Do you need a quick overview of current screening and control rules for foreign direct investments (FDI) in one of the following countries in times of the COVID-19 pandemic? Just click on the corresponding country and you will find a comprehensive summary of the actual FDI restrictions, if any!

• Australia
• Belgium
• China
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hungary
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Singapore
• Slovak Republic
• Spain
• Sweden
• UAE
• UK

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Australia

FDI restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

Do FDI restrictions apply?

Yes, but as a general principle, the Australian government welcomes FDI.

If yes, which authority is responsible for the verification of an FDI?

The Treasurer of the Federal Government of Australia reviews foreign investment proposals against the national interest on a case by case basis. The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) is a body which advises the Treasurer on Australia's foreign investment regime and is generally responsible for its day-to-day administration. The Australian Taxation Office also plays a role in compliance and enforcement of foreign investment relating to residential real estate while the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) monitors FDI into the banking and financial sectors.

If yes, are these general restrictions or industry/sector-specific restrictions?

There are general as well as sector-specific restrictions. Sector-specific restrictions apply to industries that are considered to be sensitive, i.e. media, telecommunications, transport, defence and military, encryption and securities technologies and communication systems, and the extraction of uranium or plutonium or the operation of nuclear facilities. Additional sector specific laws also regulate FDI including banking and finance, shipping and insurance.

If yes, do these restrictions apply to buyers from specific jurisdictions only?

The restrictions apply to all "foreign persons. A "foreign person" includes an individual who is not ordinarily resident in Australia, a foreign government investor or any corporation, trustee of a trust or general partner of a limited partnership in which a foreigner has at least a 20 per cent interest or two or more foreigners have a 40 percent interest in aggregate; however, in respect of foreign investors from certain "agreement countries or regions", higher monetary thresholds usually apply before disclosure of certain proposed investments is required. These higher thresholds reflect the various commitments Australia has made to foreign investment screening under certain free trade agreements.

If yes, are these restrictions dependent on certain control thresholds being reached?

The application of restrictions on FDI depend on the type of investor, the type of investment, the industry sector in which the investment will be made and the value of the proposed investment. In general, outside of sensitive sectors and land transactions, control thresholds may be reached by foreign persons acquiring a "substantial interest" (20 percent or more) or by "foreign government investors" acquiring a "direct interest" (10 percent or more). Sector specific laws also impose various control thresholds, such as the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (Cth), which requires investments involving the acquisition of at least a 10 percent interest in critical infrastructure (e.g. certain ports, water, gas and electricity assets) to be notified to the Department of Home Affairs for inclusion on a private register.

If yes, what is the administrative procedure?

A FDI subject to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) (FATA) will only need to be notified to the Treasurer if it is a "notifiable action". Whether an investment is notifiable depends on certain threshold tests. Where prior notification is required, the foreign person is required to lodge an online form containing information prescribed by FIRB. The type of information required to be included in a notice to FIRB includes details of the notifiable action, details of the entity taking the action and reasons why the proposed transaction is not contrary to Australia's national interest. An application for FIRB approval must be lodged in advance of any transaction taking place. Failure to obtain approval, if required, is an offence. It is common for transactions to be conditional on FIRB approval being obtained. Application fees for foreign investment notifications are charged by the Australian Government.

The Treasurer is required to make a decision within 30 days of receiving notice and notify the applicant of the outcome within a further 10-day period. It is not unusual for FIRB to invite an applicant to ask for one or more extensions of time to permit FIRB to consider an application. FIRB may also impose conditions on the transaction or business.

A different procedure applies to applications made to APRA.

FDI restrictions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

Have FDI restrictions temporarily been tightened?

The Australian Government announced significant changes to Australia’s FDI review framework to protect the national interest. Effective from 1 January 2021, any proposed acquisition by a foreign person of a direct interest (10 percent or more) in a national security business" will require approval, regardless of the value of the investment or the nature of the foreign investor. In addition, the Treasurer has a new power to "call in" and review certain investments by a foreign person believed to raise national security concerns, even if the action is not otherwise notifiable under the legislation.

The Treasurer’s "call-in" power is activated by a new class of ‘reviewable national security actions’. These are actions expected to grant or increase the direct or indirect control and influence of foreign persons in the banking and finance, communications, critical technology and information, data and cloud sectors (among others). The Treasurer also now has "last resort" powers to reassess certain foreign investments if subsequent national security risks emerge.

Belgium

FDI restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

Do FDI restrictions apply?

Apart from sector-specific regulations which sometimes require a licence and/or specific conditions for operation, and which may vary depending on whether the company is from the EU or not, only Flanders (Flemish region of Belgium) has a FDI screening mechanism.

