UK Government publishes proposals to tighten control over takeovers based on national security concerns

On 17 October 2017, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy published a Green Paper setting out proposals to give the
Government greater scope to intervene in takeovers that raise national security concerns. In the short-term, the proposals would give the Government the power to block the foreign takeover of smaller companies in the defence and technology sectors that would currently fall outside of its jurisdiction.

Longerterm, the consultation considers changes to the way in which foreign investment in certain sectors is reviewed, with proposals for greater “call-in”
powers under the current voluntary notification regime, or the introduction of a mandatory notification requirement.

Read our report on the proposals to tighten control over takeovers.