Jim Ratcliffe

Jim Ratcliffe (born 1953), a chemical engineer turned financier and industrialist, is the 25th richest person in the United Kingdom, according to the 2008 "Sunday Times" Rich List. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6603893.stm "Wealth of UK richest 'rises 20%'"] , "BBC News" 28 April 2008] Cite news
url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/industrials/article1719202.ece
title=Ratcliffe in richest top 10
author=Dominic O’Connell
date=2007-04-29
publisher=Times Online
accessdate=2008-06-22]

Ratcliffe is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Ineos chemicals group, of which he owns two-thirds, and which has been estimated to have a turnover of $45bn. He does not have a high public profile, and has been described by the "Sunday Times" as "publicity shy".Cite news
url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/movers_and_shakers/executive_movers/article3785069.ece
title=Business big shot: Jim Ratcliffe
date=2008-04-21
accessdate=2008-06-22
publisher=The Times
author=Grainne Gilmore]

Using high-yield debt to finance his deals, Ratcliffe started buying unwanted operations from groups such as ICI and BP, selecting targets based on their potential to double their earnings over a 5-year period. In 2006 Ineos bought BP's refining and petrochemical arm, which brought the Grangemouth refinery into Ineos' control.

In 2008, "The Times" said “He lists skiing and garden tractors among his interests.”

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External links

* [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/movers_and_shakers/executive_movers/article3785069.ece Business big shot: Jim Ratcliffe] , 2008 biography from "The Times"