Teijin Frontier taking over J H Ziegler
August 06, 2018 - Germany
Teijin Frontier, the Teijin Group's fibre and products converting company, is taking over J H Ziegler, a leading supplier of automotive interior materials in Germany, at a cost of approximately EUR 125 million. Ziegler will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Teijin Frontier. The acquisition of Ziegler will be made by means of cash and newly-raised funding.
The acquisition is scheduled to be completed in August 2018 after confirmation that all customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval, have been met.
Since its establishment in 1864, Ziegler has innovated advanced technologies in the fields of nonwoven seat wadding materials and sound-absorbing composite solutions. Ziegler’s technologies fulfil the most stringent requirements in terms of the appearance, haptic feedback and usability of seat surface materials. Headquartered in Achern-Oberachern, Germany, Ziegler provides advanced nonwoven lining structures, including materials with superior ventilation capabilities that help prevent wrinkling and keep luxurious appearance of genuine leather materials.
The company also produces market-leading top-quality sound-absorbing materials and nonwovens for home interior and heat insulation use. The company operates five facilities globally, including three in Germany and one each in Hungary and China, and employs approximately 400 staff.
Through the acquisition of Ziegler, Teijin Frontier will improve its automotive interior materials’ production and sales capabilities in Europe, thereby enhancing its presence in the global automotive market and allowing it to increase its enterprise value. To drive the sales of Ziegler products that can meet the growing demand for low-noise electric vehicles (EV) driving environments, Teijin Frontier plans to optimise Ziegler’s design and production structures. By utilising its research and development and production functions of filaments and staple fibres, Teijin Frontier will develop innovative materials that realise higher sound-absorbing property, using its ultra-fine fibres. Teijin Frontier will also seek business synergies by leveraging the production and sales facility of Continental Structural Plastics, a North American hub of the Teijin Group’s composite business and Ziegler’s sales channels in order to develop new businesses related to automotive interiors and exteriors. (SV)