Sage Automotive Interiors (Sage), an Asahi Kasei subsidiary based in South Carolina, USA, has announced it has acquired Adient’s automotive fabrics business for $175 million.

Based in the US, Sage develops, manufactures, and sells a range of fabrics for automotive interiors, and is one of the world’s leading suppliers of vehicle seat fabric with a firm established presence among automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers. To facilitate further growth, Sage had sought to expand its footprint in Europe, the largest market for automotive interior fabric and the source of innovative automotive trends.

“Europe continues to be a key growth area for Sage Automotive Interiors,” said Dirk Pieper, CEO of Sage Automotive Interiors. “In addition, the technology and capabilities that will now be part of Sage Automotive Interiors will strengthen our ability to serve customers from our current locations in Europe and the rest of the world.”

By acquiring Adient’s automotive fabrics business, Sage will gain several operating sites around the world centred in Europe. The business to be acquired has a strong reputation for design and quality among Europe’s major vehicle manufacturers and is one of the leading suppliers in the European market for automotive seat fabric.

“This acquisition will strengthen the position of Asahi Kasei and Sage in Europe, enabling greater access to major OEMs,” said Koshiro Kudo, President of Asahi Kasei’s Performance Products Strategic Business Unit (SBU). “By pursuing synergies in manufacturing, sales, and marketing among Asahi Kasei, Sage, and the fabric business from Adient, we can not only be a leader of the European automotive interior fabric market, but also contribute to the future of mobility.”

By advancing its regional strategy and product strategy around the world to reinforce its position as one of the leading suppliers of vehicle seat fabric and strengthen its relationships with automotive OEMs in each region, Sage is expected to make a growing contribution to the Asahi Kasei Group’s overall expansion of business in the automotive field.

Completion of the acquisition is subject to obtaining regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions.

Source: Innovation in Textiles