Brenntag to Make IPO at End of Month

Brenntag, the world's largest chemical distributor,  is among a number of companies planning to float on the Frankfurt stock exchange in the next couple of weeks, kicking off the first wave of IPOs after the crisis.

German-based Brenntag, which started in 1874 as an egg trader in Berlin, aims to raise up to €837 million when it goes public on March 29. It plans to sell up to 10.5 million shares from a capital increase plus up to 4.45 million shares from existing shareholders at €46-56 apiece. The subscription period starts on Tuesday and will end on March 26. The proceeds will be used to pay down debt to increase its financial flexibility, Buchsteiner said.

Brenntag, which is owned by private equity group BC Partners, aims to pay out up to 45% of its net income to shareholders after its initial public offering later this month, it said on Tuesday.

We would expect to pay a dividend of 30-45% of net income after tax," Chief Financial Officer Juergen Buchsteiner told reporters at a news conference.

Brenntag is the only chemicals distributor with a global presence. It buys industrial and speciality chemicals in bulk from producers and delivers them in less-than-truckload quantities to makers of food, drugs and cosmetics, among others.

Chief executive Stephen Clark said he aimed to increase the company's market share of currently 6.9% through acquisitions worth a combined €100-150 million per year, which it could finance through its cash flow.