04.07.2013
Pursuant to the investment agreement signed on January 4, 2013, and after obtaining in June the last of the necessary pre-closing regulatory approvals, Gestamp Automoción and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. have announced that Mitsui’s investment in Gestamp’s American perimeter has been completed. Mitsui, investing an aggregate of € 297 million, acquired newly issued shares in the respective sub-holding companies in the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina to become a 30% equity partner in Gestamp’s operations in the Americas.
The alliance with Mitsui, one of the largest Japanese general trading firms and industrial and financial groups, with a proven reputation established over the course of its almost 140 year history, represents a major backing of the strategy carried out by Gestamp which has led to its becoming the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of metal components for the automotive industry.
Completion of the Mitsui transaction, as well as the recent closing of Gestamp’s € 768 million bond financing and € 850 million new senior credit facilities, represent the achievement of key financial and strategic milestones for the company.
According to Francisco J. Riberas, CEO of Gestamp: “The partnership with Mitsui will not only reinforce Gestamp’s presence in the important markets in the Americas; it will also substantially enhance Gestamp’s relationships with Japanese clients.” In this regard, the collaboration with Mitsui, which is an important commercial partner to all of them, should enable Gestamp to increase its sales to Japanese automotive manufacturers, which today do not represent more than 7% of its consolidated revenue.