Allen & Overy is advising H.C. Starck, one of the largest companies in the global tungsten industry, on its joint venture (JV) with Nui Phao Mining Company (Nui Phao), a subsidiary of one of Vietnam’s largest private sector business groups, Masan Group Corporation (Masan Group), and developer of the largest known tungsten deposits outside of China.

Subject to regulatory approval, Nui Phao and H.C. Starck will own 51 percent and 49 percent respectively of the JV which will, through a newly constructed chemical plant in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, process all of Nui Phao’s tungsten concentrate into higher value-added tungsten chemical products. The tungsten chemicals are used in a variety of applications requiring high strength including high speed cutting and drilling tools used in mining and mechanical engineering. The chemical plant will have an installed capacity of around 6,500 tons tungsten trioxide per annum.

The Allen & Overy team comprised partners Dao Nguyen (Ho Chi Minh City), Barry Irwin (Singapore) and Dr Helge Schäfer (Hamburg). They were supported by senior associates Nick Marchica (Sydney), Matthew Williams, Hong Bui (Ho Chi Minh City), Daniel Martin Schulz (Hamburg) as well as other lawyers in Singapore, Perth, Hamburg (anti trust partner Dr Ellen Braun, associate Dr Evelyn Grass) and London.