Thiele Kaolin Company

MILWAUKEE (March 25, 2026) – Burgess Pigment Co. (“Burgess Pigment”), a leading producer of specialty kaolin pigments and functional mineral products and Thiele Kaolin Company (“Thiele”), jointly announced that the parties have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Burgess Pigment will acquire Thiele, a global supplier of high-quality kaolin clay and silica products. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Sandersville, Georgia, Thiele is recognized for its mining and processing operations, broad product portfolio, and long-standing customer relationships across paper, packaging, coatings, construction materials, and other industrial applications. Thiele operates multiple mining and processing facilities throughout the U.S. and Europe and serves customers worldwide. 

“Thiele is an exceptional business with a strong reputation for quality, reliability, and technical expertise,” said Sandy Burgess, President of Burgess Pigment. “The transaction will bring together two companies with complementary skills and product offerings and aligns closely with our long-term strategy to build a vertically integrated and differentiated specialty minerals platform. Together, we will be better positioned to better meet customer demand for consistent supply and to offer a broader range of high-performance solutions, while continuing to invest in our people, operations, and innovation capabilities.” 

“Burgess Pigment shares our commitment to customer service, product quality, and operational excellence,” said Eric Tillirson, President of Thiele Kaolin Company. “This combination provides significant efficiencies, additional resources and scale to support our customers and employees and offers our shareholders liquidity for their investment while preserving the values and culture that have defined Thiele for decades.” 

The transaction brings together two highly complementary kaolin businesses with shared histories in Sandersville, Georgia – one of the world’s most important kaolin-producing regions. The combined company will offer an expanded portfolio of kaolin products and enhanced technical and R&D capabilities to support customers’ evolving performance and sustainability requirements. 

Upon completion of the transaction, Mr. Burgess will continue as Chief Executive Officer and President of Burgess Pigment. Mr. Tillirson will continue to serve as President of Thiele.  As part of the completion of the transaction, Thiele and Burgess Pigment will both become wholly-owned subsidiaries of a new holding company owned by Burgess Pigment’s existing shareholders. 

The transaction is expected to close in 2026, subject to the receipt of shareholder and regulatory approvals, as well as other customary closing conditions. 

William Blair served as financial advisor and Alston & Bird provided legal counsel to Burgess Pigment. 

Grace Matthews served as financial advisor and Troutman Pepper Locke provided legal counsel to Thiele. Kroll, LLC, an independent financial advisor, delivered a fairness opinion which determined that the base purchase price upon which consideration is to be received by the Thiele shareholders in the proposed transaction is fair from a financial point of view to such shareholders of Thiele.

ABOUT THIELE KAOLIN COMPANY
Founded in 1946, Thiele Kaolin Company is a leading producer of kaolin clay and silica products serving a broad range of industrial end markets. Thiele mines and processes kaolin, silica and related minerals for use in applications including coated board, coated paper, sand, flour and industrials. Thiele is headquartered in Sandersville, Georgia, and serves customers worldwide. For more information on Thiele Kaolin Company, visit https://www.thielekaolin.com/.

ABOUT BURGESS PIGMENT CO.
Founded in 1948, Burgess Pigment Co. is a leading provider of functional hydrous and anhydrous kaolin products. Burgess Pigment’s kaolin grades are designed to contribute key properties to final products in applications such as paints & coatings, wire & cable, and industrials, including adhesives, inks, and construction materials. Burgess Pigment is headquartered in Sandersville, Georgia, and is known for its focus on product quality, technical support, and long-standing customer relationships. For more information on Burgess Pigment Co., visit https://www.burgesspigment.com/.

ABOUT GRACE MATTHEWS
Grace Matthews, Inc., a Milwaukee-based investment bank, provides merger, acquisition, and corporate finance advisory services to private and public companies across the chemical and material science value chain. Over the past 25 years, Grace Matthews has successfully completed over 150 transactions on behalf of private, middle-market companies, private equity firms, and large multi-national corporations. For more detailed information on Grace Matthews, visit www.gracematthews.com.