After a period of slowdown due to increased interest rates and macroeconomic uncertainty, the second half of 2024 is poised for a strong resurgence in M&A activities. Staying up to date on the latest market trends and legal developments is critical. In this article, our Baker McKenzie lawyers share guidance on these anticipated regulatory challenges and their impact on M&A transactions, and provide direction for transaction parties on how to navigate such challenges successfully
The UK Government passed the long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (“Act”) on 24 May 2024. Some provisions of the Act take effect immediately (for example, new controls over foreign ownership of newspapers), but most provisions will enter into force in Autumn this year following the conclusion of a public consultation on important legislative guidance. The Act introduces radical new digital sector regulation – akin to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act – in addition to expanding the UK Competition & Markets Authority’s consumer protection powers and introducing significant reform of the UK competition regime.
In recent years, the investment policy landscape has become more complex as nations respond to national security threats, state development strategies and geopolitical risks. COVID-19 created a major economic shock worldwide, prompting some countries to take an even more stringent approach, with a focus on protecting the security of supply of inputs.
On 4 January 2023, the new UK subsidy control regime under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 came into force. This completes the overhaul of the UK’s approach to subsidies following Brexit and the UK’s decision to diverge from the EU’s State aid regime. The new rules will apply to subsidies granted by public authorities on or after 4 January 2023.
The Annual Compliance Conference begins next week and attracts over 6,000 in-house senior legal and compliance professionals from across the world. This leading compliance conference will be held across five weeks from 6 September – 6 October 2022. We will be virtually delivering our cutting-edge insights and guidance on key global compliance, investigations and ethics issues. Our global experts will provide practical insights and analysis on significant developments:
• anti-bribery
• corruption and economic crime
• customs and FTAs
• ESG, supply chain and product compliance
• antitrust and competition
• export controls, sanctions and foreign investment
Click here to view the full agenda and register your interest in joining us virtually at this must attend global compliance conference for senior in-house legal and compliance professionals.
Annual Compliance Conference
Our popular Annual Compliance Conference, which attracts over 6,000 in-house senior legal and compliance professionals from across the world, will be held across five weeks from 6 September – 6 October 2022. We will be virtually delivering our cutting-edge insights and guidance on key global compliance, investigations and ethics issues. Our global experts will provide practical insights and analysis on significant developments across:
– anti-bribery
– corruption and economic crime
– customs and FTAs
– ESG, supply chain and product compliance
– antitrust and competition
– export controls, sanctions and foreign investment
Click https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/insight/events/2022/10/annual-compliance-conference to register your interest in joining us virtually at this must attend global compliance conference for senior in-house legal and compliance professionals.
In this event, we will give you a comprehensive overview of the most important developments of the last year in German and European antitrust law. Please note that this event will be held in German only.
Baker McKenzie’s TMT Looking Ahead 2022 five-part series explores key themes, offers timely insights, and lays out recommendations for technology, media and telecommunication companies looking to navigate the latest industry developments. Topics covered include tech regulation and compliance, tech M&A, interactive entertainment, 5G and TMT as the driver of change.
The National Security and Investment Act came into force this week, completing the overhaul of the UK’s foreign investment rules and creating a standalone foreign investment screening regime. The new rules require businesses and investors to submit mandatory notifications for certain acquisitions of and investments in companies operating in 17 key sectors. The rules also grant the UK Government extensive powers to investigate and impose conditions on a wide range of transactions, including corporate investments as well as asset transactions, on national security grounds.
On 4 January 2022, the new UK foreign investment review regime under the National Security and Investment Act came into force, completing the overhaul of the UK’s foreign investment rules and commencing operation of a standalone foreign investment screening regime for the first time in the UK.