Mitsubishi Chemical Acquires All Shares of a New Materials Company

On October 18, Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG Group) announced that it has acquired full ownership of CPC SRL (CPC), a well-known Italian carbon fiber composite (CFRP) automotive parts manufacturing and distribution company.

This key acquisition, which began with a minority stake acquisition in 2017, is in line with MCG Group's long-term strategic vision to further expand and strengthen its vertically integrated carbon fiber supply chain. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close by the end of 2023.

Ralph Meier, Vice President of Mitsubishi Chemical's European Specialty Materials Business Unit, emphasized the significance of the acquisition: "This is a key moment in our development history and reaffirms our commitment to provide complete solutions for the carbon fiber market. We have a long-standing relationship with CPC With a good working relationship, this acquisition allows us to take our products to the next level."

Franco Iorio, CEO and majority shareholder of CPC, emphasized the power of teamwork, "Mitsubishi Chemical and CPC are committed to ensuring a smooth transition. Our decade-long relationship, now finalized in a full acquisition, representing we work together to provide customers with the best solutions and are determined to drive innovation in the industry through a fully vertical supply chain system."

Lay out the automotive field and integrate the advantages of both parties

Carbon fiber composites are attracting increasing attention in the global automotive market because they can make car bodies lighter - a key factor in meeting stringent fuel economy regulations and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. As the automotive industry rapidly adopts carbon fiber composites for automotive parts, Mitsubishi Chemical is poised to become a dominant player in the automotive industry by providing customers with optimal solutions across the entire value chain, from component design to production.

CPC has expertise and knowledge in a range of automotive component areas, including component design and simulation, carbon fiber composite molding, mold design and manufacturing, composite coating and sub-component assembly. With one of the largest stamping facilities in the world, Mitsubishi Chemical is able to develop and mold large component materials specifically for composites by leveraging CPC's design capabilities, molding technology, development and proposal capabilities and its commercial relationships with Europe and the U.S. distribution network, Mitsubishi Chemical is well-positioned to accelerate the adoption of carbon fiber composite materials such as sheet molding compound (CF-SMC) and prepreg compression molding (PCM) in automotive parts.

Looking to the future

This partnership goes beyond immediate goals, as Mitsubishi Group and CPC are committed to further collaboration to provide sustainable solutions for the future, including the development of bio-based and recycled carbon fiber intermediate materials.

In summary, Mitsubishi Chemical's acquisition of CPC clearly demonstrates its strong commitment to continuity, excellence and vertical integration across the entire carbon fiber component value chain, from acrylonitrile to finished parts. As Mitsubishi Chemical embarks on a new journey, it remains committed to delivering its signature high-quality products and services, driven by the strong working relationship between the groups and a shared vision for the future of the industry.