Silverdell hailed the takeover as a “transformational deal” that would give it access to international clients like Shell, Exxon, Rolls Royce and Pfizer.

The Sheffield dismantling firm works in the UK and Canada and Australia, giving Silverdell a springboard into these new overseas markets.

Both firms struck up a relationship when they successfully jointly tender for the Magnox demolition framework contract.

To fund the deal, Silverdell plans to raise £8.8m through a share placing.

Sean Nutley, CEO of Silverdell, said: “This acquisition will transform Silverdell into a global specialist environmental support services group.

“EDS is a highly specialised decommissioning and dismantling provider with genuine global reach and a blue chip customer list which provides repeat work.

“Having worked closely with them, we understand the business well and believe that it can be successfully integrated into the group.

He added: “It serves attractive market niches in geographies which are target territories for us. We believe that the enlarged business will be well placed to win further large framework contracts with multi-national corporations.”