German chemical distributor Brenntag is aiming for an initial public offering in the first half of 2010, most likely before the Easter holidays in early April, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Brenntag had no immediate comment.

Brenntag, bought by private equity group BC Partners for more than €3 billion in 2006, had sales of €7.4 billion in 2008 and has about 11,000 employees in more than 64 countries.