UK Worried Over EDF Deal To Buy GE Unit

The British government has raised potential national security concerns from French state-owned utility EDF's deal to buy General Electric's nuclear turbine business, ordering the companies to meet certain security needs, Reuters reported.

Photo Insert: EDF's bid to acquire the GE Steam Power business from the US conglomerate was cleared by Britain's antitrust regulator in May 2023 after an initial investigation.

EDF's bid to acquire the GE Steam Power business from the US conglomerate was cleared by Britain's antitrust regulator in May 2023 after an initial investigation.

"The Secretary of State considers that a risk to national security will arise because of the critical national security and defense capabilities relating to naval propulsion systems which are delivered through (the GE unit)," the government said.

The government considers that the order is "necessary and proportionate to mitigate the risk to national security," the statement added.

Issuing a final order on EDF's deal to buy the unit via a subsidiary called GEAST UK, the government asked the companies to meet physical and information security requirements and implement governance arrangements to protect sensitive information.

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