Newscoma

March 20 (Bloomberg) — Dubai, which agreed this month to sell its interest in U.S. ports, said its $1.2 billion takeover of a U.K. company with U.S. plants that make military equipment is delayed while the authorities investigate security concerns.

Dubai International Capital LLC, which is owned by the government of the Persian Gulf emirate, and Doncasters Group Ltd. agreed to delay the transaction by as many as two months from March 31 while government agencies review the purchase, Sameer Al Ansari, Dubai International’s chief executive, said in an interview today.

“After what happened with Dubai Ports, the government is looking at this deal more closely,” Al Ansari said after a press conference in Dubai announcing an agreement with HSBC Holdings Plc.

Dubai’s bid may ignite a political debate in the U.S. similar to that caused last month by the emirate’s $6.8 billion purchase of London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. DP World had to agree to sell interests in six U.S. terminals. Revenue from Doncasters’ nine U.S. plants, which make parts for tanks and military aircraft, account for about 40 percent of total sales.

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