Hitachi Chemical will take control of Italian autoparts group Fiamm’s lead-acid battery business, as the Japanese company aims to gain a European foothold in a growth field.
The two companies announced Monday that Hitachi Chemical will pay roughly 10.2 billion yen ($90.5 million) for a 51% stake in the spun-off automotive and industrial battery operations, with a target closing date of February.
Demand for the rechargeable batteries in environmentally conscious Europe is high, both for cars with engine stop-start systems that have become more widespread amid tightening fuel regulations, and for uninterruptible power-supply systems.
Hitachi Chemical plans to bring its battery-life-extending technology to bear on the newly acquired production. Tapping into Fiamm’s Europe-wide sales network will help it seek a bigger slice of the lead battery market.
Hitachi Chemical has for several years been building up its battery business, treating it as a growth industry comparable to semiconductor and liquid crystal components. The company kicked off this global expansion with the purchase of a Taiwanese manufacturer in 2015, but until now, its outposts have been concentrated in Asia. The European deal marks a step Hitachi Chemical had been eyeing.
Source: Nikkei
PepsiCo Europe and crop nutrition company Yara have announced a long-term partnership aimed at providing European farmers with low-carbon crop nutrition solutions to help decarbonise the food value chain. Under the agreement, Yara will supply PepsiCo with up to 165,000 tons of fertiliser per year by 2030, covering around 25% of the food and beverage giant’s crop fertiliser needs across Europe.
BASF has signed an agreement to sell its flocculants business for mining applications to Solenis, a specialty chemicals manufacturer. The divestment of the flocculants business to Solenis is part of BASF’s ongoing portfolio optimisation with the aim of focusing on strategic core areas.
ADAMA Ltd. a leading crop protection company, announced that its board of directors has appointed Gaël Hili as its President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2024. Hili will join the Syngenta Group Leadership Team and will be based in Tel Aviv.
