Forward to a friend | View as a webpage | Add us to your white list | Blackberry version   Welcome to the ICIS Reporter weekly newsletter Chemical distribution is a seemingly downturn-resistant industry. This week, to coincide with the US National Association of Chemical Distributors annual meeting we delve deep into this sector and discover that the climate for mergers and acquisitions may now be ripe. The news that German group Brenntag’s owner BC Partners is seeking an initial public offering is a sure sign that life may be returning deal-making in this sector. Stories from ICIS Chemical Business North American chemical distributors weigh the effects of the economic downturn Chemical companies can save costs by outsourcing logistics Could life be returning to M&A in chemical distribution? How systems thinking transformed a chemicals supply chain Recruitment in chemical distribution industry Steve Holland's plans for Brenntag Top More News ICIS news: Editors' Top Picks N American fertilizer merger wars rage on with no end in sight US refinery rates fall, producers struggle to recover margins Clariant plans site closures, further job cuts LyondellBasell, Bayer MaterialScience, others fit IPIC - analysts IPIC names Bayer MaterialScience in list of possible acquisitions Dow Chemical to further divest portfolio - CEO   ICIS news: Most Popular Picks IPIC aiming to be global petchem leader in 5 years - MD Bidders eye assets of bankrupt US firm Chemtura US Huntsman's $415m bid for Tronox falls on low end - banker EC fines chemical companies €173m for plastics additive cartel FocusStrong crude weighs on Asian chemicals demand Heavy snow disrupts chemicals transport in northern China ADVERTORIAL ICIS pricing’s Chemical Tanker Shipping Reports are widely regarded as the industry’s most comprehensive and detailed source of chemical shipping data available. Each report offers you in-depth coverage of markets in Europe, the Americas and Asia, as well as insight into trends and developments affecting some of the highest shipping traffic areas in the world. The reports also give you freight rate assessments, spot market rates and enquiries, along with a detailed market analysis and market commentary. Read more… ICIS REACH Group How much will it cost? ECHA has details of just 2,025 SIEFs Reliance offers c$10bn for LyondellBasell Abu Dhabi looks to build its petchem activities Swine flu kept at bay by common cold Top More from ICIS blogs ICIS offers Take out a trial or save on a subscription Click on the product or service you are interested in for more information Top   ICIS RFQ services Send a free chemical request for quotation here ICIS conferences The 5th ICIS Pan-American Base Oils & Lubricants Conference 3 - 4 December 2009 The 14th World Base Oils conference - 18 - 19 February 2010 The 5th ICIS World Olefins Conference - 3rd March 2010, Brussels, Belgium More conferences   Manage Your Account: This email has been sent to #emailaddr# Advertise in this email by contacting Alex Broughton on 0208 652 3031 Add us to your safe senders list Receive your own copy of this email. Do not reply to this email as it is unmonitored. To send us your feedback, email us Unsubscribe from future ICIS Reporter email newsletter. Disclaimer: This message is intended only for the use of the person(s) ("Intended Recipient") to whom it is addressed. It may contain information, which is privileged and confidential. Accordingly any dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this message or any of its content by any person other than the Intended Recipient may constitute a breach of civil or criminal law and is strictly prohibited. If you are not the Intended Recipient, please contact the sender as soon as possible. Reed Business Information Limited. Registered Office: Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5AS. Registered in England under Company No. 0151537