The challenges of the past few years (Covid impact, raw material shortages, input pricing volatility, and the resulting whipsaw effect on margins) seemed largely in the rearview mirror. Now, as we approach the midpoint of 2025, that optimism has been replaced by a deep sense of angst and uncertainty. Looking at this geographically, the M&A landscape in Europe and the United States were on divergent paths to start the year, influenced by regional economic conditions, energy costs, regulatory environments, and strategic corporate decisions. Europe's chemical and coatings industries have been facing significant headwinds, primarily ...