DLA Piper advises BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions on acquisition of Arc Metal AB in Sweden

DLA Piper has advised BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS) on the acquisition of Arc Metal AB in Hofors, Sweden. The asset purchase adds toll smelting and processing of spent automotive catalyst in Europe, Middle East and Africa and further complements ECMS’s existing global precious metal recycling operations in Cinderford, UK, Seneca and Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Caldwell, Texas, USA.

The additional smelting capacity at the Sweden site will also increase utilization of new refinery capacity in Seneca, South Carolina. Recycled catalysts go through a smelting process and are then refined to produce the high purity precious metal needed to make new catalysts and other end use products, supporting a circular economy.

In addition, the acquisition bolsters ECMS’s ability to deliver its 100 percent recycled metal offering Verdium, which is based on mass balance. Recycled platinum group metals can lower carbon emissions by up to 97 percent, in comparison to refining mined or primary materials.

An international DLA Piper team under the global co-leadership of Corporate partners Dr Benjamin Parameswaran (Hamburg) and Dr Tim Arndt (New York) advised ECMS on the transaction. The core team of DLA Piper in Sweden comprised partner Emma Norburg, senior associate Martin Nyberg Arlert and associate Samira Bandick.

Additionally, the transaction involved the support of further lawyers from the corporate, foreign direct investments regulations, tax, employment, competition, real estate and environmental law practices of DLA Piper.

The BASF/ECMS inhouse legal team was led by Dr Stefan John (Chief Legal Officer and Senior Vice President, ECMS).