If yes, which authority is responsible for the verification of an FDI?

The Flemish government.

If yes, are these general restrictions or industry/sector-specific restrictions?

The above-mentioned screening mechanism applies to all acts by virtue of which a foreign investor would control public authorities or related bodies.

If yes, do these restrictions apply to buyers from specific jurisdictions only?

No.

If yes, are these restrictions dependent on certain control thresholds being reached?

As soon as a foreign investor acquires control, i.e. the right or ability to exercise decisive influence on the appointment of the majority of the directors of the company or on the direction of the management of the company. Among other things, control is assumed to be irrefutable if someone holds the majority of voting rights in a company.

If yes, what is the administrative procedure?

The Flemish government can cancel or declare without effects decisions or acts of public authorities or related bodies that would allow foreign investors to control such public authorities or related bodies. This can only be decided when previous attempts to find an amicable solution have failed and when there is a threat of the strategic interests of Flanders.

FDI restrictions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

Have FDI restrictions temporarily been tightened?

No, but broadening the regime is currently on the agenda of the Flemish government.

China

FDI restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

Do FDI restrictions apply?

Yes. In general, FDI is directly or indirectly regulated by the several Chinese laws, i.e. Special Management Measures for the Market Entry of Foreign Investment (Negative List), Notice of the General Office of the State Council on Launching the Security Review System for Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (Notice 6) and Measures for the Security Review of Foreign Investment (Security Review Measures).

Regarding the FDI restriction, the Negative List stipulates the special management measures for the market entry of foreign investors, such as equity restriction and senior manager requirements. Foreign investors shall not invest in sectors in which FDI is prohibited under the Negative List. Sectors not included in the Negative List shall be managed according to the principle of equal treatment of domestic and foreign investment. For some sectors, such as culture, telecommunication and finance, foreign investors must meet not only the requirements stipulated in the Negative List, but also those requirements relating to the administrative approval, qualification requirements and national security, among others, which are provided in other laws and regulations. The Negative List will be updated by relevant authorities on a regular basis.

If yes, which authority is responsible for the verification of an FDI?

Ministry of Commerce is responsible for the review of the foreign investment fallen into the Negative list.

State Administration of Market Regulation is responsible for foreign invested entity registration and relevant business compliance regulation.

National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is responsible for foreign investment on project basis.

Foreign Investment Security Review Working Mechanism Office (Working Mechanism Office), which is part of the NDRC, is responsible for organizing, coordinating, and guiding the foreign investment security review when related to national security, such as investment in the defence industry or defence related industries as provided in the Security Review Measures.

Furthermore, according to Notice 6 above, a joint ministerial meeting is responsible for conducting national security reviews of foreign investments the regards to military industrial enterprises or military industry-related supporting enterprises, enterprises located near key and sensitive military facilities, and other entities relating to national defence. Same applies to foreign investments in key domestic enterprises in areas such as agriculture, energy and resources, infrastructure, transport, technology, assembly manufacturing, among others, whereby the foreign investors might acquire the actual controlling right thereof. Such joint ministerial meeting is led by the state council and organised by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and other relevant departments.

The content of foreign investment security review includes the impact of the foreign investment on the national security, the stable operation of national economy, the basic societal order and people’s living conditions and the R&D capacity for key technologies related to the national security.

If yes, are these general restrictions or industry/sector-specific restrictions?

Mainly industry/sector-specific, but some general restrictions apply, such as for foreign currency regulations and M&A of domestic entities etc.

If yes, do these restrictions apply to buyers from specific jurisdictions only?

No.

If yes, are these restrictions dependent on certain control thresholds being reached?

In general not, with a few exemptions.

If yes, what is the administrative procedure?

Filing approval application for the business listed in Negative List with Ministry of Commerce.

Filing registration for business set up.

Filing approval with NDRC for specific investment project.

Filing approval with Working Mechanism Office for national security related investment project. 

FDI restrictions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

Have FDI restrictions temporarily been tightened?

No.

Czech Republic

FDI restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

Do FDI restrictions apply?

As of 1 May 2021, new FDI Screening Act No. 34/2021 Coll. (FDI Screening Act) came into force, adapting the FDI Screening Regulation (EU) 2019/452. The FDI Screening Act imposes mandatory clearance of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) for non-EU FDI in certain strategic sectors, and screening of non-EU FDI that may threaten the security of the Czech Republic.

If yes, which authority is responsible for the verification of an FDI?

MIT. If the FDI may threaten internal or public order or security of the Czech Republic, the Government will be consulted.

