INEOS lies within the cosmos of the largest chemical companies. Its product lines include ethylene oxide-based specialty and intermediate chemicals, fluorochemicals used as refrigerants and propellants, and phenol and nitrile chemicals. Its INEOS ChlorVinyls unit is one of the top makers of chlorine-based chemicals and Europe's largest PVC maker. INEOS Oxide makes ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. INEOS operates more than 60 manufacturing sites in 13 countries worldwide. The acquisitive company operates among the world's top chemical companies (with ExxonMobil, Dow, and BASF). INEOS began in 1998 after CEO Jim Ratcliffe, who controls the group, led a management buyout.