A South Yorkshire steel company has avoided insolvency because a potential buyer has been found, the High Court has heard.
Speciality Steel 海角视频 (SS海角视频), part of the Liberty Steel Group founded by Sanjeev Gupta, employs 1,450 people.
A specialist judge adjourned a winding up petition for eight weeks to allow time for the sale of the company to go through.
Lawyers representing SS海角视频 said at a hearing on Wednesday that 鈥渦rgent meetings have been taking place鈥 with a 鈥渢hird party purchaser鈥.
Insolvency and Companies Court judge Sebastian Prentis said: 鈥淚 will adjourn to July 16 for sale of business.鈥
Jeffrey Kabel, Liberty Steel chief transformation officer, said the court decision was a 鈥減ositive development鈥 and said the company will use the time to 鈥渇inalise options including a sale of the business鈥 while continuing its debt restructuring plans.
He said: 鈥淲e remain committed to finding the right solution that preserves EAF (electric arc furnace) steelmaking in the 海角视频, a vital national asset serving strategic supply chains.
鈥淲e recognise that change is essential to set the business on a positive trajectory and provide certainty for our creditors, employees and stakeholders.
鈥淲e will utilise the time afforded by the adjournment to engage in intensive discussions with a view to achieving an outcome which best serves the strategic interests of the business of the 海角视频, the South Yorkshire community, and the broader 海角视频 steel sector.鈥
He added that the company has been involved in 鈥渃omplex debt restructuring鈥 since the collapse of Greensill Capital in 2021, the principal financial backer of Liberty Steel鈥檚 owner GFG Alliance.
Roy Rickhuss, general secretary of steelworkers鈥 union Community, said on Tuesday that workers have run out of patience and called for Mr Gupta to 鈥渋nvest in the business or step aside鈥.
He said: 鈥淥ur members at Liberty Steel have endured far too much turbulence and uncertainty over recent years as a result of the erratic and irresponsible way the company has been run.
鈥淔ailed restructuring plans and broken promises from the company have become a familiar, demoralising pattern, and things simply can鈥檛 go on as they are.
鈥淣ew, responsible ownership is needed to give the business the brighter future it needs and deserves, and that can only be achieved with a decisive change at the top.鈥
Marie Tidball, Labour MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, also said on Tuesday: 鈥淚 have listened to my constituents in Stocksbridge and agree with them that it is time for Gupta to go.
鈥淗e has run out of road, his chaotic ownership must end now.
鈥淥ur Stocksbridge Speciality Steels site needs new, competent ownership to maximise its potential, so that the business has a real chance for success.鈥