If yes, are these general restrictions or industry/sector-specific restrictions?

There are general as well as sector-specific restrictions. FDI in particular sensitive sectors, such as military materials, certain dual-use equipment, critical infrastructures, and universal service are subject to a prior approval.

Otherwise, MIT may initiate a screening procedure if the FDI could affect internal or public order or security, either (i) upon consultation by the foreign investor, or (ii) within 5 years of the completion of the FDI if the foreign investor has not submitted a request for consultation under (i). The MIT will further initiate mandatory screening proceedings if (x) the foreign investor failed to request required prior approval for the FDI, or (y) after 5 years from the completion of the FDI, as defined in the previous sentence, it becomes apparent that the foreign investor has withheld information for which the screening proceedings under (ii) could otherwise have been initiated.

If yes, do these restrictions apply to buyers from specific jurisdictions only?

The restrictions apply to any FDI by a buyer who (i) is not an EU citizen; (ii) does not have registered office within the EU; or (iii) is directly or indirectly controlled by an entity/person under (i) or (ii).

If yes, are these restrictions dependent on certain control thresholds being reached?

Restrictions apply where there is "effective control of business", i.e. (i) ability of a foreign investor to directly or indirectly control at least 10 percent of the voting rights of a domestic company; (ii) the membership of the foreign investor or its related persons in the domestic companies' corporate bodies; (iii) the ability of the foreign investor to dispose of the domestic target's asset; or (iv) other form of control resulting in the ability of a foreign investor to gain access to information, systems or technologies that are important for internal or public order or security of the Czech Republic.

If yes, what is the administrative procedure?

The screening proceedings may be initiated either upon foreign investor's request or ex officio by the MIT (see above). If the sector-specific restrictions apply, the foreign investor must apply for a permission to proceed with the FDI. The foreign investor must provide the MIT with all information required for the screening. The MIT will decide generally within 90 days of the initiation of the screening process whether the FDI is to be permitted, permitted under further conditions, or refuse permission.

The MIT may open screening proceeding even 5 years after the FDI has been completed, with the possibility of retroactively restricting or annulling the investment. In order to obtain legal certainty, the foreign investor may submit an application to the MIT for the voluntary consultation regarding the FDI, while mandatory consultation only applies to certain domestic companies in the media sector. The MIT will inform the foreign investor of its decision within 45 days of receipt of the application. The decision may be either that the foreign investor may proceed with the FDI or that the FDI must be examined in the screening proceedings.

Significant fines of up to 2 percent of the total turnover or CZK 100 million (approx. EUR 3.9 million) may be imposed for non-compliance.

FDI restrictions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

Have FDI restrictions temporarily been tightened?

There is currently no official information about tightening the FDI restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the process of implementing the screening mechanism may be accelerated in view of the European Commission Guidance issued in late March 2020.

Denmark

FDI restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

Do FDI restrictions apply?

No. Denmark has no legislation that specifically regulate FDI other than a permit requirement for the acquisition of real estate (see below) and currently Denmark does not have any policies aimed to differentiate between domestic and foreign investors. There is, however, a broad political will to introduce restrictions on FDI and ownership of critical infrastructure by limiting the ability to acquire and resell such ownership and imposing conditions on the completion of such acquisitions, whilst balancing the protection of the services and sectors that are considered critical for securing the fundamental functions of the society and the need for FDI in Denmark. Nevertheless, no legislation has yet been introduced.

If yes, which authority is responsible for the verification of an FDI?

The only restriction on foreign ownership in Denmark is the requirement to obtain a permit from the Danish Ministry of Justice when purchasing real estate if the buyer is not domiciled in Denmark. However, the possibilities to obtain such permits are limited. 

EU and EFTA companies may purchase real estate in Denmark, without obtaining the permission of the Danish Ministry of Justice i. e.(i)the company has its head office or registered office in EU or an EFTA member state and (ii) the company has established or will establish subsidiaries or agencies or will provide services in Denmark.

If yes, are these general restrictions or industry/sector-specific restrictions? 

See above.

If yes, do these restrictions apply to buyers from specific jurisdictions only?

N/A

If yes, are these restrictions dependent on certain control thresholds being reached?

N/A

If yes, what is the administrative procedure?

N/A

FDI restrictions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

Have FDI restrictions temporarily been tightened?

No.

Finland

FDI restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

Do FDI restrictions apply?

Yes. 

If yes, which authority is responsible for the verification of an FDI?

The Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (MEAE).

If yes, are these general restrictions or industry/sector-specific restrictions? 

