Dow Chemical of the US (H.O.: Michigan, President and CEO: Mr. Andrew N. Liveris) announced on July 10 that it would acquire Rohm & Hass (R&H) in the same trade for $15.3 billion. With this acquisition, Dow will expand the higher-margin specialty chemicals business in order to change its profit structure. Amid rapidly soaring costs for raw materials and fuels, this might become a trigger to accelerate the realignment of global chemical makers around the world.