Bringing 121 years of history to an end is not an easy task. When EA Gibson’s Nigel Richardson and Hunting chief executive Dennis Proctor shook hands on a deal that saw the shipbroker enter employee ownership last week it marked the end of an effort stretching back almost a decade.

A potential decoupling of Gibson and its long-time parent was first voiced in 2006 as FTSE 250-quoted Hunting tightened its focus on oilfield services.