News Fifty-two: Pulsic takeover by Super Orange HK blocked on security grounds

The UK has blocked the takeover of an electronic design company by a Hong Kong firm because of concerns over risks to national security.

Super Orange HK had sought to acquire Bristol-based Pulsic.

But the government said there was the potential for tools to be exploited “to build defence or technological capabilities”.

The Chinese embassy said the UK should provide a fair and “non-discriminatory environment” for Chinese businesses.

The move is the latest attempt to limit Chinese involvement in British businesses and technology.

In 2020, Chinese mobile provider Huawei was banned from the UK’s 5G infrastructure over national security concerns, which were denied by the company.

The government is also reviewing a Chinese-backed takeover of Newport Wafer Fab, Britain’s largest microchip factory.

The latest takeover attempt was blocked under the National Security and Investment Act, which came into force in January.

It gives the government powers to scrutinise and intervene in business transactions to protect national security.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said the software developed by Pulsic could be used “to facilitate the building of cutting-edge integrated circuits that could be used in a civilian or military supply chain”.

It said the decision to block the takeover was “necessary and proportionate to mitigate the risk to national security”.

The Chinese embassy in the UK said: “Any abuse of national security review will only damage the UK’s investment environment and long-term interests.”

Pulsic, which has offices in Bristol, Newcastle, Tokyo and San Jose, has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Super Orange HK could not be reached for comment. The Chinese Embassy in the UK has been contacted for comment.

Conservative leadership favourite Liz Truss has said Beijing’s “increasing assertiveness” is a “deep security concern”.

“We should look at making sure we’re not exporting technology that can be used against us. We need to clear investment screening and we’ve developed that to make sure that we can’t have acquisitions of key strategic assets,” the foreign secretary told a leadership hustings on Wednesday.

She has also said the UK should be cracking down on Chinese-owned companies such as social media platform TikTok.