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| Jingye to invest £1bn and save 'thousands of British Steel jobs' | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Chinese firm Jingye says will invest £1.2bn in British Steel as it signed a deal to rescue the UK steelmaker. | |
| It also said it would seek to "preserve thousands of jobs in a key foundation industry for the UK" but did not put a number on how many would be saved. | |
| British Steel employs about 4,000 people in Scunthorpe and Teesside. | |
| It has been kept running by the government via the Official Receiver since May, when the company went into liquidation. | |
| Regulatory approval | |
| Business Minister Andrea Leadsom said the news "was a positive step forward". | Business Minister Andrea Leadsom said the news "was a positive step forward". |
| She said she was delighted that the sale and purchase agreement had been signed, but that the deal had not yet been completely finalised. | She said she was delighted that the sale and purchase agreement had been signed, but that the deal had not yet been completely finalised. |
| A statement from the Official Receiver said: "Completion of the contract is conditional on a number of matters, including gaining the necessary regulatory approvals. The parties are working together to conclude a sale as soon as reasonably practicable. | A statement from the Official Receiver said: "Completion of the contract is conditional on a number of matters, including gaining the necessary regulatory approvals. The parties are working together to conclude a sale as soon as reasonably practicable. |
| "The business will continue to trade as normal during the period between exchange and completion. Support from employees, suppliers and customers since the liquidation has been a critical factor in achieving this outcome." | "The business will continue to trade as normal during the period between exchange and completion. Support from employees, suppliers and customers since the liquidation has been a critical factor in achieving this outcome." |
| Jingye will acquire the steelworks at Scunthorpe, UK steel mills and shares of FN Steel BV, British Steel France Rail SAS and TSP Engineering. The sale also includes the shares owned by BSL in Redcar Bulk Terminal. | Jingye will acquire the steelworks at Scunthorpe, UK steel mills and shares of FN Steel BV, British Steel France Rail SAS and TSP Engineering. The sale also includes the shares owned by BSL in Redcar Bulk Terminal. |
| One worker at British Steel in Scunthorpe told the BBC: "It has been a big concern, nobody knew what was happening... whether they had a job, could pay the mortgages, feed the families. It is great news." | One worker at British Steel in Scunthorpe told the BBC: "It has been a big concern, nobody knew what was happening... whether they had a job, could pay the mortgages, feed the families. It is great news." |
| Why is this news so important? | Why is this news so important? |
| Gareth Stace, director general of industry lobby group UK Steel, told BBC Radio 4's Today that the business being bought was a "significant asset to our country" as it makes up a third of UK steel production, mostly from Scunthorpe. | Gareth Stace, director general of industry lobby group UK Steel, told BBC Radio 4's Today that the business being bought was a "significant asset to our country" as it makes up a third of UK steel production, mostly from Scunthorpe. |
| He said that there was a need for "very significant investment" in the Scunthorpe works and that was why the expected announcement from Jingye was "really welcome". | He said that there was a need for "very significant investment" in the Scunthorpe works and that was why the expected announcement from Jingye was "really welcome". |
| "Jingye are looking to make significant investment, are in for the longer term and therefore it isn't about keeping this site going for a year or two or a couple of years. To me, what I understand about the company, it's about looking to the future, so we're not going to be back in here in three years, five years, in 10 years' time." | "Jingye are looking to make significant investment, are in for the longer term and therefore it isn't about keeping this site going for a year or two or a couple of years. To me, what I understand about the company, it's about looking to the future, so we're not going to be back in here in three years, five years, in 10 years' time." |
| The firm had previously been in rescue talks with Ataer, which is a subsidiary of Turkey's state military retirement scheme Oyak. They said in a statement: "Ataer Holding... completed the due diligence processes for British Steel and the negotiations did not reveal a success mainly due to lack of support from the key stakeholders of the company and that the expected commercial efficiency could not be achieved." | The firm had previously been in rescue talks with Ataer, which is a subsidiary of Turkey's state military retirement scheme Oyak. They said in a statement: "Ataer Holding... completed the due diligence processes for British Steel and the negotiations did not reveal a success mainly due to lack of support from the key stakeholders of the company and that the expected commercial efficiency could not be achieved." |
