January 7, 2011
Koch Fertilizer’s parent company submitted a filing with the U.K.’s Office of Fair Trading indicating Koch Fertilizer’s plan to acquire 100 percent of the shares of J&H Bunn Limited. The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter, pending necessary approvals.
“J&H Bunn is a significant independent fertiliser distributor in the U.K. market,” said Steve Packebush, president of Koch Fertilizer, which is based in the United States. “By adding this business, Koch Fertilizer can integrate J&H Bunn’s terminals, distribution and blending capabilities into our growing market coverage.”
“J&H Bunn shareholders believe this sale to Koch Fertilizer provides a strategic fit and will secure and enhance the reputation our company has developed since the 19th century,” said Michael Fuller, chairman of J&H Bunn. “In the past several years, our business relationship with Koch has highlighted our similar company cultures and shared commitment to customers. I am confident that this business will be stewarded well in the future.”
J&H Bunn was founded in 1816 in Great Yarmouth. It employs about 150 people in its fertiliser businesses which comprise 12 sites throughout Great Britain. Approximately 95 percent of the U.K.’s arable area lies within 100 miles of J&H Bunn’s port-related facilities.
“Koch Fertilizer values our agronomic and blending capabilities,” said David Harrod, co-managing director for J&H Bunn. “The combination of our fertilizer expertise and Koch Fertilizer’s global sourcing and marketing capabilities means J&H Bunn customers should see welcome benefits going forward. Koch Fertilizer also plans to retain the Bunn-related brand names and move forward with the Bunn management and operational teams to ensure customer continuity.”
J&H Bunn’s major fertiliser terminals are in Great Yarmouth on the east coast and Middlesbrough (Teesside) in northern England with Sharpness on the west coast. Bunn also has six other coastal and inland terminals at Falmouth, Howden, Montrose, Fakenham, Norwich and Wakefield.