Some of the chemical industry's biggest companies plan to increase research investment this year, but they are holding back on capital spending.

OnProcess Technology has extended its global partnership with Ariba to provide spend-management software and services in North America.

Adopting a tactic widely used by 3G Capital, the Brazilian private investment group behind the recent merger of Heinz and Kraft Foods, a growing number of the world's largest food and packaged goods companies are asking their suppliers to give them as much as four months to pay their bills - even though they typically require payment from their own customers in 30 days.