These are mainly industry/sector-specific. All acquisitions involving the defence and dual-use sectors always require prior approval by the MEAE (pre-closing application procedure). In addition, in the non-military sector, acquisitions of companies that are considered critical to securing vital functions of Finnish society are monitored (in practice, these are always submitted to the MEAE for advance approval).

If yes, do these restrictions apply to buyers from specific jurisdictions only?

The filing obligation concerning the defence and dual-use sectors apply to all acquisitions where the buyer is a non-Finnish entity (there's no difference between EU and non-EU countries).

In other sectors monitoring of transactions only applies to non-EU/ non-EFTA buyer.

If yes, are these restrictions dependent on certain control thresholds being reached?

The restrictions apply to all transactions through which a buyer acquires control of at least one tenth (10 percent), one third (33.33 percent) or half (50 percent) of the voting rights conferred by all shares in the company (covering also ownership arrangements where the voting power/decision-making authority is acquired indirectly).

In addition, the MEAE may also oblige the buyer to file an application or a notification regarding an increase of the buyer’s influence in the company that does not exceed the above-mentioned thresholds.

If yes, what is the administrative procedure?

There are no formal requirements for the application and notification submitted to MEAE. However, the Authority has drawn up instructions for preparing the application/notification. Please click here or here for further information. MEAE may request additional information from the buyer within the first three months after processing the submitted and complete application/notification. All applications/notifications are processed urgently, and the processing times vary case by case (depending on the complexity of the matter). A fee of EUR 5,000 will be charged for processing of each application/notification.

Have FDI restrictions temporarily been tightened?

France

FDI restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

Do FDI restrictions apply?

Yes. FDI are subject to authorisation if they involve activities (i) in the exercise of public authority, (ii) that could be harmful to public order, public security or the interests of national defence, or (iii) activities of research, production or marketing of arms, ammunition, explosives and biotechnology.

If yes, which authority is responsible for the verification of an FDI?

The French Minister of Economy and Finance (FMEF).

If yes, are these general restrictions or industry/sector-specific restrictions? 

Restrictions apply to the sensitive sectors listed exhaustively by the French Monetary and Financial Code (art. L. 151-3 and R. 151-3). This includes investments in activities (i)which may harm public order, public security or national defence interests, or (ii) are related to research, production or marketing of arms, ammunition, explosives and biotechnology.

If yes, do these restrictions apply to buyers from specific jurisdictions only?

In principle, restrictions apply to Restricted Investments (as defined below) by any foreign investor (defined as any foreign citizen, French citizen not having its tax residence in France and entities of foreign law or governed by French law but  controlled by one or more of the above persons or entities. In addition, any entity or individual that is part of a chain of control may also qualify as a Foreign Investor. However, the 25 percent threshold condition on Foreign Investments does not apply to EU and EFTA investors from countries that have concluded an administrative assistance agreement with France to prevent tax fraud and tax evasion).

If yes, are these restrictions dependent on certain control thresholds being reached?

Restricted Investment: Any action that would result (i) to the acquisition of control (control within the meaning of French Commercial Code) in a company governed by French law, (ii) a total or partial acquisition of a branch or business activity governed by French law, or (iii) in exceeding the threshold of 25 percent of the share capital or voting rights of a company governed by French law.

If yes, what is the administrative procedure?

Have FDI restrictions temporarily been tightened?

Yes. Since the EU Commission encourages the use of appropriate filtering tools by Member States and urges them to be vigilant in order to avoid the COVID-19 crisis leading to massive divestments of European companies and industries, especially in the health sector or predatory acquisitions in a context of significant falls in stock market valuations, on April 29, 2020 the FMEF has now announced two measures related to the control of Investment: (i) the biotechnology sector is now subject to control (ministerial decree of April 27, 2020), and (ii) the 25 percent threshold condition has been decreased to a 10 percent threshold condition, this measure shall come into force in the second semester of this year and shall end on 31 December 2020.

Germany

FDI restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

Do FDI restrictions apply?

Yes. To avoid a threat to the public order or security of Germany acquisitions of shares in or assets of domestic companies by a foreign buyer can be examined, restricted and prohibited on a case-by-case basis.

If yes, which authority is responsible for the verification of an FDI?

Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi) 

If yes, are these general restrictions or industry/sector-specific restrictions? 

There are general (cross-sector) as well as sector-specific restrictions. The latter are intended to prevent foreign investors from buying companies that are active in particularly sensitive sectors, such as manufacturers of war weapons or other military technology and security products in the IT industry.

If yes, do these restrictions apply to buyers from specific jurisdictions only?

The general (cross-sector) restrictions limit acquisitions by a non-EU/ non-EFTA buyer.

