Canada
The Canadian government continues to scrutinize foreign investments by state-owned enterprises and state-linked private investors, especially if from "non-likeminded" countries.
Now a full decade in publication, White & Case's 2025 Foreign Direct Investment Reviews continues to provide a comprehensive look at foreign direct investment (FDI) laws and regulations across various countries and regions worldwide.
In this edition, we continue to offer key datapoints that can help inform parties and their advisors as they evaluate the new set of challenges presented by FDI screening requirements in cross-border transactions that span multiple countries.
FDI screening is continuously evolving, in fact, maturing. It is imperative to stay on top of the FDI requirements as transactions—be it mergers and acquisitions, investments, public equity offerings, or financial restructurings—are negotiated. Understanding the challenges, the potential remedies that could be required for approval and the proper allocation of FDI risk are key ingredients in avoiding unpleasant surprises related to timing, certainty and business plan execution.
With a new administration in the United States, a renewed US commitment to open foreign investment from allied countries, increased EU FDI cooperation, and the new geo-political lines and balances that are being drawn, the dynamics around FDI screening will be a driving consideration in the selection of investors in cross-border transactions. We continue to believe that most cross-border transactions will be successfully consummated in 2025, but understanding the evolving risks around FDI considerations will be critical.
The Canadian government continues to scrutinize foreign investments by state-owned enterprises and state-linked private investors, especially if from "non-likeminded" countries.
Foreign direct investments, whether undertaken directly or indirectly, are generally allowed without restrictions or without the need to obtain prior authorization from an administrative agency.
In the US, most FDI deals are approved without mitigation, but the landscape is evolving based on a combination of expanded jurisdiction and authorities, mandatory filings applying in certain cases, enhanced focus on a broad array of national security considerations, increased rates of mitigation, further attention to monitoring, compliance and enforcement, and a substantially increased pursuit of non-notified transactions.
The European Commission continues to be a driver of FDI screening across the EU, with Member States now moving toward coordinated enforcement.
The wide scope, low trigger thresholds and extensive interpretation of the Austrian FDI regime require a thorough assessment and proactive planning of the M&A process.
The Belgian FDI screening regime entered into force in July 2023. Investors and authorities alike are still coming to grips with the regime and the limited guidelines that help parties navigate it.
In 2024, Bulgaria established an FDI screening mechanism. Foreign investors' obligation to file for investment clearance did not become effective in 2024, but this should change soon.
The Czech Foreign Investments Screening Act took effect in May 2021, establishing the rights and duties of foreign investors and setting screening requirements for Czech targets.
The scope of the Danish FDI regime is comprehensive, and requires a careful assessment of investments and agreements involving Danish companies.
Estonia's FDI screening mechanism closed its first effective year in 2024.
FDI deals are generally not blocked in Finland, but the government is able to monitor and, if necessary, restrict foreign investment.
French FDI screening continues to focus on foreign investments involving medical and biotech activities, food security activities or the treatment, storage and transmission of sensitive data. The nuclear ecosystem is subject to very close scrutiny.
Following numerous amendments over the past years, Germany's FDI review continued in full swing in 2024, with further significant updates expected in the coming years.
Hungarian FDI regulation stands as a rock amid global economic storms, although there were few major changes in 2024.
Ireland's Screening of Third Country Transactions Act entered into force on January 6, 2025.
Italy's "Golden Power Law" review more tan ten years old and continuously expanding its reach.
The law in Latvia provides for sectoral FDI regimes for specific corporate M&A, real estate dealings and gambling companies.
All investments concerning national security are under the scope of review in Lithuania.
The Luxembourg FDI screening regime is now a year old, and the first notification filings have been made.
Malta's FDI regime regulates specific transactions that must be notified to the authorities and may potentially be subject to screening.
The Middle East continues to welcome foreign investment, subject to licensing approvals and ownership thresholds for certain business sectors or in certain geographical zones.
The Netherlands is set to expand its investment screening regime by extending the general mechanism to more sectors and by introducing additional sector-specific regulations.
Norway's foreign direct investment regime is in the process of being expanded, with more profound changes expected in the future.
After revision of the Polish FDI regime in 2024, the way the authorities are assessing transactions is evolving.
In Portugal, transactions involving acquisition of control over strategic assets by entities residing outside the EU or the EEA may be subject to FDI screening.
While far-reaching in its scope, compared to other EU countries, the Romanian FDI regime is generally perceived as investor-friendly.