| What is in it for Jingye? | What is in it for Jingye? |
| What does a steel maker from Hebei province, south-west of Beijing, see in a struggling plant in Scunthorpe? It is difficult to know, particularly when we know so little about the buyer of British Steel, Jingye Group. | What does a steel maker from Hebei province, south-west of Beijing, see in a struggling plant in Scunthorpe? It is difficult to know, particularly when we know so little about the buyer of British Steel, Jingye Group. |
| There is little publicly available information - certainly no set of accounts - but the organisation's Facebook page extols its rapid rise to become a big player in steel in just 20 years. | There is little publicly available information - certainly no set of accounts - but the organisation's Facebook page extols its rapid rise to become a big player in steel in just 20 years. |
| In the process, it has "laid an extraordinary road of development with wisdom and perspiration", the voiceover of one of promotional video says, with ranks of identically overalled workers smiling on the steps of its rather grand headquarters. | In the process, it has "laid an extraordinary road of development with wisdom and perspiration", the voiceover of one of promotional video says, with ranks of identically overalled workers smiling on the steps of its rather grand headquarters. |
| On the face of it, the Chinese buyer will be interested in the products that British Steel makes that it does not. British Steel is a specialist in railway tracks, "long products", a catch-all term for girders used in construction, and the high-quality steel wire used in car tyres and dozens of other industrial applications. | On the face of it, the Chinese buyer will be interested in the products that British Steel makes that it does not. British Steel is a specialist in railway tracks, "long products", a catch-all term for girders used in construction, and the high-quality steel wire used in car tyres and dozens of other industrial applications. |
| Jingye does not appear to make the first two, so the purchase of British Steel should bring it some valuable technology and new product lines. That plus has to be set against the need for investment at Scunthorpe; if, as reported, Jingye wants to increase production, blast furnaces and coke ovens will have to be refurbished at a price tag estimated at £500m. | Jingye does not appear to make the first two, so the purchase of British Steel should bring it some valuable technology and new product lines. That plus has to be set against the need for investment at Scunthorpe; if, as reported, Jingye wants to increase production, blast furnaces and coke ovens will have to be refurbished at a price tag estimated at £500m. |
| What British Steel workers will fervently hope is that the Jingye commitment is long-term and that this is not another false dawn. | What British Steel workers will fervently hope is that the Jingye commitment is long-term and that this is not another false dawn. |
| According to Mr Stace, British Steel's output complements Jingye. He says both British Steel and Jingye make wire rods, but there is one crucial difference. | According to Mr Stace, British Steel's output complements Jingye. He says both British Steel and Jingye make wire rods, but there is one crucial difference. |
| "Actually British Steel makes rail, high-quality rail and heavy sections, ie girders, which Jingye doesn't make. [So it] not only increases the amount of different products that Jingye could make but also, much more importantly, secures a foothold in the UK." | "Actually British Steel makes rail, high-quality rail and heavy sections, ie girders, which Jingye doesn't make. [So it] not only increases the amount of different products that Jingye could make but also, much more importantly, secures a foothold in the UK." |
| Will British Steel now turn the corner? | Will British Steel now turn the corner? |
| Mr Stace said he believed the steel industry in the UK could now compete globally and he was publishing a manifesto with ideas for change. | Mr Stace said he believed the steel industry in the UK could now compete globally and he was publishing a manifesto with ideas for change. |
| "But the problem we have is we have an uncompetitive business landscape in the UK. Government can change that," he added. | "But the problem we have is we have an uncompetitive business landscape in the UK. Government can change that," he added. |