The sector-specific restrictions limit acquisitions from any foreign buyer.

If yes, are these restrictions dependent on certain control thresholds being reached?

The general (cross-sector) restrictions apply to all transactions through which a buyer directly or indirectly acquires control of at least 25 percent of the voting rights of a domestic company; provided, however, that this threshold is reduced to (i) 20 percent if the domestic company is active in the sectors of health, emerging technologies (e.g. satellite technology, artificial intelligence, drones, robotics), information technology-products, airlines, quantum computing or communications, smart-meter-gateways, agriculture and food or extraction of critical raw materials and (ii) 10 percent if the domestic company is active in particularly sensitive sectors (e.g. operators of critical infrastructures like energy, water, food, telecommunications, cloud computing, telematics, media, security related communication infrastructure or other particularly security-relevant services).

The sector-specific restrictions apply to all transactions through which a buyer directly or indirectly acquires control of at least 10 percent of the voting rights of a domestic company.

In order to avoid circumvention, a transaction may be reviewed ex officio by the BMWi if a so called "atypical acquisition of control" occurs. This relates to constellations in which the relevant thresholds are not reached, but there is a significant discrepancy between the voting rights under German corporate law acquired on the one hand and the influence granted to the buyer on the other hand. In other words, certain additional rights granted to the buyer "upgrade" the buyer’s shareholding. According to law, an atypical acquisitions of control is deemed if additional seats are granted in supervisory bodies or in the management, if veto rights are granted for strategic decisions, or if the buyer is entitled to the disclosure of company-related information concerning the essential security interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Furthermore, follow-up transactions can also trigger additional notification requirements. This is the case, for example, when as a result of the follow-up transaction the voting rights held by the buyer exceed certain thresholds which are particularly relevant under German corporate law (e.g. 25 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent or 75 percent).

If yes, what is the administrative procedure?

If the general (cross-sector) restrictions apply, the buyer has to notify the BMWi of the transaction if the domestic company is active in particularly sensitive sectors, otherwise the BMWi can open an examination proceeding, but is not obliged to do so. In order to obtain legal certainty as to the applicability of the general (cross-sector) restrictions, in the latter case the buyer may submit an application for approval. If the application is not rejected within 2 months (1st test phase) of receipt by the BMWi, the approval is deemed to have been granted. In case of the proceedings being opened (2nd test phase), the buyer must  provide the BMWi with all documents required for the examination. As soon as all necessary documents are available, the BMWi has a 4-month review period within which it can prohibit the transaction. In the 2nd test phase the transaction is not legally effective unless explicitly approved by the BMWi. The 2nd test phase may be extended by 3-month if the examination procedure presents particular difficulties of a factual or legal nature. It may be extended by a further month if the acquisition particularly affects the defence interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.

If the sector-specific restrictions apply, the buyer has to notify the BMWi of the transaction. If upon receipt of such notification the BMWi does not open the proceedings within 2 months (1st test phase) of receipt, the approval is deemed to have been granted. In case of the proceedings being opened (2nd test phase), the buyer must provide the BMWi with all documents required for the examination. As soon as all necessary documents are available, the BMWi has a 4-month review period within which it can prohibit the transaction. In the 2nd test phase the transaction is not legally effective unless explicitly approved by the BMWi. The 2nd test phase may be extended by 3-month if the examination procedure presents particular difficulties of a factual or legal nature. It may be extended by a further month if the acquisition particularly affects the defence interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Have FDI restrictions temporarily been tightened?

FDI restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

Do FDI restrictions apply?

Yes. FDI restrictions and a pre-screening control mechanism apply to all FDI made in sectors and industries that are important to national security. The rules of FDI control and the list of protected sectors and industries are defined primarily by the so called FDI Act. Please note that certain FDI restrictions also apply to the acquisition of agricultural and non-agricultural real estate by foreign persons.

If yes, which authority is responsible for the verification of an FDI?

The Minister of Interior (MI) is entitled to conduct the FDI control procedure and to either approve or prohibit an FDI falling within the scope of the FDI Act. Compliance with FDI regulations by foreign investors and economic operators are monitored by the Constitution Protection Office as a security intelligence agency.

If yes, are these general restrictions or industry/sector-specific restrictions? 

The FDI Act covers sectors and industries considered important to the national security. This includes traditionally important industries such as of production of arms and ammunition, military technology, dual-use items and intelligence equipment, as well as other strategic sectors such as financial services, certain public utilities and development and operation of electronic systems used by state and local authorities. In these protected sectors and industries, the FDI control system covers the establishment or acquisition of a domestic company or a branch, change of its registered business activities or acquisition of operational rights in respect to infrastructure, facilities and assets.

