1 OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH ALL OUTSTANDING COMMON SHARES OF UNIVAR CORPORATION AT $19.45 NET PER SHARE BY UC ACQUISITION CORP. AN INDIRECT SUBSIDIARY OF ROYAL PAKHOED N.V. THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 8:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MONDAY, JULY 15, 1996 UNLESS OFFER IS EXTENDED. June 7, 1996 To Brokers, Dealers, Banks, Trust Companies and other Nominees: We have been engaged by UC Acquisition Corp., a Washington corporation ("Buyer"), which is an indirect subsidiary of Royal Pakhoed N.V. (a translation of Koninklijke Pakhoed N.V.), a publicly held limited liability company formed and existing under the laws of The Netherlands ("Parent"), to act as Information Agent in connection with Buyer's offer to purchase all outstanding common shares, (the "Shares"), of Univar Corporation, a Washington corporation ("Company"), at $19.45 per Share, net to the seller in cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Buyer's Offer to Purchase dated June 7, 1996 (the "Offer to Purchase") and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, collectively constitute the "Offer"). Please furnish copies of the enclosed material to those of your clients for whom you hold Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee. Enclosed herewith are copies of the following documents: 1. Offer to Purchase, dated June 7, 1996; 2. Letter of Transmittal to be used by shareholders of Company in accepting the Offer; 3. A printed form of letter that may be sent to your clients for whose account you hold Shares in your name or in the name of a nominee, with space provided for obtaining such clients' instructions with regard to the Offer; 4. Notice of Guaranteed Delivery; 5. Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9; 6. Returned envelope addressed to the Depositary; 7. Schedule 14D-9 of Company; and 8. Letter of Chairman and President of Company to Company Shareholders, dated June 7, 1996. 2 THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, (1) THERE BEING VALIDLY TENDERED AND NOT WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE THAT NUMBER OF SHARES THAT WOULD, WHEN AGGREGATED WITH THE SHARES ALREADY OWNED BY BUYER AND ITS AFFILIATES, REPRESENT A MAJORITY OF ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE, AND (2) ALL GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS FOR THE OFFER (AS DEFINED IN THE OFFER TO PURCHASE) HAVING BEEN OBTAINED OR WAIVED BY PARENT AND BUYER AND APPLICABLE LAWS COMPLIED WITH. We urge you to contact your clients promptly. Please note that the Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 8:00 p.m., New York City time, on Monday, July 15, 1996, unless extended. Neither Buyer nor Parent will pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or other person (other than the Information Agent as described in the Offer to Purchase) in connection with the solicitation of tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer. You will be reimbursed upon request for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by you in forwarding the enclosed offering materials to your customers. Additional copies of the enclosed material may be obtained by contacting us at the respective address and telephone number set forth on the back cover of the enclosed Offer to Purchase. Very truly yours, D.F. King & Co., Inc. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS SHALL RENDER YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON THE AGENT OF BUYER, PARENT, THE DEPOSITARY OR THE INFORMATION AGENT OR AUTHORIZE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER NOT CONTAINED IN THE OFFER TO PURCHASE OR THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.