News Article 2015

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February 24 2015, David R Brown

Brenntag to take over South African specialty distributor

Brenntag is to acquire Lionheart Chemical Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, South Africa. Lionheart, headquartered in Johannesburg, is a specialty distributor in the South African market operating mainly in the food and beverage sector. The closing of the transaction is expected in the course of the next weeks.

The acquisition strengthens Brenntag's position in the South African chemical distribution market

Karsten Beckmann
CEO Brenntag Europe, Middle East and Africa

Karsten Beckmann, CEO Brenntag Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA): “The acquisition strengthens Brenntag's position in the South African chemical distribution market. Lionheart's product portfolio is complementary to other activities of Brenntag in this region through our Multisol and Crest Industrial Chemical businesses. We see great potential to increase our sales by combining existing supplier relations and attracting new suppliers.”

The South African food sector demonstrates long-term fundamental growth due to increasing demand for convenient food as well as the expansion of South Africa's retailers into Sub-Saharan Africa. Carl Blomme, Regional President Middle East and Africa at Brenntag EMEA: “Lionheart has a key position in food specialty chemicals in South Africa and high in-house competencies that Brenntag can leverage. We are creating a food specialty business unit that will hold a well reputable position in this important market sector in the South African region.”

Klaus U. Gerhardt, Managing Director of Lionheart: “Lionheart has a dispersed and well balanced supplier customer portfolio with sufficient growth potential to be leveraged due to the integration into Brenntag Group.”

The acquired business is expected to have generated total sales of approximately EUR 12.0 million in the financial year 2014.

About Brenntag
Headquartered in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, Brenntag is the market leader in chemical distribution and operates a global network of over 480 locations in more than 70 countries. In 2013, the company, which has a global workforce of more than 13,000, generated sales of EUR 9.8 billion (USD 13.0 billion). With over 10,000 products and a world-class supplier base, Brenntag offers one-stop-shop solutions to around 170,000 customers. This includes specific application technology, extensive technical support and value-added services such as just-in-time delivery, product mixing, formulation, repackaging, inventory management and drum return handling.

Source(s): Brenntag Press Release

Further Information

Visit: http://www.brenntag.com