World
Energy Fuels' $1.9B Acquisition of Vacuumschmelze: Germany Launches Foreign Investment Review
US-based Energy Fuels announced in late June 2026 its intention to acquire Vacuumschmelze (VAC), a German rare earth magnet manufacturer headquartered in Hanau (Hesse), for $1.9 billion, according to Handelsblatt. The German government has opened a formal foreign investment review procedure. According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Berlin is expected to impose conditions—particularly maintaining the Frankfurt region's production site—rather than block the deal outright. VAC employs 3,600 people and supplies over 1,000 customers worldwide, including General Motors.