JFN Limited (In Liquidation)

Hilco is seeking offers to acquire the intellectual property assets of JFN Limited (In Liquidation) (“JFN” or the “Company”) on behalf of the Joint Liquidators of the Company, Matthew Callaghan, Oliver Wright and Christopher Bennett of FTI Consulting LLP.
February 5 2025, 12pm GMT
Prior to Liquidation, JFN was a prominent provider of specialised engineering solutions for the nuclear industry. Since its establishment, JFN has delivered a range of bespoke engineering, technical, and operational services, solidifying its position as a key player in the nuclear sector. The Company’s unparalleled expertise and experience, accumulated over decades, earned it a distinguished reputation for innovation, quality, and reliability.
JFN consistently pushed the boundaries of nuclear engineering, delivering cutting-edge solutions that have significantly enhanced the safety and efficiency of nuclear facilities. The Company’s custom-designed systems and technologies, tailored to address the unique challenges of the nuclear environment, solidified its status as a trusted partner in the industry. Beyond its core services, JFN developed a comprehensive suite of complementary offerings, including decommissioning and waste management, remote handling and robotics, inspection and maintenance, and engineering consulting. This diverse portfolio enabled JFN to provide end-to-end solutions, from the initial design phase to the decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
JFN was a reliable supplier to numerous significant players in the nuclear industry, including government agencies, regulatory bodies, and leading private sector companies. The Company’s strong relationships with academic institutions and research organisations and collaborative efforts on various projects to advance nuclear technology and safety standards further underscore the credibility and reliability of the Company’s innovations. Specialising in bespoke engineering solutions, JFN was renowned for its expertise in designing and implementing remote handling systems and robotic technologies for hazardous environments. The Company’s innovative solutions, such as remote-operated vehicles (ROVs) and advanced robotic manipulators, played a critical role in ensuring nuclear facilities’ safe and efficient operation.
In the financial year ending 31 December 2021, the Company generated revenues of c. £49m with a gross profit of c. £5.1m.
This opportunity offers a prospective buyer the chance to acquire the intellectual property assets of a former leader in the nuclear engineering industry.
The JFN Brand
The JFN brand is highly esteemed and widely recognised within the nuclear industry. It is synonymous with quality, safety, and innovation.
The JFN brand emerged from a commitment to deliver cutting-edge engineering solutions for the nuclear sector. JFN challenged conventional approaches and pushed the boundaries of nuclear technology, setting the brand apart from its competitors.
The brand has attracted an enviable client base, forging strong ties with key stakeholders across various sectors, including government agencies, regulatory bodies, and leading private companies. The JFN brand is synonymous with high-quality products, exceptional customer service, and a steadfast commitment to safety and reliability.
JFN’s excellence has been recognised through numerous accolades, including the prestigious Nuclear Engineering Company of the Year award in 2022 and the Innovation in Nuclear Technology Award in 2021. These awards highlight the Company’s contributions to the advancement of nuclear engineering and its impact on the industry.
The strength of the JFN brand is further bolstered by its features in key industry publications such as Nuclear Engineering International, World Nuclear News, and Energy Focus, underscoring JFN’s role as a thought leader and innovator in the nuclear sector.
JFN’s reputation has been built on consistently delivering high-quality, bespoke engineering solutions with unparalleled expertise and a commitment to exceeding industry standards. JFN retains a legacy as a trusted and respected name in the nuclear industry.
Trade Marks
The Company holds unregistered trade marks covering the “JFN”, “James Fisher Nuclear” and “JF Nuclear” brand names and logos.
A full trade mark schedule is available via a virtual data room.
Organisational Knowledge, Drawings & Design Files
The Company holds an extensive suite of design files and drawings relating to an array of recent and historic projects, all available to acquire. The materials chart the development of each of the following JFN projects:
Mast Mounted Manipulator (MMM)
A comprehensive collection of design files, drawings, quality plans, purchase orders and supplier details relating to the Mast Mounted Manipulator (MMM) systems. Detailed documentation is included on the design, engineering, and operational use of MMMs, particularly their role in remote handling, inspection, and maintenance tasks within nuclear facilities. Additionally, the code repository for MMM control systems development is available.
Modular Control System
A suite of design files, drawings, quality plans, purchase orders, and supplier details relating to the JFN Modular Control System, including comprehensive documentation on the design, engineering, and operational use of these systems for managing and controlling various processes in nuclear facilities.
ModuMan
Materials include a detailed faults matrix, Profibus communication protocols, and code-related documents (.vi and .ctl files associated with LabVIEW), along with multiple design images, providing technical insights into the ModuMan system, a modular manipulator designed for hazardous environments. The PowerGrip files are similarly detailed, including product data sheets, emails regarding interface code, and software architecture documents. Also available is customer sales data, development cost details, test certificates, and sales schedules, valuable for demonstrating product performance and market demand.
PowerGrip
PowerGrip is an advanced remote-handling device engineered to securely grasp and manipulate various objects and components in hazardous and challenging environments
Domain Name & Website Content
The Company holds the jfnl.co.uk domain name which hosted the Company’s informational website.
The Company owns the copyright in the website content, previously hosted at https://web.archive.org/web/20220223104111/https://www.jfnl.co.uk/.
Social Media Accounts
Rights in the social media accounts are also available to acquire across LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
A full social media schedule is available via a virtual data room.
Offers are due Wednesday 5 February at 12pm GMT
All expressions of interest and bids are to be directed to Hilco in writing. A Bid Submission Form is available on request. Please contact Hilco to gain access to a virtual data room of further information on signing a confidentiality agreement.
The Joint Liquidators act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.
The bidder acknowledges that Hilco acts as an agent for the Joint Liquidators who offer for sale only what right, title and interest (if any) the Company possesses in the assets. Such sale will be without any warranties, expressed or implied. The information provided has not been verified by Hilco or the Joint Liquidators and bidders are deemed to have carried out their own due diligence.
VAT, if applicable, at 20% will be added to the price. A non-refundable deposit of 20% will be payable by the buyer within 48 hours of bid acceptance. A buyer’s premium of 10% of the sale price is payable by the winning bidder. Legal completion to occur within 5 business days of bid acceptance. Hilco’s full Terms and Conditions apply.
