ALUMINIUM DUNKERQUE acquired by ALUMINIUM BAHRAIN ALBA & BPIFRANCE

American Industrial Partners sells Aluminium Dunkerque, the French primary aluminium smelter, to Aluminium Bahrain, known as Alba, under an agreement signed on the sidelines of the Choose France summit. The US investment fund had owned the business since 2021, when it took control after the previous owner, the conglomerate of Indian businessman Sanjeev Gupta, failed to meet debt payments. Alba is buying the company for an enterprise value of , and Bpifrance is taking a minority stake of 6% and a seat on the board of Aluminium Dunkerque's holding company. The deal was confirmed by Alba on Tuesday 2 June 2026. Alba, which produces 1.6 million tonnes of aluminium a year, said the purchase would have no impact on employment at the Dunkerque site, where the target produces 300,000 tonnes annually and employs about 750 people, and committed to a long-term industrial strategy there. Aluminium Dunkerque's president, Guillaume de Goÿs, said the company is doing very well, with revenue of and net profit of €185.6 million in 2024, up sharply from 2021. The CGT delegate Johan Vlietinck welcomed Bpifrance's presence, saying that with all the talk about economic sovereignty and raw materials, employees are pleased to have a French state representative on the board. Alba prevailed over other parties that had shown interest in the site, including Rio Tinto, Glencore, Metlen Energy & Metals and Emirates Global Aluminium. Some of them, such as Rio Tinto, worried the unions. The European Commission cleared the takeover before the agreement was signed.