Sumitomo Chemical to Acquire Majority Stake in Manufacturer of Cathode Materials for Secondary Batteries

Aug. 31, 2016

Sumitomo Chemical has agreed with Tanaka Chemical Corp., a Japanese manufacturer and seller of cathode materials for secondary batteries, to acquire an additional stake in the company via third-party allotment, thereby strengthening the two companies' capital and business alliance further. The transaction will raise Sumitomo Chemical's stake in Tanaka Chemical to 50.1 percent.

Tanaka Chemical is engaged in the business of cathode materials for small, high-performance rechargeable batteries for smartphones, laptop PCs, etc., such as lithium-ion secondary batteries and nickel-metal hydride secondary batteries, as well as those for medium and large-sized secondary batteries that are key components of environmentally friendly vehicles, including hybrid cars and electric cars.

Sumitomo Chemical's capital tie-up with Tanaka Chemical began in 2013, commencing their joint development in cathode materials for high-capacity batteries for car mounting use. In 2015, the Company's stake in Tanaka Chemical was raised to 14.81 percent, developing and deepening the two companies' business relationship.

Given that their joint development has been advancing successfully and in light of the lithium-ion secondary battery market likely to grow substantially from the medium to long perspectives in tune with the ever growing market of environmentally friendly vehicles, the two companies have agreed to further enhance the bonds of their capital and business relationships for mutual growth in the years and decades ahead.

Sumitomo Chemical will work vigorously to create synergies of the collaboration more than ever, by leveraging global commercial distribution and other resources of Sumitomo Chemical Group as well as through accelerating the joint development with Tanaka Chemical.

Company Profile

Company Name	Tanaka Chemical Corporation
Established	December 1957
Location	Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan
Business	Manufacture and sale of cathode materials for secondary batteries Manufacture and sale of catalyst materials Manufacture and sale of inorganic chemical products
Number of employees	175 (as of end March 2016)
President	Tamotsu Tanaka

Contact

Corporate Communications Dept.
27-1, Shinkawa 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8260, Japan
TEL: +81-3-5543-5102 FAX: +81-3-5543-5901