A Turkish group managing military pensions entered exclusive talks to buy British Steel, the first step in a rescue that could save about 5000 jobs in the U.K.’s manufacturing heartland.
The U.K.’s No. 2 steelmaker was put into liquidation in May, just three years after being acquired by private equity firm Greybull Capital LLP for 1 pound. In addition to contracting demand, surging costs and cheap imports, British steelmakers face uncertainty around Brexit, with some European Union customers concerned that tariffs could be imposed on shipments from the U.K.
Oyak Group, with assets of more than $19 billion, will review British Steel over the next two months, while talking to the company’s customers, suppliers, employees and labor unions. Oyak’s Ataer Holdings unit, which co-owns steelmakers in Turkey, is the preferred buyer after making an “acceptable” offer, the U.K.’s Insolvency Service said.
