DLA Piper advises international metal processing business Benteler on development of manufacturing plant in Morocco

DLA Piper has advised Benteler, a leading German metal processing business, on the development, structuring, and construction of a new manufacturing plant in Kenitra, Morocco. The manufacturing plant is expected to support Benteler in strengthening its global footprint.

The plant is in Kenitra’s Atlantic Free Zone and will create over 300 jobs. It will serve as a smart manufacturing facility, bringing together advanced technologies and skilled teams to optimise operational efficiency. The location will also enable it to have direct access to major logistics routes, including the port of Tangier.

Benteler, headquartered in Salzburg, Austria, serves customers in automotive technology, the energy sector and mechanical engineering and is a global business focusing on metal processing. It develops, produces, and distributes safety-related products, systems, and services across the world and recorded around EUR8.2 billion worth of revenue in 2024.

A team from DLA Piper’s Casablanca office worked on the matter led by Corporate legal director Ghita Moussaid.  

Ghita Moussaid, legal director, commented: “This project is poised to significantly bolster Morocco's economy, driving growth and fostering development across the region. We are proud to have advised on this significant transaction that brings a reputed global business to Morocco and further adds to the momentum generated by the country's rapidly developing automotive industry”.

With more than 1,000 corporate lawyers globally, DLA Piper helps clients execute complex transactions while supporting clients across all stages of development. The firm has been rated number one in global M&A volume for 15 consecutive years, is number 1 across Africa and the Middle East by M&A deal volume for two years, according to Mergermarket, and number one in M&A in combined global deal volume according to PitchBook.