KARIYA (Japan) - Global automotive supplier DENSO will acquire a 50 percent stake in ADASENS Automotive GmbH to help accelerate and advance the development of active safety technologies. ADASENS, which is an image recognition technology company, is a group company of FICOSA International, S.A..The transaction is expected to be complete at the end of 2013 following relevant required procedures.

ADASENS develops advanced driver assistance systems; particularly in the area of image recognition technologies using cameras to detect obstacles ahead, behind, and around vehicles. With ADASENS expertise, DENSO will accelerate its development of image recognition technologies that will help reduce driver workload and enhance active safety features to help avoid potential collisions.

In an effort to realize an accident-free automotive society, DENSO has developed and commercialized both passive and active safety technologies to protect vehicle occupants, as well as to prevent traffic accidents. Based on the technologies it has developed, DENSO will continue toward a safe and reliable automotive society for all people in the world, including drivers and pedestrians.

DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics and information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 36 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs more than 130,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, totaled US$38.1 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 9.4 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges.

Profile of ADASENS

Profile of FICOSA

FICOSA is an industrial group based in Spain and a global leader in research, development, production and marketing of automotive systems and parts. Founded in 1949, the company, with headquarters in Barcelona (Spain), holds a team close to 8,500 employees and manufacturing plants, technological centers and offices located throughout 19 countries in Europe, North America, South America and Asia. The Group invests 4% of its income in R&D, and operates one of the top technology development centers in Spain addressed to the automotive, electronics, energy and communications industries.