Ropes & Gray Advised Martignetti Companies in Acquisition of Control State Brokerage Business from Republic National Distributing Company and Certain Affiliates

Ropes & Gray advised Martignetti Companies, a New England based wine and spirits wholesaler and distributor and a longstanding Ropes & Gray client, on its acquisition of the "control state" brokerage business of Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) and certain of its affiliates.

The transaction was structured as a hybrid 363 court-approved asset sale and a sale of assets outside of bankruptcy of certain affiliates of the bankrupt debtors. Definitive documentation was signed on September 4, 2026, and the transaction closed on September 30, 2026.

The acquired business brokers the distribution of wine and spirits brands for suppliers in 17 control states: Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. The acquisition significantly expands Martignetti's footprint beyond New England.

The Ropes & Gray team was led by real estate investments and transactions partner Walter McCabe, mergers and acquisitions partner Stephanie Lapidus, and business restructuring partner Andrew Mordkoff.  The team also included tax partner Scott Pinarchick, finance partner Milap Patel, mergers and acquisitions associates Florencio Madariaga and Kelley Murphy, business restructuring associates Amanda Fang and Cameron Cavalier, and finance associate Daniele Durkin.