DLA Piper advises Shell on its nearly USD2 billion acquisition of renewable natural gas producer Nature Energy

DLA Piper has advised Shell on its nearly USD2 billion (EUR1.9 billion) acquisition of 100% of the shareholding of Denmark-based Nature Energy Biogas A/S (Nature Energy), a producer of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) from agricultural, industrial, and household wastes.

Nature Energy is the largest RNG producer in Europe and closing of the transaction was announced by Shell on the 20th of February 2023.

Nature Energy was founded in 1979 as a natural gas distributor. It established its first biogas plant in Denmark in 2015 and now has 14 operating plants and a pipeline of around 30 new plants in Europe and North America, including the Netherlands and France.

The DLA Piper team advising Shell was co-led by London-based Partner Tracey Renshaw and Copenhagen-based Partners Sebastian Ingversen and Line Marie Pedersen, and included our teams in Denmark, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, the US and Canada.

Tracey Renshaw commented: “We have very much valued this opportunity to work alongside the Shell team on this important acquisition, and to have assisted them in obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals.”

Sebastian Ingversen added: “This was a globally significant transaction which we are proud to have delivered in Denmark for Shell. Denmark has led the way in the development and adoption of this form of alternative energy and this acquisition by Shell is a testament to that.”

Line Marie Pedersen further added: “RNG has an important role to play in the energy transition and both our extensive team in Denmark and our broader global team were well placed to advise on all local requirements which apply to this sector.”

Signing of the transaction was announced by Shell on 28 November 2022.