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Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kenichi Hori; "Mitsui") has decided to integrate upstream operations at VP4 Frankfurt GmbH ("VP4"), the German producer of the key intermediates behind the high-intensity sweetener and preservatives made by Nutrinova Netherlands B.V. ("Nutrinova"), Mitsui's equity-method affiliate in functional food ingredients. Mitsui has also agreed to increase its stake in Nutrinova by acquiring additional shares from its fellow shareholder, Celanese Corporation ("Celanese"), a leading U.S. chemical company.
Mitsui first invested in Nutrinova in the fiscal year ended March 2024 and has since run the business alongside Celanese, producing and marketing ingredients found in food and beverages worldwide: the high-intensity sweetener acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) and the preservatives sorbic acid and potassium sorbate. VP4 supplies the essential intermediates for these products and is currently owned by Sudarshan Germany Horizons GmbH. Celanese will acquire and operate VP4 for a transitional period before ownership passes to Nutrinova. Bringing this step in-house gives Nutrinova a single, connected chain from raw materials through to finished products—securing reliable supply, sharpening cost competitiveness, and putting quality and the supply chain under unified management.
At the same time, Mitsui will acquire a further 19% of Nutrinova from Celanese, lifting its holding to 89%. Following a review of the governance structure, Nutrinova will move from an equity-method affiliate to a consolidated subsidiary, allowing Mitsui to act more decisively and, alongside the benefits of upstream integration, to execute its strategy with greater effect.
Both steps are growth investments in the Food Science business, an area Mitsui is expanding under Wellness Ecosystem Creation 2.0, one of the strategic priorities of its Medium-term Management Plan 2029. Building on Nutrinova's portfolio of high-intensity sweeteners, preservatives, and other functional ingredients, Mitsui will strengthen earnings through upstream integration while moving beyond ingredient supply alone—working more closely with the capabilities that turn those ingredients into tailored solutions for customers. Together, these efforts will support the earnings growth from strategic investment set out in the plan. By supplying these ingredients reliably, Mitsui aims to deliver on both great taste and good health and a stable food supply, helping people everywhere live healthier, richer lives.
Company Profile
| Official name | Nutrinova Netherlands B.V. |
|---|---|
| Head Office Location | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Established | 2022 |
| Representative | Yasutaka Yamakawa, Chief Executive Officer |
| Business Activities | Manufacture and sale of high-intensity sweeteners (acesulfame potassium) and preservatives (sorbic acid and potassium sorbate) |
| Website |
Company Profile
| Official name | Celanese Corporation |
|---|---|
| Head Office Location | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Established | 1918 |
| Representative | Scott Richardson, Chief Executive Officer and President |
| Business Activities | Manufacturing and sales of chemical solutions and functional materials |
| Website |
Company Profile
| Official name | VP4 Frankfurt GmbH |
|---|---|
| Head Office Location | Frankfurt, Germany |
| Business Activities | Manufacture and sale of key materials for high-intensity sweeteners (acesulfame potassium) and preservatives (sorbic acid and potassium sorbate) |
Nutrinova's high-intensity sweetener plant at Frankfurt,Germany
Mitsui’s Materiality
“Build brighter futures, everywhere” as our corporate mission, and to gain the trust and expectations of our stakeholders to realize a better tomorrow for earth and for people around the world, we have identified six material issues (“Materiality”) for Mitsui’s sustainable growth. We anticipate this particular project/ business to contribute especially to the realization of “Establish a foundation for sustainable and stable supply” and “Foster a well-being society”
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Establish a foundation for sustainable and stable supply
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Create a community coexisting with nature
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Foster a well-being society
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Cultivate societies that respect human rights
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Empower our people to build brighter futures
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Build an organization with integrity