If yes, do these restrictions apply to buyers from specific jurisdictions only?

The FDI Act applies to foreign investors, i.e. (i) all non-EU / non- EFTA citizens, (ii) all non-EU / non-EFTA legal persons or other entities, and (iii) all legal persons or other entities in which a shareholder, falling within the scope of either (i) or (ii) above, has majority control as defined in the Hungarian Civil Code.

Special FDI-related restrictions apply to acquisitions of real estate by non-EU /non- EFTA citizens. Under the relevant laws, these buyers are (i) prohibited from acquiring agricultural land, and (ii) in case of the acquisition of non-agricultural real estate, are subject to an authorisation procedure by the competent government office.

If yes, are these restrictions dependent on certain control thresholds being reached?

If the FDI is carried out through establishing or acquiring a Hungarian company, the FDI Act applies only if the foreign investor (i) acquires more than 25 percent of the direct or indirect shares in the company (with the exception of listed companies, where the threshold is lowered to 10 percent) or (ii) acquires a controlling influence as defined by the Hungarian Civil Code. If more than one foreign investor has an interest in a non-publicly traded company, all foreign-owned shares shall be calculated together to determine whether the 25 percent control threshold has been reached.

If yes, what is the administrative procedure?

Foreign investors must notify the MI within 10 days of the execution of the underlying agreement or registration of the new activity. The notification shall be submitted along with the underlying agreement, a summary on past economic activities of the investors and details of ownership structure. The MI has 60 days to either approve or prohibit the FDI; this period may be extended by additional 60 days. In the course of the procedure, the MI examines whether the proposed FDI harms the national security interests. It is important to note that the approval is a preliminary condition for other merger control and sector- specific authority approvals as well as for exercise of shareholder rights in the company or conduct of planned business activities.

Yes. The Hungarian government extended the application of the existing pre-screening mechanism to EU / EFTA investors and, on 25 May 2020, introduced an additional FDI screening mechanism, which applies in parallel with the existing one established under the FDI Act. This additional FDI screening mechanism was originally effective only until 31 December 2020 but was subsequently extended to 31 December 2021. In the meantime, a new provision has been added to the existing rules which limits the scope of the FDI screening mechanism by exempting transactions between affiliated companies from FDI control.

Besides some similarities to the FDI Act in terms of structure and procedural rules, the new temporary FDI screening mechanism also shows several differences, making the new regulation go far beyond the scope of the FDI Act. The main differences in the new regulation are the following:

1. Compared to the FDI Act, which covers sectors important to the national security of Hungary, the temporary FDI screening mechanism applies to the sectors provided by the Regulation (EU) 2019/452 and also some other sectors, including, among others: energy, transport, water, health, food and agriculture, construction, communications, media, aerospace, defence, artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors, cybersecurity, quantum and nuclear technologies;
2. In terms of the investors covered, in addition to the foreign investors defined above, the investments valued at least HUF 350 million (approx. EUR 1 million) made by EU / EFTA citizens and companies are also caught up by the temporary screening mechanism in certain cases, i.e., if an EU / EFTA citizen or legal person acquires a majority influence in a strategic company by any of the following methods applied in relation to a strategic company: an acquisition of shares, an increase of capital, a merger or demerger, an issuance of convertible bonds or grant of a usufruct (a form usage rights) on the shares;
3. The temporary screening mechanism also extends (a) to cases when foreign investors reach the thresholds of 10 percent of the share or voting rights in a strategic company as a result of any of the transaction mentioned in paragraph (ii) above, provided that the total value of the investment is at least HUF 350 million (approx. EUR 1 million), and (b) to transactions by which the thresholds of 15 percent, 20 percent and 50 percent are exceeded regardless the value of the investment; and
4. From 22 April 2021, the temporary screening mechanism covers the higher education sector, therefore applying to Hungarian universities and colleges, which now qualify as strategic companies within the meaning of the FDI regulation.

Instead of the MI, the Minister of Innovation and Technology (MIT) must be notified of the transaction subject to the temporary FDI control within 10 days of the signing and prior to the conclusion, and the MIT is responsible to monitor the observance of the notification obligation. The confirmation of the MIT must be obtained for the transaction, otherwise, a substantial fine will be imposed on the foreign investor. Furthermore, the transaction is deemed to be null and void in such case and the foreign investor will not be able to exercise voting rights stemming from its ownership. If a transaction falls within the scope of both of the FDI Act and the new regulation, both MI and MIT shall be notified as the two regulations exist in parallel with each other.

