owned and operated by Eason, but the chain began franchising with a number of new retail units operating independently under the Eason brand from the mid-2000s. In 2019, Eason acquired six of these stores and 17 of Eason stores are operated under a franchise agreement. Shareholders voted to approve a sale and leaseback of the companies primary owned stores in 2018 which created an independent retail business (Eason Retail PLC) and a separate entity holding shareholders’ property assets (Eason Holdings). Eason Holdings PLC entered voluntary liquidation in 2020 to facilitate a cash distribution to Eason shareholders, from the proceeds of the sale of a number of properties since late 2018. In 2020, Eason acquired rival bookseller Dubray Books. The Dubray units retained their brand and specialise in book sales, in contrast to the Eason-branded units' general offering of books, newspapers, magazines, stationery and other items. On 23 March 2020, the company's seven stores in Northern Ireland temporarily closed in compliance with the government restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. On 15 July 2020, the company announced that its Northern Irish stores would not reopen. Former divisions British Bookshops & Sussex Stationers outlets in south-east England. In May 2009, Eason sold this company to Endless PLC. Endless intend to keep the "British Bookshops" name. Eason's Advertising Services Limited - a niche advertising agency which closed in 2010. Eason and Son (N.I.) Ltd - This division operated the chain of 15 stores in Northern Ireland. N.P.O. UK Ltd. (subsequently rebranded Eason) - These stores were operated under Eason and Son (N.I.) Ltd. NPO UK specialised in stationery; however, after the Eason takeover, the stores stocked the same range of products as all Eason stores. Eason News Distribution Division (now merged into the EM News) - was based in Dublin and outside Cork City Newsbrothers. Newsbrothers, a subsidiary company of Eason, was responsible for newspaper and magazine distribution in the Munster region. Hughes & Hughes Airport - in early 2010 Hughes & Hughes entered administration, with Eason acquiring its seven airport stores, however Eason lost the tender to operate these bookshops in 2013. EM News Distribution - Eason merged its Irish newspaper and magazine wholesale distribution businesses with John Menzies creating EM News Distribution. Menzies Distribution purchased Eason’s share in 2017. See also List of Irish companies Further reading Cullen, L. M. Eason & Son: A History. (Dublin, 1989). 438pp,