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Dear Chemical Week reader,

How will your business fare in 2009? With a global recession underway, demand on the downswing across nearly all sectors and chemical companies around the world making cutbacks you need to be asking hard questions about how your company will cope, where the industry is going, and when the economy will begin to recover.

Join Kevin Swift, American Chemistry Council Chief Economist, and Mike Shannon KPMG’s National Segment Leader for the U.S. Chemicals Industry, for an event designed specifically with chemical industry executives in mind.

Take this opportunity to gain insight into the changes to the business climate that may take place during 2009. Will the recession end early this year, later this year, or will it last into 2010? Will developing markets, including Asia, continue to present growth opportunities even as the developed world lags? How can your business position itself to survive in a difficult climate and thrive once the storm passes? This webcast will provide insights to help answer these, and other, pressing questions.

Kevin Swift will discuss how a growing global recession will impact the chemical industry in 2009. Key issues include significant demand reductions and the duration of the current recession.

Mike Shannon will explore some of the historic business issues facing Chemical companies, how they are being addressed in the current environment and what may happen in the future. Mike will expect to explore the possible contradictions in the M&A market, potential dangers to long term business in a cost cutting environment, the impact of new economies on the 'old world' and potentially other challenges as they appear on the horizon.

We hope you’ll join us on February 18. Click here for more information, and to register for this essential event.

Kind regards,
Alex Scott
Executive Editor/Web and Environment, Chemical Week

About the speakers

Kevin Swift is the chief economist of the ACC. He is responsible for economic analysis and monitoring business conditions and trends, and his analyses are crucial to decision-makers through the industry. He holds an MA in Economics from Case Western Reserve University and a DBA from Anglia Polytechnic University. Kevin is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the National Association for Business Economics and the Harvard Discussion Group of Industrial Economists. He spoke at Chemical Week’s economic outlook webcast for 2008, and has appeared on National Public Radio and Bloomberg TV.

Mike Shannon is KPMG's National Segment Leader for the Chemicals Industry in the U.S., as well as the Audit Sector Leader for Chemicals. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, The New York State Society of CPAs and the New Jersey State Society of CPAs and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Wagner College. Mike has served some of KPMG's largest chemicals clients including Celanese, Degussa and ICI/National Starch and is currently the lead engagement partner on BASF in North America.

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