ARTICLE · 15 JUNE 2020

How Does COVID-19 Affect Gaining Foreign Investment In My Business?

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If you are an Australian business seeking foreign investment, you will likely need to comply with temporary changes resulting from COVID-19.

AustraliaGovernment, Public Sector

Sarah Aldersley

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If you are an Australian business seeking foreign investment, you will likely need to comply with temporary changes resulting from COVID-19. From 29 March 2020, if a foreign person or company is acquiring 20% or more of your company, they must gain approval from the Government's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval. This article explains when foreign investment rules might apply to your capital raise and the requirements that you need to meet if they do.

Do the Foreign Investment Rules Apply?

From 29 March 2020, all proposed foreign investments into Australia will require approval from FIRB. This is regardless of the value of the investment if the proposed investment is a:

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