Deal or no deal

The Government has interfered with the flotation of KBR, a subsidary of Halliburton, that operates the Devonport Dockyard, western Europe's largest naval port. MoD is not happy with the sell-off of KBR on grounds that it might have severe strategic/security implications. The Government has warned Halliburton that it might lose the Dockyard if the company will not delay the launch.

MoD is afraid that once KBR will not be able to rely on the support of Halliburton, it will struggle to run Devonport successfully. The Government should trust companies' sense of judgement and their plans for reorganisation, and should not interefere with such severe punishments if companies will not comply with its wishes.