China's Jingye Group in talks to buy British Steel for $123 million
BEIJING/LONDON: China's Jingye Group is in talks to buy British Steel, it said yesterday, in a deal estimated to be worth £70 million (S$123 million) that could protect thousands of British jobs.
Any agreement would be of major political significance in Britain as it prepares to elect a new government on Dec 12.
The lack of opportunities in northern England, where British Steel is based, is an election issue, as the social gap between north and south widens.
A spokesman for Hebei-based Jingye Group, a private company, said she was unclear about the value and whether further details would be announced this week.
Mr Gareth Stace, director-general of industry lobby group UK Steel, said nothing had been finalised.
"I would be surprised if it did not get finalised," he said.
"But it's not a done deal."
The company was put into compulsory liquidation on May 22 after Greybull Capital, which bought the firm for £1 from Tata Steel three years ago, failed to secure funding to continue its operations.
Its closure would impact 5,000 jobs in Scunthorpe and a further 20,000 jobs in the supply chain.
Mr Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, set up to boost the economy in northern England, said a rescue deal would be "very welcome news". - REUTERS
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