Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
Jim Ratcliffe built Ineos into a €45 billion chemical group
Jim Ratcliffe built Ineos into a major chemical company after founding it in 1998.
The British businessman grew the group by buying factories and chemical divisions that companies such as BP and ICI no longer considered strategic.
Ineos improved the sites and increased production to make them more profitable.
The company now has €45 billion in revenue and 24,500 employees, and its products are used in everyday goods and medicines.
Critics have called Ratcliffe an asset stripper, while he says he and his partners were opportunistic in pursuing available deals.
Ratcliffe became a Manchester United shareholder in 2024, adding football to his business interests.
The account does not say what comes next for Ineos or his role at the club.
Jim Ratcliffe founded Ineos in 1998 and built it into a chemical group with annual revenue of €45 billion.
The company grew by buying industrial assets and chemical divisions that companies including BP and ICI no longer considered strategic.
Ineos improved the management and output of the acquired facilities to raise their profitability.
The group has 24,500 employees and makes products used in areas including water purification, medicines and plastics.
Ratcliffe became a shareholder in Manchester United in 2024.
- Who
- Jim Ratcliffe, founder of Ineos, and the company’s partners Andy Currie and John Reece.
- What
- Ratcliffe built Ineos into a chemical group with annual revenue of €45 billion by acquiring industrial assets and chemical divisions.
- When
- Ineos was founded in 1998; Ratcliffe became a Manchester United shareholder in 2024.
- Where
- The company is based in the chemical and industrial sectors. Ratcliffe was born in the Greater Manchester area.
- Why
- Ratcliffe and his partners saw potential in assets that other companies considered non-strategic, then improved their management and production.
Critics of Ratcliffe's acquisitions
Jim Ratcliffe
Character of Ineos's growth
Critics of Ratcliffe's acquisitions
Critics described Ratcliffe as an “asset dismantler.
Jim Ratcliffe
Ratcliffe said the group was opportunistic in assessing business opportunities.
Ratcliffe founded Ineos after working in the chemical and financial sectors.
Ineos grew by acquiring assets and divisions that other companies considered non-strategic.
Ratcliffe entered Manchester United’s shareholding.
- Founded
- 1998
- Annual revenue
- €45 billion
- Employees
- 24,500
- Manchester United
- Ratcliffe became a shareholder in 2024
- Acquisition targets
- Assets and chemical divisions considered non-strategic by companies including BP and ICI
What people are saying
It’s the largest company in the world you’ve never heard of
We analyzed every opportunity that came up; we were opportunists
If you do bad deals, you get fired. If you do no deals, you get fired.