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ARTICLE · 19 JUNE 2018

UK Changes Merger Control Regime For Foreign Takeovers

Jones Day
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The United Kingdom has a voluntary merger notification system for review of transactions on both antitrust and public interest grounds.

United KingdomGovernment, Public Sector
Matt Evans
Matt Evans
Laura Fraedrich
Laura Fraedrich
Chase Kaniecki
Chase Kaniecki
Victoria M. Yuan
Victoria M. Yuan
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In Short

The Situation: New legislation came into force on 11 June 2018, allowing the UK Government to scrutinise a wider range of mergers that may raise public interest or national security issues.

The Context: This is the outcome of the first part of the UK Government's review into national security and infrastructure investment by foreign companies.

Looking Ahead: The United Kingdom is also considering longer term reforms to address its approach to foreign direct investment ("FDI"), with the aim of expanding the scope of investments and takeovers by foreign companies that fall under its FDI approval regime.

Existing Merger Thresholds

The United Kingdom has a voluntary merger notification system for review of transactions on both antitrust and public interest grounds. Merging parties carry out their own assessment as to whether to notify their deal for approval before completion. If they do not, the United Kingdom's economic regulator, the Competition &

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