HAGEN – Adler Pelzer Group (APG) is to in discussions to acquire the Acoustics and Soft Trims (AST) business of Faurecia.

Faurecia AST operates throughout Europe with three plants and its R&D centre in France and other plants in Luxembourg, Poland, Spain and the UK. It has 1,820 employees and achieved sales in 2019 of €385 million.

With this acquisition, APG makes a further step towards its vision of becoming a worldwide leader in automotive acoustics, as an industrial investor with long term loyalty to the automotive industry and a proven track record of growth.

The acquisition will provide Adler Pelzer with a strong relationship with Faurecia AST customers, such as Stellantis and Renault-Nissan alliance in France. AST also has a strong presence in East Europe via German OEM customers, as well as with Stellantis in Italy and the USA.

The R&D activities of the two companies are now to be centralised at Mouzon in France and synergies are anticipated from the material supply and vertical integration of semi-finished products such as nonwoven-based heavy layers and carpet roll goods for interiors and trunks, along with a reduction of waste and an increase in recycling and process innovation.

“We believe that the best future for our AST division is within Adler Pelzer because of all identified complementary activities and Adler Pelzer’s market positions” said Patrick Koller, CEO of Faurecia.”