Sumitomo Corp. has acquired US-based ActivStyle, a provider of home healthcare products for urinary incontinence, as part of the Japanese trading house’s strategy to strengthen its position in the American healthcare market.
Founded in 1997, ActivStyle delivers subscription-based adult diapers and other incontinence products directly to over 50,000 subscribers across the United States. The company works with approximately 200 health insurance providers to handle claims processing for patients.
The acquisition follows Sumitomo’s April 2024 investment in a US company serving diabetic patients. The connection between diabetes and urinary incontinence, which affects more than 25 million Americans, presents growth opportunities for the Japanese firm.
Sumitomo plans to invest ¥100 billion ($698 million) in American healthcare companies by fiscal 2030, with ¥50 billion earmarked for diabetes-related businesses by fiscal 2027. The company aims to increase its US healthcare profits to ¥10 billion by fiscal 2030.
This acquisition aligns with Sumitomo’s broader strategy of expanding its healthcare portfolio globally, with potential plans to introduce its US-based healthcare services to markets in Japan and Southeast Asia.
