Mahle has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the wholly-owned thermal business of US automotive supplier Delphi Automotive. In 2014, the division and its approximately 7,600 employees achieved annual sales of around US$1.2bn. After approval by the relevant antitrust authorities, a closing of the deal is anticipated for the fall of 2015. Further, the company is intended to acquire the joint venture of Delphi Thermal in China.
This takeover will support the strategic expansion of the important thermal management growth sector within the Mahle Group. Comprehensive thermal management systems will, the company believes, play an increasingly significant role for all potential drive systems of the future – combustion engines, electric drives (batteries and power electronics), or fuel cells.
Delphi Thermal is represented in all regions of the world. The product portfolio, ranging from HVAC modules and air-conditioning compressors to cooling components, will complement Mahle’s existing thermal management activities. The identically named Mahle business unit, which was formed in connection with the majority acquisition of the Behr Group in 2013, is thus intended to be in an even stronger position to serve the automotive industry as its global systems partner. Furthermore, the air-conditioning compressor technology will round out Mahle’s thermal management product range.
The company aims to integrate the 13 Delphi plants in Europe (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary), North and South America (US, Mexico, Brazil), and Asia (China, India), as well as the development centers in the US and Luxembourg, into the global Mahle Group organization.
“With the acquisition of Delphi’s thermal management division, we will reinforce our commitment in this promising field,” says Heinz K. Junker, chairman of the management board and CEO. “On the one hand, we will extend our production footprint in Europe, North America and Asia. On the other hand, we will strengthen our product range and systems competence—particularly with air-conditioning compressors, which are already economically significant in today’s global automotive industry. This step represents an important strategic progression for Mahle.”
Jörg Stratmann, head of the thermal management business unit and member of the management board of the Mahle Group, adds: “Mahle will greatly strengthen its competitive position in the area of thermal management as a result of this acquisition.”
“Under Mahle ownership, Delphi Thermal will be a leading systems supplier in the thermal industry, better positioned to serve customers with a global footprint and industry-leading technology portfolio,” says Rodney O’Neal, Delphi CEO and president. “The business is a good strategic fit for Mahle, which will benefit our Thermal customers and our Thermal employees.”
