RWK Goodman advises on the acquisition of Monarch Chemicals by Brenntag
RWK Goodman has advised the selling shareholders of Monarch Group Limited on their sale to Brenntag, the DAX listed global leader in chemicals and ingredients distribution, which completed on 1 August 2024. RWK Goodman worked alongside the corporate finance and tax teams at Barnes Roffe.
Monarch Chemicals, established in 1989, is a leading distributor of commodity and agricultural chemicals in the UK, renowned for its in-house liquid and powder blending facilities and with sales of £35.1m in 2023. The acquisition includes Monarch’s key sites in Southeast England and Scotland, significantly expanding Brenntag’s last mile service capabilities in the UK.
Russel Argo, Regional President of Brenntag Essentials EMEA, commented: “The team at Monarch has built a great product and service offering for their broad customer and supply partner base, and we look forward to growing and expanding that offering together. Brenntag gains expertise, infrastructure, as well as expanded liquid and powder blending capabilities with this transaction. With our acquisition strategy, we expand our last mile service operations to bring a broader portfolio of products and value-added services to customers, supported by our regional supply chain services within our global network. With this extended offering, all our customers in the UK can benefit going forward.”
The RWK Goodman transaction team was led by Corporate partner James Worrall and Associate Freya Still, with support from Alicia Chown, Barnaby Baker and Carl Selby (Corporate); Tim Gofton and Kirsty Swan (Employment); and Gemma Hart (Real Estate).
James Worrall commented: “We are thrilled to have supported the shareholders of Monarch, alongside the team at Barnes Roffe, in this significant transaction. This acquisition by Brenntag not only marks a new chapter for Monarch but also strengthens Brenntag’s footprint in the UK. Congratulations to all parties involved, and we look forward to witnessing the continued growth and success under Brenntag’s stewardship.”
Freya Still commented: “It was a pleasure working with the shareholders of Monarch, as well as the Barnes Roffe team, to see the sale to a successful conclusion. Congratulations to the selling shareholders and all others involved in the transaction, which will allow Monarch to expand and diversify its customer offering and provide enhanced scaling capabilities. We look forward to seeing the Monarch group go from strength to strength under the new ownership.”
Dan Wright, Corporate Finance Director at Barnes Roffe added: “It was a pleasure working with the team at Monarch to help them achieve their exit plans. James and his team’s commercial approach helped make the process as seamless as it could be. When challenges arose, they were always on hand to provide their expert advice and they were fantastic to work with.”
Jon Hill, Managing Director of Monarch, commented: “Thanks to the RWKG team for their support and guidance throughout this transaction. We clearly had a choice to make when selecting a team of solicitors to handle this transaction for us, and we’re happy to say that we made the correct decision. The whole RWKG team has been brilliant throughout the transaction and their hard work in guiding us through the sale process has been very much appreciated.”
Brenntag were advised by Addleshaw Goddard.
