MCF advised the majority shareholders of Re.Lion.Bat.Circular on its sale to PreZero
Re.Lion.Bat.Circular’s, Europe’s largest recycling plant for lithium-ion batteries, has been acquired by PreZero, an international environmental services provider and leader in circular-economy solutions. The acquisition marks a milestone investment with strong synergies and growth perspective for the facility.
The deal reflects PreZero’s focused commitment to the future of electromobility and raw-material recovery. It establishes a clear competitive advantage in the battery value chain by integrating processing, second-life applications and recycling, unlocking substantial synergy potential across these areas. With this strategic acquisition, PreZero strengthens its position in the future market of battery recycling and sets new standards in sustainability, technology and industrial scaling.
In addition, the acquisition carries significant environmental and policy relevance: it actively contributes to the decarbonisation of mobility, reduces dependence on primary raw materials and supports compliance with national and European climate targets. Its CO₂-neutral operation, the use of residual energy from batteries and its low-emission technology make the facility a flagship project for sustainable industrial policy.
The Target
RE.LION.BAT.Circular operates Europe’s largest recycling plant for lithium-ion batteries in Meppen. The state-of-the-art facility can currently process up to 30,000 tons of used batteries per year – with an approved capacity of 60,000 tons – CO2 neutral and with a recovery rate of black mass ahead of 98%. The recycling process in Meppen is based on a thermomechanical method that first shreds end-of-life batteries and then separates the materials they contain. Plastics, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as the so-called black mass – a valuable mix of lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite – are efficiently recovered. The high recovery rate and low-emission technology make this process particularly environmentally friendly.
About PreZero
PreZero is an international environmental services provider and innovation driver in circular-economy solutions, employing around 30,000 people at 460 locations across Europe. True to its name, the company strives to take a leading industry role by promoting a fully functioning circular economy and driving positive change for both the environment and society. Guided by the zero-waste approach, PreZero aims to minimise all avoidable waste, conserve natural resources and maximise recycling and reuse.
