National Van Lines Becomes ESOP-Owned

National Van Lines Inc. said it has changed the company’s structure, selling itself to an employee stock ownership plan entity.

The third-generation, family-run business said it has been working on transitioning to an ESOP-owned S Corp. structure since July 2010 effort to “find an ownership and liquidity succession plan that did not disrupt the culture or the people.”

The ESOP structure gives National Van Lines with tax savings, improved employee benefits and financial flexibility, the Broadview-based company said in a press release.

Founded in 1901 by F.J. McKee, National Van Lines began in the Chicago area as a one horse and wagon moving service and expanded to a nationwide fleet of trucks. McKee’s granddaughter, Maureen Beal, is the company’s chief executive and one of its primary shareholders.

Below is a ESOP training video they created for their employees:

ESOP Training Presentation Video from National Van Lines, Inc. on Vimeo.

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