SME has been acquired by Paprec

The family shareholders of Société Métallurgique d’Épernay (SME) have sold the company to Paprec Group.

Founded in 1969, SME is a French company specialized in the dismantling, collection, asbestos removal and recycling of materials. The company operates three sites in France and recovers each year more than 30,000 tonnes of materials, mainly ferrous and non-ferrous metals, to a diversified industrial customer base. SME relies on three main supply channels: dismantling of railway and aeronautical equipment, vehicle recycling and retail purchases from private individuals and professionals.

Paprec Group is one of France’s leading waste treatment companies, processes 16 million tonnes of waste per year (plastics, scrap iron and non-ferrous metals, rubble, waste electrical and electronic equipment), with a workforce of 15,000 and revenues of approximately US$3.2bn in 2023. Paprec operates 300 centers in France and is present in 10 countries.

Oaklins’ team in France acted as the M&A advisor to SME in this transaction.