UK Investor Expresses Interest in Acquiring British Steel

British investor Michael Flacks has revealed significant interest in acquiring British Steel, with plans to merge it with another steel plant in Italy. The potential deal could establish one of Europe’s largest metals groups, according to sources.

Flacks, whose Miami-based investment firm, Flacks Group, specialises in purchasing distressed companies, is reportedly working alongside bankers to prepare a bid for the Scunthorpe-based steelworks, which is currently under government control. Speaking to the Financial Times, Flacks highlighted the importance of the plant, stating, “Somebody has to take control of British Steel. It’s a plant of national importance. I see an amazing opportunity where most people have overlooked this sector. I’m a big, bullish believer.”

A Vision for European Steel

The businessman’s interest in the Scunthorpe site forms part of a broader strategy to consolidate European steel operations. Flacks Group has been in talks to acquire the former Ilva steelworks in southern Italy, the largest steel plant in Europe, and has reportedly secured €5bn (£4.3bn) in financing for a turnaround plan. Flacks is considering combining the two producers, aiming to capitalise on the increasing demand for local suppliers across Europe.

“My vision is we’re going to do a roll-up of European steel operations”, Flacks said. “There’s going to be an infrastructure growth. People are going to be more receptive to working with British Steel because it won’t be in Chinese hands.”

Challenges for a Troubled Industry

British Steel has faced significant challenges in recent years, including intense competition from a global oversupply of steel, particularly from China, which now accounts for more than half of the world’s production. Flacks’s move could be the latest attempt to transform the financially struggling company, which employs 3,500 workers at its Scunthorpe plant.

The steelworks, under the ownership of China’s Jingye Steel since 2020, faced losses of £700,000 a day at one point. Jingye announced plans to close the site last March, prompting the UK government to step in with emergency legislation to take control of the plant. A government spokesperson stated, “Last year we stepped in to save British Steel from collapse, protecting thousands of jobs in the process. Discussions with Jingye over the long-term future of the site are ongoing and no conclusion or decision has yet been reached.”

Despite the challenges, officials have sought to boost the plant’s output in an effort to restore profitability. However, significant investment will be required to modernise the site, including replacing its ageing and polluting blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces.

Mixed Industry Reactions

Flacks’s interest in British Steel has raised eyebrows among some industry insiders. While his plans to combine British Steel with the Ilva plant in Italy aim to strengthen European steel production, sceptics have pointed to the substantial investment required for both sites as a potential hurdle. One source described the situation as “two sites that need massive investment.”

The Ilva steelworks, located in the Italian city of Taranto, has struggled with environmental scandals and high pollution levels, with studies linking emissions from the plant to elevated cancer rates in the region.

Long-Term Commitment

Flacks, who has a background in retail and an estimated net worth of £1.7bn according to the Sunday Times Rich List, has expressed a commitment to the long-term future of the Scunthorpe site. “Every deal I do is complicated”, he told the FT. “We’re not private equity, we’re not a listed company, we don’t have shareholders to answer to. We’re in it for the long game.”

British Steel and Flacks both declined to comment further on the matter. The UK government has stated its intention to ensure a “bright and sustainable future” for the steel industry, with plans to publish a comprehensive steel strategy in the coming months.

As discussions continue, the future of British Steel remains uncertain, but Flacks’s proposals could mark a pivotal moment for the UK steel sector.

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