Chemicals
The competitive landscape in the chemicals sector is changing quickly - and businesses need to adapt fast
Recent experience includes advising:
Commodity chemicals and petrochemicals
- BP on the $5bn sale of its Acetyls and Aromatics businesses to INEOS, the global manufacturer of petrochemicals, speciality chemicals and oil products
- Linde on its strategic partnership with SipChem in Saudi Arabia
- Export credit agencies and other financial institutions on the SATORP Jubail refining and petrochemical US$14bn project in Saudi Arabia
- Reliance Petroleum on the financing of the new US$6bn refinery and associated polypropylene plant in India
- INEOS on the establishment of a new polyolefins trading business for a major chemicals player across multiple jurisdictions
Industrials and speciality chemicals
- Linde on the global antitrust elements of the US$42.5bn merger of equals with Praxair
- BASF SE on the €3.1bn sale of its construction chemicals business to Lone Star
- Dow Chemical Company on the EU merger filings required for its $18.8bn acquisition of Rohm and Haas
- Covestro on the acquisition of the Resins & Functional Materials business of Royal DSM for €1.61bn
- Solvay on the US$5.5bn merger agreement with Cytec and on the subsequent reorganisation of its corporate structure
Life sciences and Agrichemicals
- Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Company on the acquisition of shares in three agricultural nutrient companies from Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
- Bayer on the US$57bn financing to support its proposed acquisition of agrochemical company Monsanto
- HSBC and other lenders on the debt financing for ChemChina on the US$46bn acquisition of Syngenta
- Bayer on the carve-out of its plastic division Bayer Material Science (now Covestro) with 60 countries involved
- Merck on its new €2bn syndicated multicurrency revolving credit facility agreement
Thought Leadership
European Green Deal: The “Fit for 55 Package”
15 July 2021
The EU has adopted a climate law enshrining its new climate targets of at least a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and net zero by 2050. On 14 July 2021, the European Commission published its “Fit for 55” package to enable the EU to meet those targets.
"Greenwashing" and plastics recycling: a cross-border focus
6 July 2021
As businesses seek to attract environmentally-minded and sustainability-focused consumers, many are increasingly finding themselves the target of complaints alleging "greenwashing".
We take a look at the major trends in so-called “greenwashing” complaints across the United States, United Kingdom and EU, and Asia, particularly in relation to plastics and recycling issues.
Getting Hy? Ambition and the art of the possible in the search for a hydrogen economy
2 December 2021
There has been a flurry of recent announcements on the potential for clean hydrogen to propel the global energy transition. In Europe alone, Spain, Germany, France, Portugal, the Netherlands and the European Commission have each published hydrogen strategies in the last several months. There is a clear sense in which clean hydrogen is viewed by many countries as the “missing link” required in order to achieve a fully functioning net zero economy consistent with their Paris Agreement objectives.
ESG Action Plan for Corporates
8 June 2021
Businesses' climate and ESG targets and action plans are coming under increased scrutiny from investors and the courts, as shown by the Shell climate court case and the various shareholder resolutions in the 2021 AGM season.
In this ESG Action Plan, we set out key steps for corporates to consider in the short, medium and longer term - regardless of which jurisdiction or sector you operate in.
Climate Change Plans and Targets
8 June 2021
Following the recent ruling by a Dutch court that Shell should reduce its carbon emissions and the climate votes at recent listed company AGMs around the world, all businesses with a significant carbon footprint – regardless of which sector or jurisdiction they operate in – should engage urgently on their climate strategy and targets.
In this note we highlight key points for businesses to consider for their climate strategy and targets.
Human Rights and the Supply Chain
17 June 2019
Rachel Barrett and Hamish McAvaney focus on human rights in the supply chain and why it’s an area of importance for companies.
Powering the future: Battery manufacturing for Electric Vehicle batteries
1 July 2019
In order to meet projected demand for EVs, batteries will need to be manufactured in much larger quantities. Higher production levels will help economies of scale to be realised, ultimately reducing the price and hence driving the take-up of EVs.
Powering the future: Commercial opportunities and legal developments across the EV batteries lifecycle
1 July 2019
The advent of electric vehicles (EVs) is one of the most revolutionary changes to take place in the history of transport. This microsite contains key insights on the commercial opportunities and legal developments in relation to electric vehicle batteries.