By Ben Griffiths, City News Editor PUBLISHED: 17:50 EST, 16 September 2012 | UPDATED: 17:50 EST, 16 September 2012 Stumbling block: BAE Systems and EADS have been told their planned mega defence merger must include safeguards for Britain's Trident nuclear submarines The future of Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent could prove a key stumbling block to the £31billion merger between BAE Systems and EADS. Ministry of Defence officials have told the firms their planned mega defence merger must include safeguards for the Trident nuclear submarines, which are made by BAE at its Barrow-in-Furness plant in Cumbria. The deal would create a rival to America’s Boeing and the merged company would have combined sales of £60billion and a global workforce of 220,000.
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Crisis talks over planned merger between BAE Systems and EADS
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Company would have combined sales of £60bn and workforce of 220,000
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MoD insists deal must include safeguards for the Trident nuclear submarines
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EADS major shareholders include the French and German governments
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British government can block any BAE takeover if not in national interest
@placeholder has a ‘golden share’ in BAE Systems, which the Government can use to block any takeover if politicians fear it won’t be in the national interest.