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Trendwatch: How chemical companies are continuing to drive M&A

Chemical companies are mixing it up. Mega-mergers and portfolio reviews continue to drive M&A as businesses balance core operations and expand into new products and markets. Grant Murgatroyd reports

Feb 2020 Corporate Financier article image Chemicals are the UK’s biggest manufacturing export, with £50bn of overseas sales a year. The sector directly and indirectly employs more than 500,000 people, and an increasing proportion of jobs are at the more skilled, value-adding end.

Chemicals companies in the UK are investing for the future. Some 90% expect to maintain research and development (R&D) spending, and 80% say capital expenditure and employment levels will remain steady or increase, according to an October 2019 member survey by the Chemicals Industry Association (CIA).