Photo courtesy of Ecobat
Dallas-based battery recycling and metals production company Ecobat has agreed to sell its battery recycling and specialty lead operations in Germany and Austria to Glendale, Wisconsin-based battery manufacturer Clarios.
The transaction includes Ecobat’s facilities in Freiberg and Braubach, Germany, as well as its Arnoldstein operation in Austria.
Ecobat expects the transaction to close by early 2026, pending regulatory approvals. Rothschild & Co. is acting as financial advisor and White & Case as legal advisor to Ecobat on the transaction.
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“We are pleased to announce the sale of our German and Austrian operations,” Ecobat President and CEO Tom Slabe says. “Upon completion, this transaction—along with the previously announced divestitures of France, Italy and Battery Distribution—will enable Ecobat to concentrate its efforts on core recycling operations, as well as our global lithium-ion battery business. Ecobat will continue to pursue additional opportunities to maximize value for shareholders beyond these transactions.
“Clarios’ expertise and strategic vision offer a strong foundation for the continued success of these operations in Germany and Austria. We’re confident they will continue to foster and enhance the valued relationships we have built with our employees, customers and suppliers across Europe.”
Clarios says the addition of the three Ecobat sites will boost its ability to recover and reuse battery materials and reinforce its commitment to circularity and sustainable manufacturing across the EMEA region. The company notes the facilities add “proven technologies and deep technical expertise” in lead and polypropylene (PP) processing and recovery to Clarios’ recycling network.
“This expansion marks a major milestone in our European operations,” says Werner Benade, president, EMEA, at Clarios. “It will strengthen our European recycling infrastructure, improves supply chain resilience and supports the delivery of high-quality secondary materials—including those used in our leading VARTA brand—to meet growing demand for advanced low-voltage batteries, support the energy transition in the automotive industry and reinforce our leadership in the circular economy.”
Clarios says it works to ensure 100 percent of its products sold are recyclable, and claims to recycle 8,000 batteries an hour in its network.