Aluminium Dunkerque to be acquired by Bahrain-based firm

Manama, Bahrain-based Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) and New York-based American Industrial Partners (AIP) say they have entered into an agreement through which Alba will acquire 100 percent of Aluminium Dunkerque, an aluminum smelting facility in northeastern France.

AIP refers to the French facility as the world’s largest aluminum smelter at a single site, and historically Aluminium Dunkerque has been a primary aluminum production facility.

Last year, however, it ramped up a furnace that in 2025 melted some 12,000 metric tons of aluminum scrap, according to the firm.

States AIP, “The proposed transaction marks an important new chapter for Aluminium Dunkerque and secures a long-term industrial owner committed to its continued development in France and Europe.”

Before being acquired by AIP, Aluminium Dunkerque was part of the Alvance Aluminium portfolio of the London-based GFG Alliance. GFG has been shedding metals production assets (or having them seized by governments ) since the unraveling of Greensill Capital in 2021.

AIP describes Aluminum Dunkerque as a producer of about 300,000 metric tons of aluminum annually, adding that under its ownership and in cooperation with employees, it  has “transformed its operational reliability and energy efficiency, strengthened its financial performance [and] reinforced its position as one of the lowest-carbon primary aluminum producers in Europe.”

“Over the past five years, American Industrial Partners has been a supportive partner to Aluminium Dunkerque’s management as we re-established our company as a top industrial performer,” says Guillaume de Goÿs, CEO and president of the French metals producer. “As one of the world’s leading primary aluminum producers, Alba brings deep technical expertise, operational excellence and a clear commitment to low-carbon aluminum production that aligns perfectly with our ambitions.”

Alba and AIP say the proposed transaction would bring Alba and Aluminium Dunkerque together to form a geographically diversified industrial group with an operational footprint across regions, expanding the global customer base both companies.

“As global aluminum demand accelerates, this partnership will enable Alba and Aluminium Dunkerque to build an integrated platform that will capture compelling market opportunities while contributing to Europe’s industrial resilience and the global decarbonization agenda,” says Khalid Al Rumaihi, board chair of Alba.

Remarks Zac Carson, a partner at AIP, “Following a rigorous and competitive process, we are confident that Alba, one of the world’s leading and most technologically advanced primary aluminum producers, is the right long-term owner to build on the transformation achieved over the past five years and to further strengthen Aluminium Dunkerque’s strategic role within Europe’s industrial value chains.”

“Our commitment is long-term,” says Ali Al Baqali, CEO of Alba. “We will ensure operational continuity, support employees and expand low-carbon production capabilities to advance Aluminium Dunkerque’s next phase of development in full alignment with France’s industrial and energy priorities.”

Closing of the transaction is expected later this year but is subject to consultations with the Aluminium Dunkerque works council and unions and approvals from the French and EU governments, says AIP.

AIP has been represented in the transaction by Goldman Sachs, Société Générale and Messier & Associés as financial advisors and Jones Day and Baker Botts as lawyers.

Alba has been represented by Rothschild & Co. as financial advisor and White & Case LLP and BDGS Associés as lawyers.