Steve Elliott, chief executive of the Chemical Industries Association, looks at the key immediate challenges facing the industry in the UK

DSM and Swiss-based flavours and fragrances house Firmenich have agreed to merge. The deal, which is expected to close in 1H 2023, is valued at about $19.6 billion.

Sarah Ingle, who specialises in chemical safety and regulatory compliance at EcoOnline, explores how chemists can create a participatory safety culture

Italian CDMO Olon is to invest €10 million to create an R&D hub at its headquarters site at Rodano near Milan. This will integrate seven existing R&D centres and will be dedicated entirely to research laboratories to be used to develop APIs and manufacturing processes. 

Johnson Matthey (JM) has exited from the batteries market by selling most of its Battery Materials business to EV Metals Group for £50 million and the Canadian part to Nano One Materials for C$10.25 million. Both buyers are specialists in the field.

Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical has decided to sell its 15.9% stake in Australian agrochemical company Nufarm. It has separately announced its decision to close down its dyestuff facilities at its Osaka Works and exit the dyestuffs business by the end of March 2023.

Malaysian petrochemicals giant Petronas Chemical Group (PCG) has agreed to acquire Perstorp from its private equity owner, Financière Forêt. The €1.54 billion cash acquisition gives Perstorp an enterprise value of €2.3 billion.