On 14 October 2019 the Government’s legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session was set out in the Queen’s Speech, accompanied by detailed background briefing notes. We have summarised below the key takeaways in terms of implications for the UK competition law regime and the plans for a new standalone foreign direct investment regime. Competition … Read more
On 9 October 2019 the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (SoS) announced that she is intending to accept undertakings offered by the parties to the proposed acquisition of British satellite operator Inmarsat plc by Connect BidCo (a private-equity led Consortium including equity funds based in Canada). This deal has been closely … Read more
The US Department of Treasury (Treasury) has issued proposed regulations to implement changes – made by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) – that expand the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The proposed regulations are notable to the extent they: Define CFIUS jurisdiction over certain “non-controlling … Read more
There has been a flurry of transactional activity in the UK defence sector over the last week. These deals, and the public interest considerations they raise, will test the UK’s current approach to reviewing foreign investment in sensitive sectors. The acquisition of Rheinmetall Defence by BAE Systems: on 19 July 2019, the CMA published its … Read more
In this, sixth episode, Veronica Roberts, an anti-trust partner in Herbert Smith Freehills’ competition practice, leads a discussion about foreign direct investment in China. She talks to Karen Ip and David Dawborn, corporate partners at Herbert Smith Freehills and Ying Staton, head of Asia at Global Counsel. Read more
In this, fifth episode, Veronica Roberts, an anti-trust partner in Herbert Smith Freehills’ competition practice, leads a discussion about foreign direct investment in Australia. She talks to Matt Fitzgerald, a corporate partner at Herbert Smith Freehills and Stephen Adams, senior director at Global Counsel. Read more
In this, fourth episode, Veronica Roberts, an anti-trust partner in Herbert Smith Freehills’ competition practice, leads a discussion about foreign direct investment in the US, including how political rhetoric is influencing developments. Veronica talks to Joe Falcone, a disputes partner at Herbert Smith Freehills and Stephen Adams, senior director at Global Counsel. Read more
In this, third episode, Veronica Roberts, an anti-trust partner in Herbert Smith Freehills’ competition practice, leads a discussion about developments in the EU focusing on the current Commission proposals and the changing approaches in both France and Germany. She talks to Kyriakos Fountoukakos and Marius Boewe, competition partners at Herbert Smith Freehills, Tom White, Head of Europe at Global … Read more
In this, the second episode, Veronica Roberts, an anti-trust partner in Herbert Smith Freehills’ competition practice leads a discussion about how foreign direct investment in the UK, including an examination of the current proposals for screening foreign investment. She talks to Mark Bardell, a corporate partner at Herbert Smith Freehills and Leo Ringer, head of UK at … Read more
