Asahi Kasei, a diversified global manufacturer in the Healthcare, Homes, and Material sectors, announces its strategic divestiture of Daramic, a lead battery separator business, to Kingswood Capital Management, LP. The Daramic business transfer closed on December 1, 2025. The effect on Asahi Kasei’s consolidated financial results for fiscal 2025 is immaterial.

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Progress of Asahi Kasei's business portfolio transformation.

“As we enter a new era for our company, it is critical that we align our resources with areas that will drive future growth,” said Hideyuki Yamagishi, Primary Executive Officer of Asahi Kasei Corporation and President of the Material Sector. “This divestiture represents a strategic step that allows Asahi Kasei to evolve its capabilities with high-potential initiatives, such as strengthening our electronics business and expanding our lithium-ion battery separator business in North America, both key drivers of profit growth.”

Asahi Kasei acquired Daramic through the purchase of Polypore in August 2015, gaining ownership of the lead battery separator business and the Celgard dry-process lithium-ion battery separator business. Moving forward, Asahi Kasei will strengthen its position in the battery separator market through continued investment in its Hipore wet-process lithium-ion technology, with a focus on the automotive sectors in North America, Japan, and Korea.

Under its three-year medium-term management plan "Trailblaze Together," Asahi Kasei is improving capital efficiency and accelerating earnings by converting past growth investments into tangible returns. To support this, the company is implementing structural reforms that channel resources to its key growth pillars—pharmaceuticals, critical care, overseas homes, and electronics.

Recent actions such as exiting methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer and related businesses, and expanding capacity for Pimel photosensitive polyimide, demonstrate Asahi Kasei’s disciplined execution of this strategy and reinforce the foundation for sustained, profitable growth.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber business, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 50,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to sustainable society by providing solutions to the world’s challenges through its three business sectors of Healthcare, Homes, and Material. For more information, visit www.asahi-kasei.com.

Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.

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