 After its slow start , Brunner Mond & Company became the wealthiest British chemical company of the late 19th century . On its merger with three other British chemical companies to form Imperial Chemical Industries ( ICI ) in 1926 , it had a market capitalization of over £ 18 million ( £ 940 million in 2016 ) . Brunner 's sobriquet , " Chemical Croesus " , was given to him by The Times . He was a paternalistic employer and went to great lengths to improve the situation of his employees . Measures introduced by Brunner and Mond were shorter working hours , sickness and injury insurance , and holidays with pay . 
