UK Ministry of Defence Buys Sheffield Forgemasters
UK’s Ministry of Defence has launched an offer to acquire Sheffield Forgemasters International Limited, allowing HM Government to
29 Jul, 2021, 4:09 am
UK’s Ministry of Defence has launched an offer to acquire Sheffield Forgemasters International Limited, allowing HM Government to refinance the company and secure the supply of components for the MOD’s critical existing and future UK defence programmes. The MOD also intends to invest up to GBP 400 million for defence critical plant, equipment and infrastructure into SFIL over the next 10 years to support defence outputs. The immediate cost of the acquisition is GBP 2.56 million for the entire share capital of the Company plus debt assumed. The Ministry of Defence will acquire 100% ownership of Sheffield Forgemasters International Limited, the parent company of the Sheffield Forgemasters Group. There will be no change to the corporate structure of the group and all subsidiary companies, including Sheffield Forgemasters Engineering Ltd and Sheffield Forgemasters Steel Ltd, will remain wholly owned by SFIL. Existing contracts will be honoured. The purchase represents a nationalization of a UK steel asset in an industry that has been in private hands since the 1980s. The investment will secure Sheffield Forgemasters' role as a critical supplier to the next generation of UK defense programs, while continuing independent commercial activities, including exploiting opportunities arising from the government's net zero carbon agenda, in markets like civil nuclear, oil & gas, power generation and renewables including offshore wind and steel processing