaction.
It’s a pleasure to have supported Publiship in completing its transition to employee ownership. The EOT model provides continuity, recognises the people who have driven the business forward and establishes a strong platform for long‑term, sustainable growth and it hopefully marks an exciting and successful new chapter for Publiship.Matt Noon
Corporate Partner at Hill Dickinson
Matt Noon, corporate partner at Hill Dickinson, said: “It’s a pleasure to have supported Publiship in completing its transition to employee ownership. The EOT model provides continuity, recognises the people who have driven the business forward and establishes a strong platform for long‑term, sustainable growth and it hopefully marks an exciting and successful new chapter for Publiship.”
Sam Higgins, managing director of Publiship, said: “Transitioning to an EOT was the natural next step for our business. We’ve always believed that our people are our greatest asset. Matt and Ben provided proactive, commercially focused and pragmatic advice throughout the transaction, and their support was key to ensuring a smooth and successful transition to employee ownership. They were great to work alongside.”