SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. (KRX:006400), a global leader in energy solutions and electronic materials, has agreed to acquire the battery pack business of Magna International, a leading global automotive supplier.
The acquisition is expected to enhance Samsung SDI’s capabilities in batteries for electric vehicles by combining the company’s established leadership in battery cells and modules with Magna's expertise in battery packs.
Magna’s advanced technology and experience in providing global automakers with battery packs will also help Samsung SDI secure customers in the fast-growing automotive battery markets in Europe, North America and China.
"The acquisition is a key strategic step for Samsung SDI to strengthen the competitiveness of our automotive battery business,” said Namseong Cho, President and CEO of Samsung SDI. "It will provide new momentum to expand our business and customer base.”
Under the agreement, Samsung SDI will acquire the entire battery pack business from Magna Steyr, an Austria-based operating unit of Magna International, including all 264 employees, production and development sites and existing contracts of the business.
Financial terms of the deal will not be disclosed. The transaction is expected to be completed during the first half of 2015, pending regulatory approvals.
The global market for electric vehicles, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, is forecast to reach 7.7 million vehicles by 2020, compared with 2.1 million in 2014, according to research firms B3 and IHS.
About Samsung SDI
Samsung SDI is a leading solution provider in materials and energy. Established in 1970, Samsung SDI began as a producer of cathode ray tubes and entered the energy solution business in 2002. It has since successfully transformed itself into a provider of batteries and energy storage systems, while expanding into the field of automotive batteries. Following its merger with Cheil Industries in 2014, Samsung SDI now aims to create synergy between its energy solution business and the newly acquired electronics and chemical materials business. Samsung SDI's products include small-sized lithium-ion batteries, automotive batteries, energy storage systems, materials for semiconductors and displays, plastic for electronic devices and vehicles, as well as artificial marble.
