Checking the United Kingdom to relax to be comfortable as part of the industrial strategy

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Rules aimed at restricting foreign acquisitions of British -sensitive companies must be rewritten as part of a broader attempt to enhance the conditions of companies.

under Industrial strategy On Monday, the ministers announced a review to make investment rules in the UK more “predictable and suitable for companies.

The National Security and Investment Law, or NSIA, has been developed to provide a mechanism for officials to scrutinize – and ultimately – the acquisition of British companies and assets from foreign countries such as China.

On Monday, the government promised a predictable, proportional and transparent investment examination framework.

He said that there will be a 12 -week review of the law to ensure the organizational requirements remain “targeted and commensurate, protecting national security and giving certainty to investors.”

The review can lead to a change in the list of 17 sensitive areas covered by the current system, while the ministers will soon announce some “new specific exemptions” of the mandatory system.

The UK brought the new examination powers in January 2022 to address security concerns that foreign authorities were able to buy UK companies of national importance in technology and other industries.

It deals in 17 sensitive industrial areas – such as advanced materials, artificial intelligence, defense and energy – automatically to the authorities.

Since then, the ministers have used this law to prevent the sale of New Port Wever Fab- one of the few semiconductors in Britain-to Chinese-owned Nexperia, despite questions about the importance of Welsh business for the broader industry.

The proposed combination of Vodafone companies in the UK and three, owned by CK Hutchison Holdings based in Hong Kong, attracted the audit, before it was finally cleared.

The Czech billionaire Daniel Kechenski also requested the approval of a 25 percent stake in Royal Mail, and a second review of national security to acquire 3.6 billion pounds.

The government said in its industrial strategy: “We will continue to update the guidance to ensure clarity for investors on how the law works, including decision -making operations.”

“We will explore opportunities to provide greater transparency for the NSIA process and make sure it protects national security while reducing burdens and supporting growth.”

Companies that are considering British deals and their advisors have criticized the current legislation as very transparent and wide, and complained that they contributed to slowing down in the UK’s integration and purchases.

in From the year to March 2024 The government received 847 media under NSIA, and invited 37 of these. This led to the withdrawal of 10 deals voluntarily, while five “final orders” were issued from the ministers who impose conditions for the acquisition of the reduction of national security risks.

One of the government officials said that the purpose of the UK Intellectual Property Protection Law will not be mitigated, given that the world has become more dangerous in recent years. He added: “But there may be more openness and clarity on how to use the act to allow companies to work with more confidence.”



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