Italy

FDI restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

Do FDI restrictions apply?

Yes. In 2012 a screening mechanism on FDI was established (so called "golden powers"). Under this mechanism the government may prohibit or restrict is entitled to raise its veto against FDI in particularly sensitive sectors, such as defence, national security, energy, telecommunications and transports.

If yes, which authority is responsible for the verification of an FDI?

The Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM)

If yes, are these general restrictions or industry/sector-specific restrictions? 

Until October 2019 the screening mechanism was limited to the following sectors: defence, national security, energy, telecommunications and transports. It was subsequently extended to the following sectors:

• critical infrastructures, whether physical or virtual, including energy, transport, water, health, communications, media, data processing or storage, aerospace, defence, electoral or financial infrastructure, and sensitive facilities, as well as land and real estate crucial for the use of such infrastructure; and
• critical technologies and dual use items, including artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors, cybersecurity, aerospace, defence, energy storage, quantum and nuclear technologies as well as nanotechnologies and biotechnologies.

If yes, do these restrictions apply to buyers from specific jurisdictions only?

If the target company operates in the defence sector or in the national security sector, these restrictions applies to any foreign buyer.

As far as other sectors (i.e., energy, transport, telecommunications, are concerned, the restrictions only apply to non-EU buyer.

If yes, are these restrictions dependent on certain control thresholds being reached?

If the FDI takes the form of a share purchase, in the defence and national security sectors the threshold triggering the obligation to notify the PCM are 3 percent (the buyer is required to repeat the notification when the following thresholds are reached: 5 percent, 10 percent, 15 percent, 20 percent, 25 percent and 50 percent).

In any other sector (i.e., energy, transport, telecommunications), the buyer is required to notify any share purchase resulting in the acquisition of control in a domestic company.

If yes, what is the administrative procedure?

The FDI must be notified to the PCM within the following 10 days. The PCM then has a 45days to veto or to impose specific regulations / conditions for the approval of the FDI. After the expiry of the 45-days period without government intervention, the golden powers shall be deemed to have not been exercised. However, until that time, the validity of the transaction is suspended and, in case of share purchases, the associated voting rights are suspended.

Have FDI restrictions temporarily been tightened?

Italian Government has temporarily tightened the golden powers mechanism, to avoid that domestic companies carrying out activities in strategic sectors may be the target of speculative transactions or may be purchased indiscriminately (and at "discount" prices) by foreign operators. The main amendments are the following:

• screening mechanism applies to all the sectors provided by EU Regulation 2019/452. Consequently, the Italian Government is entitled to intervene and exercise the golden powers in sectors which provide (i) supply of critical inputs (e.g. energy, raw materials and food), (ii) access to or the possibility of controlling sensitive information, including personal data and the freedom and pluralism of the media. In addition, now also outside the sectors of defence and national security, PCM must be notified in case of share purchase by EU buyers.
• the PCM must be notified until 31 December 2021 about (i) all actions which entail a change in the ownership, control or availability of strategic assets or a change of their intended use by companies operating in one of the five sectors identified in Art. 4 EU Regulation 2019/452, including the financial sector and the credit and insurance sector; and (ii) share purchase by foreign entity, including EU-based ones, by which the buyer obtains control in a domestic company holding strategic assets, (Art. 2359 Italian Civil Code and Legislative Decree no. 58/1998) or through which a non-EU entity reaches the thresholds of 10 percent of the share or voting rights, provided that the total value of the investment is at least EUR 1 Mio. Acquisitions by which the thresholds of 15 percent, 20 percent, 25 percent and 50 percent is exceeded are also subject to the notification requirements.

Netherlands

FDI restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic

Do FDI restrictions apply?

Although the UK does not currently have an implemented framework to regulate FDI, on 29 April 2021 the UK National Security and Investment Bill was granted Royal Assent and has therefore formally become law and is expected to be effective later this year.

Under current law, where transactions concern businesses or capabilities critical to UK interests, the UK Government may act to ensure that control remains within the UK. The key sources of such controls/powers are as follows:

Public Interest: The UK Government (acting via the Secretary of State) can intervene to review transactions under the UK's merger control legislation on grounds other than competition concerns, where considered necessary to protect the UK's public interests, and in such cases the nationality of a party can have greater relevance. The particular 'public interest grounds' are specified at s.58 of the Enterprise Act 2002 and these includes issues of national security (including public security), media plurality and financial stability.

