On 19 March 2025, the European Commission unveiled new draft measures to help Member States ramp up defence spending by 2030 among mounting concerns about Europe's security. The proposals reflect a renewed push to coordinate...more
On 15 January the European Commission (“EC”) took its latest (prudent) step towards an outbound investment screening regime, with the publication of its ‘Recommendation on reviewing outbound investments in technology areas...more
1/29/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Export Controls ,
Foreign Investment ,
Investment ,
Investors ,
Member State ,
National Security ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Semiconductors ,
Technology Sector
On 17 October, the European Commission (EC) issued its Fourth Annual Report under Article 5(4) of the Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) Screening Regulation (the Regulation) along with an EC Staff Working Document (SWD). The...more
Following other countries which have tightened regulations on foreign investments in sectors sensitive to national security, Singapore has on 3 November 2023 announced the introduction of the Significant Investments Review...more
Now in its seventh year of annual publication, White & Case's Foreign Direct Investment Reviews provides a comprehensive look into rapidly evolving foreign direct investment (FDI) laws and regulations in approximately 40...more
3/22/2023
/ Acquisitions ,
Anti-Monopoly ,
Asia Pacific ,
Australia ,
Austria ,
Belgium ,
Canada ,
CFIUS ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Cross-Border ,
Cybersecurity ,
Czech Republic ,
Denmark ,
EMEA ,
Estonia ,
EU ,
EU Screening Regulation ,
Finland ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Foreign Investment ,
France ,
Germany ,
Hungary ,
Iceland ,
India ,
Investment ,
Investors ,
Italy ,
Japan ,
Korea ,
Latvia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Lithuania ,
Luxembourg ,
Malta ,
Member State ,
Mergers ,
Mexico ,
Middle East ,
National Security ,
Netherlands ,
New Legislation ,
New Zealand ,
Norway ,
Poland ,
Popular ,
Portugal ,
Romania ,
Slovakia ,
Slovenia ,
Spain ,
Sweden ,
Switzerland ,
Taiwan ,
Turkey ,
UK ,
United Arab Emirates (UAE) ,
United States
In an unprecedented double-strike, the German government recently blocked two transactions pertaining to Chinese investments in German semiconductor facilities. Just two weeks before, the cabinet had already intervened...more
11/17/2022
/ Canada ,
CFIUS ,
China ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Germany ,
Investment ,
Investors ,
National Security ,
Prohibited Transactions ,
Semiconductors ,
UK
In a regime undergoing rapid change, investment screening is currently "light," with red tape increasing for European inbound investment -
While there is still no standalone foreign direct investment (FDI) screening at...more
11/10/2020
/ Acquisitions ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
EU ,
EU Screening Regulation ,
Foreign Acquisitions ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Foreign Investment ,
Member State ,
Merger Controls ,
Mergers ,
National Security ,
National Security Review Proceedings
The French Foreign Investments Control regime has recently been reinforced following a reform of 2019, and other measures have been adopted in view of the COVID-19 pandemic -
Since 2014, the scope of the French Foreign...more
The French Foreign Investments Control regime has recently been reinforced following a reform introduced by Decree n° 2019-1590 of 31 December 2019 and the Ministerial Order of 31 December 2019 relating to foreign investments...more
On 25 March 2020, the European Commission issued guidelines to coordinate the EU's approach to investment screening in light of the COVID-19 crisis and to protect the EU's critical assets and technologies from potential...more
Further to the Decree of 29 November 2018, which expanded the list of strategic sectors, and to the so-called « PACTE » law of 22 May 2019, which strengthened the enforcement powers of French authorities with respect to the...more
1/13/2020
/ Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Dual Use Goods ,
Foreign Acquisitions ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Foreign Investment ,
France ,
National Security ,
National Security Review Proceedings ,
New Rules ,
PACTE Act ,
Technology Sector
In December 2018, a new decree expanded the scope of the French national security review, especially in the technology sector
In May 2019, the so-called “PACTE” Law strengthened the powers of French authorities in case of...more
1/3/2020
/ Defense Sector ,
Dual Use Goods ,
EU ,
Filing Requirements ,
Foreign Acquisitions ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Foreign Investment ,
Member State ,
Mergers ,
Ministry of Economy ,
National Security ,
National Security Review Proceedings ,
PACTE Act ,
Prior Authorization
A new European Foreign Direct Investment regulation harmonizing investment controls came into force .
In response to increased foreign direct investments (FDI) into European technology assets and an increased call for the...more
12/31/2019
/ Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Foreign Acquisitions ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Freedom of the Press ,
Harmonization Rules ,
Member State ,
National Security ,
National Security Review Proceedings ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Screening Procedures ,
Sensitive Business Information ,
Supply Chain ,
Technology Sector
On 1 August 2019, few months after enacting the PACTE Law that strengthened the foreign investments control mechanism, France passed a new law (n° 2019-810) aimed at preserving the interests of French defense and national...more
New legislation broadens the scope of foreign investments control review in France and reinforces the sanctions in case of infringement. As a next step, French authorities are likely to adopt new regulations by the end of...more
7/22/2019
/ Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
EU Directive ,
European Commission ,
Foreign Acquisitions ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Foreign Investment ,
France ,
Infringement ,
Interim Measures ,
Member State ,
National Security ,
National Security Review Proceedings ,
PACTE Act ,
Penalties ,
Sanctions ,
Suspensions ,
Voting Rights
Following completion of the Trilogue process, the three main EU institutions have agreed on a compromise for a new Regulation that gives the EU a largely procedural and coordinating function in connection with foreign direct...more
1/8/2019
/ CFIUS ,
Cooperation ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Foreign Investment ,
Harmonization Rules ,
Member State ,
National Security ,
National Security Review Proceedings ,
New Regulations ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Screening Procedures ,
Technology Sector