International law firm Hogan Lovells has advised Zinc Nacional S.A on the acquisition of the zinc recycling division of insolvent Harz-Metall GmbH, which was part of the German Recylex Group. The company is a leading European zinc recycling business and filed for insolvency in May 2020 due to the effects of the corona pandemic which had led to a sharp drop in the price of zinc.
The transaction, which was led by Monterrey partner René Arce (Client Relationship Partner) and Frankfurt partner Alexander Stefan Rieger (Transaction Lead), is one of the first German distressed infrastructure M&A transactions in the wake of COVID-19.
The companies involved in the purchase include Mexican company Zinc Nacional S.A. and Jean Goldschmidt International S.A. (Belgium), and were represented by their joint venture company Harz Oxid GmbH. Both companies are among the market leaders in the zinc recycling industry.
The Hogan Lovells team provided comprehensive advice on all matters relating to the setting up of the joint venture, the purchase of the zinc recycling division as part of a complex asset deal and the negotiation of numerous other industrial park contracts, property leases and service contracts.
Hogan Lovells team for Zinc Nacional S.A.
Monterrey (Mexico)
René Arce Lozano (Partner), Luis Dávalos (Senior Associate) (both Corporate);
Frankfurt
Dr. Alexander Stefan Rieger (Infrastructure M&A), Dr. Tobias Faber (Partner), Johannes GroĂź, Jan Hendrik MĂĽller, Kristina Laewen (Associates), Camilla Froehlich (Foreign Lawyer) (all Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects);
Bernhard Kuhn (Partner/Notary), Markus Franken (Of counsel/Notary), Dr. Janina Luzius (Associate) (all Real Estate);
Dr. Sabrina Gäbeler (Counsel), Rebecca Reinhardt (Associate) (both Employment);
Prof. Dr. Fabian Pfuhl (Counsel, IT/Data Protection);
Munich
Dr. Heiko Tschauner (Partner, Restructuring);
Bernd Klemm (Partner), Dr. Thomas Frank (Senior Associate) (both Pensions);
Hamburg
Dr. Marc Schweda (Partner), Dr. Stefan KĂĽster (Associate) (both Antitrust);
Dr. Susann Brackmann (Senior Associate, Restructuring);
Dusseldorf
Prof. Dr. Thomas DĂĽnchheim (Partner), Ines Daniela Mittermeier (Associate) (both Environmental Law);
