TOKYO— Mitsui Chemicals has agreed to acquire 51 percent of the shares of KOC Solution, a Korean manufacturer and distributor of optical lenses monomers. KOC’s main market is China. Following the acquisition, KOC will become a subsidiary of the Mitsui Chemicals Group, based here. The terms of the transaction were not announced.

Mitsui said the acquisition of KOC shares is expected to improve its product portfolio with the addition of KOC’s middle-index to high-index monomers. Additionally, the acquisition will help Mitsui expand sales in the growing Chinese market through manufacturing and sales sites owned by KOC which are located in areas where China’s optical related businesses are concentrated.