Special public interests: The UK Government can also intervene where the relevant EU or UK merger control thresholds are not met but the relevant transaction raises special public interest considerations. These special public interests are narrowly defined and are limited to certain mergers in the newspaper and broadcasting sectors or mergers involving contractors or subcontractors who hold or receive confidential government information or material relating to defence. In addition, under s.13 of the Industry Act 1975, the Secretary of State may block an acquisition of an "important manufacturing undertaking" by a non-UK based entity, where this would be contrary to the interests of the UK.

Other public regulatory bodies: Certain sectors have regulators who must scrutinise and authorise certain transactions related to that sector. Without the required approvals, businesses within the scope of these regulations will not legally be able to undertake certain operations. This is unlikely to be applied to investments purely on the basis of the nationality of the investor, but it would still remain potentially relevant to investors generally. Examples of such bodies include Ofgem, the regulator of gas and electricity supply, Ofwat, the water regulator, Ofcom, the regulator of communications, the Office for Nuclear Regulation in respect of the nuclear industry and the Civil Aviation Authority in respect of aviation.

Transactions concerning the defence sector may also require approval from the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

If yes, which authority is responsible for the verification of an FDI?

N/A

If yes, are these general restrictions or industry/sector-specific restrictions? 

Certain industries critical to national security are more likely to be subject to the provisions concerning national interest. In June 2018, the UK Government amended the Enterprise Act to allow it to intervene in certain sectors at lower thresholds, where UK merger regulation might not otherwise be applicable. These sectors are: (i) goods and services with military or dual-use, (ii) computer hardware technologies, and (iii) quantum technologies. With such sectors, the turnover threshold has been reduced from GBP 70 million to GBP 1 million, and the share of market test (i.e. the requirement that there should be an increase in share of supply, where the share is 25 percent or more) has been removed. 

If yes, do these restrictions apply to buyers from specific jurisdictions only?

Restrictions apply equally to domestic and international investment globally, although certain states may be seen to present a higher threat to national security and therefore inform the extent to which intervention might be considered to be in the national interest.

The UK has introduced emergency legislation to add a public health emergency category to its list of public interest issues. This will allow the Government to intervene in transactions involving a variety of businesses critical to the UK's ability to combat public health emergencies and their effects, including companies involved in vaccine development, production of personal protective equipment and improving testing capacity.

On 29 April 2021, the UK National Security and Investment Bill (NSI Bill) was granted Royal Assent and formally became law. The NSI Bill is not yet in force but it is expected to become effective later this year. It would replace the regime under the Enterprise Act 2002 and allow the government to intervene in transactions on the grounds of national security. It will allow the UK Government to review and approve foreign investments and will capture qualifying transactions involving the acquisition of shares and assets. It is a standalone regime and separate from the UK merger control regime. 

Under the NSI Bill:

• Authority: The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (via a new Investment Security Unit) will be responsible for reviewing FDI transactions. The Secretary of State will also have the power to ‘call in’ any anticipated or completed deals (up to five years post-closing) that could result in a risk to national security.
• Sectors: Following a government consultation mandatory notification regime in January 2021 which refined and narrowed the scope of the 17 sensitive sectors; several changes were made to definitions and certain key sub-sectors were removed from the scope entirely, including government subcontractors and private electronic communications networks, services and associated facilities. The NSI Bill introduces a new mandatory notification regime for transactions in the 17 sensitive sectors.
  Businesses in these sectors will have to notify the Government of any transactions where one of the ‘trigger events’ set out in the Act occurs. This notably includes transactions where a person acquires more than 25 percent of the shareholding or voting rights in a relevant entity (although transactions involving the acquisition of lower shareholdings which result in a “material influence” over the target entity are also captured by the regime). There will also be a voluntary notification regime, where businesses can submit a notification of a “trigger event” if the transaction does not involve a mandatory sector but may still have a national security element. Transactions may also be “called in” for review by the Government where it reasonably suspects a risk to national security (regardless of whether such transaction is subject to the mandatory notification regime and has been notified or is subject to the voluntary notification regime).

The NSI Bill applies retroactively to any transactions or investments made from 12 November 2020 onwards. Any such transaction may be “called in” by the Government for review for up to five years after the commencement date of the NSI Bill (or 6 months where the Government has been made aware of the deal).

• Share/Voting rights: Another key change made was to the acquired share/voting rights “control” threshold which applies to transactions between entities in one of the 17 sensitive sectors. Originally this minimum threshold was set at 15 percent, however, following feedback from stakeholders this number was found to be too low and therefore onerous, the threshold was increased to 25 percent.
• Jurisdictions: The restrictions will apply to investors from all countries.
• Thresholds: The FDI restrictions will not be dependent on certain thresholds being met (unlike under the Enterprise Act). We can expect the regime to be effective in the Autumn 2021.