| "I'm talking about energy costs, business rates, procurement - the government buying more steel from the UK - free and fair trade, and even much more support for R&D [research and development], which we are going to lose when we fall out of the EU." | "I'm talking about energy costs, business rates, procurement - the government buying more steel from the UK - free and fair trade, and even much more support for R&D [research and development], which we are going to lose when we fall out of the EU." |
| He said: "What government needs to do is give us that business landscape. We can thrive on the global market and generate highly paid, highly skilled jobs for the UK economy." | He said: "What government needs to do is give us that business landscape. We can thrive on the global market and generate highly paid, highly skilled jobs for the UK economy." |
| What happens now? | What happens now? |
| Employees have been briefed on the latest developments this morning as they come to work. | Employees have been briefed on the latest developments this morning as they come to work. |
| In the long term, it is believed that while Jingye Group has promised to increase production, it has also warned costs may need to be cut. | In the long term, it is believed that while Jingye Group has promised to increase production, it has also warned costs may need to be cut. |
| The Chinese group is reportedly aiming to increase production at Scunthorpe from 2.5 million tonnes per year to more than three million. | The Chinese group is reportedly aiming to increase production at Scunthorpe from 2.5 million tonnes per year to more than three million. |
| Jingye's chairman, Li Ganpo, recently visited British Steel's sites and met Scunthorpe MP Nic Dakin and Andrew Percy, representative for the Brigg and Goole constituency. | Jingye's chairman, Li Ganpo, recently visited British Steel's sites and met Scunthorpe MP Nic Dakin and Andrew Percy, representative for the Brigg and Goole constituency. |
| Mr Percy told the Grimsby Telegraph he had been given assurances over the company's future. | Mr Percy told the Grimsby Telegraph he had been given assurances over the company's future. |
| What are trade unions saying? | What are trade unions saying? |
| Community, a UK trade union which absorbed the old Iron & Steel Trades Confederation (ISTC) body, said it welcomed "this positive step towards securing British Steel under new ownership". | Community, a UK trade union which absorbed the old Iron & Steel Trades Confederation (ISTC) body, said it welcomed "this positive step towards securing British Steel under new ownership". |
| "The fact that there has been ongoing interest from both Ataer and now Jingye rightly demonstrates that potential buyers believe that British Steel can have a sustainable future." | "The fact that there has been ongoing interest from both Ataer and now Jingye rightly demonstrates that potential buyers believe that British Steel can have a sustainable future." |
| Meanwhile, Ross Murdoch, national officer for the GMB union, said: "We were impressed with the passion and enthusiasm from the Jingye team. | Meanwhile, Ross Murdoch, national officer for the GMB union, said: "We were impressed with the passion and enthusiasm from the Jingye team. |
| "However, due diligence on this sale was completed very quickly and the devil will be in the detail." | "However, due diligence on this sale was completed very quickly and the devil will be in the detail." |
| The UK industry has been struggling for a number of years amid claims that China has been flooding the market with cheap steel. In 2016 the EU imposed tariffs of up to 73.7% on Chinese steel after an influx of cheap imports from Asia forced European manufacturers to cut jobs and lower prices. | The UK industry has been struggling for a number of years amid claims that China has been flooding the market with cheap steel. In 2016 the EU imposed tariffs of up to 73.7% on Chinese steel after an influx of cheap imports from Asia forced European manufacturers to cut jobs and lower prices. |
| Who is Jingye Group? | Who is Jingye Group? |
| Jingye has 23,500 employees and as well as its main steel and iron making businesses, it also engages in tourism, hotels and real estate. | Jingye has 23,500 employees and as well as its main steel and iron making businesses, it also engages in tourism, hotels and real estate. |
| It has total registered assets of 39bn yuan (£4.4bn). According to its website, Jingye Group ranked 217th among the top 500 enterprises in China in 2019. | It has total registered assets of 39bn yuan (£4.4bn). According to its website, Jingye Group ranked 217th among the top 500 enterprises in China in 2019. |
| The firm sells its products nationwide and exports them to more than 80 countries and regions. | The firm sells its products nationwide and exports them to more than 80 countries and regions. |
| Jingye's products have been used in major projects such as Beijing Daxing International Airport and the underground system in Shijiazhuang. | Jingye's products have been used in major projects such as Beijing Daxing International Airport and the underground system in Shijiazhuang. |