Following the news that HELLA and Faurecia are joining forces, the two automotive suppliers have announced that they will be operating jointly in the aftermarket. This means that Faurecia products will soon also be available through HELLA’s aftermarket division. By bundling activities, not only do customers benefit from a comprehensive range of services, but above all from a significantly expanded product spectrum.
Faurecia, a leading global player in the automotive industry, has successfully completed the acquisition of lighting and electronics specialist Hella after receiving all necessary regulatory approvals. Faurecia acquired a total of approx. 79.5 per cent of the shares in Hella, including the 60 per cent share package of the Hella pool shareholders as well as ca. 19.5 per cent as part of the public takeover offer ended on 11 November 2021. The transaction creates the seventh-largest automotive supplier worldwide and a global market leader in high-growth technology fields.
Continental Tyre South Africa has sold the manufacturing assets it used to make industrial and agricultural tyres in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Prior to the sale, Continental manufactured bias-ply and radial agricultural tyres at the Port Elizabeth location. Continental’s ongoing production operations, such as its passenger car and light truck lines, are not affected by the news.
Hitachi is selling around half its 51 per cent shareholding in Hitachi Construction Machinery Co Ltd for 200 billion yen (£1.271 billion; 1,524 billion euros; US$1.7 billion) to Kwik-Fit’s owner Itochu and investment fund Japan Industrial Partners, according to reports published by Nikkei on 13 January 2022. Itochu confirmed that it is “considering this matter”, but declined to give further details later the same day in a statement that read:
French competition regulator the Autorité de la concurrence has approved the Michelin Group’s move to acquire sole control over French tyre e-tailer Allopneus SAS and its subsidiaries. In a statement published on 28 December, the Autorité said it cleared the deal unconditionally in the belief that it is “not likely to harm competition.”
Magna Tyres has agreed to buy Polish tyre dealer Industra Ltd. Financial details have not been disclosed. But Magna Tyres Group did report that it is “on track to increase turnover to 600 million euros in three to five years amd that Industra’s annual net turnover is almost 10 million euros.
Trelleborg AB’s share price has risen sharply following reports that the company is in talks relating to the sale of Trelleborg Wheel Systems business.
Megaride Applied Vehicle Research has acquired tyre wear and integrity monitoring systems developed by Wriggle. The purchase continues Megaride’s recent expansion of technical know-how in the tyre technology sphere. No details relating to the nature of the investment associated with the acquisition have been released.
On 14 December, Tyrepress.com shared information from sources who anticipate a Yokohama Rubber bid to acquire Trelleborg Wheel Systems. While the parties involved have neither confirmed nor denied such a transaction, the chairman of Titan International Inc. (TWI) has commented on a deal he apparently views as problematic.
Magna Tyres Group is acquiring Australian-based Fennell Tyres International. Fennell Tyres International is known for its competitively priced, quality OTR, mining and TBR tyre solutions. Financial details have not been disclosed. According to the company, “Magna Tyres recognizes the demand for high quality off the road tyres in Australia and the value of a long-term relationship with customers”. The firm’s goal is to strengthen its position worldwide.
GRI recently acquired specialty tyre company Protyre in the Baltics. GRI has previously bought Protyre in Estonia as well as Nortire in the region. Together they highlight GRI’s material handling, agriculture, and OEM growth strategy. According to Martynas Jankauskis, managing director, of GRI-owned Nortire, the synergy with GRI is poised to “increase its sales volumes by ten times in the Baltics”.
European Tyre Enterprise Ltd (ETEL), which owns leading tyre retail and wholesale operations Kwik-Fit and Stapleton’s, has agreed the acquisition of Murfitts Industries, the country’s leading tyre recycling company. ETEL is buying 100 per cent of Murfitts Group Ltd, the parent company of Murfitts Industries. Murfitts operates a national network recycling the equivalent of around 20 million car tyres per year. Murfitts, which processes and recycles tyres into granulate, has been a long-term provider of post-consumer tyre collection and recycling services to ETEL.
Brisa, the joint venture between Bridgestone Corporation and Sabancı Holding that holds a leadership position in Turkey’s tyre market, has acquired 88.89 per cent capital shares of Turkish fleet telematics company Arvento Mobile Systems (Arvento) for a consideration of TRY 291 million (£15 million). The transfer price will be subject to some adjustments, taking into account the net debt and working capital levels of Arvento at the closing date.
Yokohama Tire has bid around $2 billion for Trelleborg Wheel Systems in a move that could further expand the Japanese company’s growing off-highway tyre business. Sources close to the bid told Tyres & Accessories that Yokohama is currently in a due diligence process that is likely to be completed during the next month or so. Yokohama previously bid for Prometeon, the ex-Pirelli industrial/off-highway tyre business at the end of 2019. Despite ongoing discussions over the following year or so, that deal wasn’t completed. Yokohama appointed the former global head of Prometeon, Gregorio Borgo, as its European president earlier this year. Trelleborg Wheel Systems executives declined to comment on the reports.
The Marangoni Group has return to the specialist tyre retail business – a sector it excited roughly three years ago. As reported by our Italian sister company PneusNews.it, the group best known for its extensive retreading heritage, recently took over the company La Genovese gomme (LGg). The tyre retail chain runs five locations in Sardinia (specifically Sassari, Oristano, Olbia, Macomer and Elmas) and together with the production of retreaded tyres to support them. LGg also makes retreads at its Elmas locations “using the best possible materials”.
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Forvia
Hella
Continental AG
Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV
Magna Tyres
Wriggle Solutions
Magna Tyres
GRI
Murfitts Industries
Trelleborg
LgG [Screenshot], OpenStreetMap