Lazard has appointed Dr Marco Superina to lead investment banking for Switzerland as part of its expansion in the DACH region. Based in Zurich, Superina will advise Swiss and international corporations, entrepreneurs and financial sponsors on mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions and strategic matters. Superina joins from UBS, where he served as Head of Global Banking Switzerland. He previously held senior roles at Credit Suisse, including Head of M&A Switzerland and Head of M&A Northern Europe, having begun his career there in 1997. The appointment reflects Lazard's strategy to accelerate growth in Europe by broadening coverage in key markets. Superina will be part of the DACH management team led by Marcus Schenck, Head of Financial Advisory for the region.

Specialty chemicals giant Ashland initiates sale evaluation. 2026-08-14 09:07:56 Source:ChemNet 中文 Recent reports indicate that U.S. specialty chemicals company Ashland is evaluating the possibility of a full sale, officially initiating the sale process and attracting interest from multiple industrial capital firms and private equity institutions. According to sources familiar with the matter, Ashland has hired Citigroup and Lazard as financial advisors to assist in evaluating potential transactions and advancing the sale, while conducting preliminary discussions with strategic buyers and financial investors. Multiple parties have already proactively approached Ashland to inquire about acquisition opportunities, including Standard Industries, one of Ashland's major shareholders, as well as prominent private equity firms such as Advent International, Apollo Global Management, and The Carlyle Group. However, relevant discussions are still in the early stages, and there remains uncertainty regarding whether a transaction will materialize. This initiation of a sale evaluation stems from sustained pressure from activist investors. In June 2026, activist investment firm Ancora Holdings publicly called on Ashland to seek a full sale. Ancora believes that the company's stock price is significantly discounted, and coupled with challenges in corporate growth and operational execution, a sale is the optimal path to unlock Ashland's intrinsic value. According to market estimates, if an acquisition deal is reached, the corresponding purchase price would be approximately $76 per share, valuing Ashland's total enterprise value at around $4.5 billion. Facing the demands of activist investors, Ashland reached a settlement agreement with Ancora Holdings in July 2026. According to the agreement, Ashland's Board of Directors added two new directors, Peter Thomas and Allen Spizzo. Simultaneously, a Capital Configuration Advisory Committee was established, with a term extending through the 2028 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. This committee will continue to provide professional advice to the Board, conducting discussions around capital allocation strategies and medium-to-long-term strategic planning to help enhance shareholder returns. On the financial reporting front, Ashland's latest quarterly operational performance showed marked improvement. The company disclosed its quarterly performance for the period ending June 30 on July 28, reporting net income of $16 million for the period; in the same period last year, the company recorded a loss of $742 million due to one-time charges such as non-cash goodwill impairment. Quarterly sales reached $497 million, a 7% year-over-year increase; product sales volume rose by 6% year-over-year, with all four business segments achieving growth. Public information shows that Ashland's business is divided into four core segments. The Life Sciences segment serves pharmaceuticals, nutrition, agricultural chemicals, and diagnostic films; the Personal Care segment provides skincare, haircare, oral care, and home care ingredients, as well as bioactives and preservatives; the Specialty Additives segment supplies rheology modifiers and functional enhancement additives for industrial markets such as architectural coatings, construction engineering, energy, and automotive; the Intermediates business focuses on 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and its derivatives, including key chemicals like N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). As a key global supplier of specialty ingredients and additives, Ashland spans multiple industrial chains including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, new materials, and fine chemicals. Industry analysis points out that if this sale proceeds smoothly, it may reshape the competitive landscape in the global personal care ingredients, pharmaceutical excipients, and fine intermediates sectors such as BDO and NMP. [Copyright Notice] In the spirit of openness and inclusiveness of the Internet, ChemNet welcomes all media and institutions to reprint and quote its original content. If reprinted, please mark the source ChemNet. If you find any copyright issues with articles on this website, please contact Chemnet at [email protected]. Important information. Commodity price chart. | Product name | Price (yuan/ton) | Price Limit | | Trifluoroacetic acid | 38075.00 | +15.47% | | Isobutyraldehyde | 7933.33 | +14.98% | | Crude oil | 88.98 | +11.99% | | Crude oil | 83.27 | +10.70% | | 1,3-butadiene | 10900.00 | +8.10% | | Bromine | 39000.00 | +7.73% | | Lithium carbonate | 147000.00 | +7.30% | | Propylene | 8591.00 | +7.15% | | Antimony | 95250.00 | +6.72% | | Lithium carbonate | 149000.00 | +6.43% | | Dichloromethane | 1945.00 | -6.15% | | Phenol | 8205.00 | -5.96% | | Lithium hydroxide | 125000.00 | +5.93% | | MEK | 8000.00 | -5.88% | | Naphtha | 8203.33 | +5.58% | Scan to access the mobile version View the latest and hottest chemical news content

Mayor Mamdani recruits finance leaders for Advisory Council. TrendPulse AI Analysis This article covers business trends, sourced from Fortune. Its AI system has analyzed the key points and extracted the most relevant insights for decision-makers. Below is the structured breakdown of the original content. Quick summary. * Mayor Zohran Mamdani is forming a new Business Advisory Council, recruiting high-level executives from firms like UBS, Lazard, and Bank of America. * This move marks a strategic pivot as the administration disbands its previous corporate-led fundraising board in favor of a more progressive economic agenda. * The council aims to bridge the gap between the mayor's populist policy goals and the city's influential financial sector. Key details. The administration is actively courting veteran financial leaders, including former UBS Group AG executive Robert Wolf, ex-Lazard Inc. global head Antonio Weiss, and Bank of America Corp. New York president Jose Tavarez. While the final composition remains fluid, these invitations signal an attempt to integrate institutional expertise into the mayor's economic development strategy. A spokesperson for the mayor confirmed the initiative, stating the goal is to gather insights to improve the lives of all New Yorkers. This outreach represents a significant shift in how the mayor engages with the business elite. Mamdani has previously maintained a contentious relationship with high-net-worth individuals and major corporations, frequently clashing with figures like Citadel's Ken Griffin and Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos. By replacing a corporate-focused fundraising board with a new advisory body, the administration is attempting to redefine its relationship with the private sector on its own terms. Why this matters. For investors and business leaders, this development suggests a potential thaw in the frosty relationship between City Hall and the financial sector. However, the efficacy of this council remains an open question. Critics and political strategists note that for such a group to be meaningful, it must possess the independence to provide candid, corrective feedback rather than serving as a rubber stamp for existing policy. Most mayors have a kitchen cabinet of business leaders they turn to for input on the economy and relevant policy issues. Industry professionals should monitor whether this council influences the mayor's stance on taxation and corporate regulation. If the administration successfully incorporates these voices, it could lead to more balanced economic policies; if the council is perceived as purely performative, it may do little to alleviate the underlying tensions between the mayor's progressive agenda and the city's business interests. The bottom line. Mayor Mamdani's outreach to top-tier financial executives signals a pragmatic attempt to stabilize his economic policy, though the long-term impact will depend on whether he grants the council genuine influence. Original source: Fortune This article has been processed and analyzed by TrendPulse AI for informational purposes. Content may have been summarized or restructured for clarity.