Norsk Hydro-Alumetal review places ‘green killer acquisitions’ on the regulatory map

21 October 2022 00:00

Duration: 13:40

Norsk Hydro seems to have been taken by surprise by the regulatory speedbumps now faced by its plan to buy metals recycler Alumetal, with the EU merger regulator referring the deal for an in-depth probe. It’s another example of the European Commission’s heightened vigilance about large companies snapping up smaller, innovative competitors — but with an interesting twist. A “green killer acquisition” is when smaller players with strong environmental credentials are snapped up by bigger companies looking for shortcuts in their transition towards a low-emissions economy. This probe may offer the EU regulator a chance to place the green dimensions of M&A under the microscope.

Related Content

Editorial Team

James Panichi
Natalie McNelis

James Panichi Senior Editor, Asia Pacific

James Panichi

James, an Australian journalist with over 25 years’ experience in print and electronic media, helps to oversee MLex’s coverage of regulatory risk in Asia, with special attention to Australia and New Zealand. In 2016, James was appointed as MLex’s managing editor for continental Europe, overseeing the Brussels bureau’s coverage of EU regulatory affairs and managing a team of 16 journalists in Brussels and Geneva. Previously James worked for the European Voice newspaper, before joining the... Read more

View all posts written by James Panichi

Natalie McNelis Senior Correspondent

Natalie McNelis

Natalie McNelis covers mergers for MLex in Brussels. Before joining MLex in 2017, she spent 20 years as an international trade and competition lawyer in law firms including Stibbe and WilmerHale. Natalie has a BA in English from Mount Holyoke College, a JD from Harvard Law School and an LLM in EU law from KU Leuven. She is admitted to the bar in New York.

View all posts written by Natalie McNelis
item icon
iTunes
item icon
Sound
Cloud
item icon
Spotify
item icon
Stitcher