The year 2024 was not marked by any major changes in the sphere of regulation of foreign investments in Russia, and the regulator continues to implement the course taken earlier in 2023.
After two years of foreign investment regulation in Slovakia, a supportive climate for foreign investments remains.
Slovenia's updated FDI regime now extends to branch offices and introduces new challenges for foreign investors navigating critical sectors.
Since 2020, certain foreign direct investments are subject to scrutiny in Spain and, since then, additional formalities have been introduced, specifically by a developing FDI regulation that entered into force on September 1, 2023. The FDI analysis is becoming increasingly crucial in the context of investments in Spain.
In its second year of operation, the Swedish FDI Act has become a standard component of a large portion of all transactions involving Swedish companies.
Apart from limited sector-specific regulations, there is currently no general FDI regime in Switzerland. An FDI Act is expected to come into force in 2026 at the earliest.
Strengthening Türkiye's position as a key investment hub remains a government priority.
Foreign direct investment is permissible in the UAE, subject to applicable licensing and ownership conditions.
FDI in the UK is covered by the National Security and Investment Act 2021, and in 2024 the government continued to update information and guidelines concerning the legislation.
Australia's FDI regimes underwent some modifications in 2024, designed to streamline the process of carrying out investments.
China continues to optimize its foreign investment environment by reducing investment restrictions, opening up market access and lowering investment thresholds into listed companies.
FDI continues to be an area of focus for the Indian government, which has announced plans to attract further foreign investment into the country.
The Japanese government expands business sectors subject to Japan's FDI regime to secure stable supply chains and mitigate the risk of technology leakage and diversion of commercial technologies into military use.
The Republic of Korea continues to welcome foreign investment, offering enhanced incentive packages and easing regulations while heightening scrutiny over transactions involving strategic industrial.
New Zealand has recently seen a period of stabilization of the overseas investment regime. However, following the formation of the coalition government at the end of 2023, this government has proposed significant changes to the overseas investment rules for 2025, making it easier for overseas investors to acquire New Zealand assets.
Taiwan continues to promote FDI under a two-track screening mechanism for foreign and PRC investors.
Estonia's FDI screening mechanism closed its first effective year in 2024.
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Kevin Gerretz (Ellex Legal) authored this publication
On September 1, 2023, by virtue of the Foreign Investment Reliability Assessment Act (FIRAA) entering into force, an FDI screening mechanism was eventually established in Estonia. 2024 marked the first full effective year of the new FDI regime. While the number of filings remained modest for the first year—owing to a decrease in capital flows into Estonia and the difficult geopolitical situation in the region—the number of filings is expected to grow going forward.
The FIRAA applies to any direct or indirect acquisition of qualifying holding in, control over, or a part of a target undertaking by a foreign investor, including the undertaking's assets.
A qualifying holding is defined as holding at least 10 percent of shares, or at least 10 percent of votes; or giving significant influence over the management by other means.
Control is defined as holding the majority of votes represented by shares; the right to appoint or remove the majority of management members; control over the majority of votes pursuant to an agreement entered into with other shareholders; and exercise, or the power to exercise, dominant influence or control.
The term "foreign investor" within the meaning of the FIRAA includes a natural person who is a national of a third country (in case of dual-nationality, at least one nationality of a third country) or stateless; an undertaking (within the meaning of competition law) established under the laws of a third country; and any undertaking under the control of a natural person, or another undertaking specified as a foreign investor. "Third country" is defined as any non-EU country.
The FIRAA provides an exhaustive list of economic sectors and criteria to determine if the target will be subject to the mandatory FDI review process and approval.
The types of targets in scope include providers of vital services, such as suppliers of electricity, natural gas or liquid fuel; providers of data transmission services, payment services and cash circulation services; providers of district heating and water supply and sewage; and suppliers of medicinal products and food. Also included are all state-owned companies in which the state holds a qualifying holding; producers or suppliers of military or dual-use goods; providers of nationwide TV and radio services, newspapers, magazines and online or print news; railway infrastructure managers, certified operators of aerodromes, heliports and air navigation service providers; as well as operators of Estonian maritime ports that are a part of the trans-European transport network.
If the relevant transaction is subject to the FIRAA, the law provides for a process of review and approval of the foreign investment to determine whether the foreign investment may bring about negative effects on Estonian, or any other EU Member State's, security and public order with regard to the foreign investor's ownership, economic activities or financing, and the economic sector in which the target operates.
The FDI regime is mandatory and suspensory in nature, meaning that if the transaction is subject to review in accordance with the FIRAA, the foreign investor must file an application for review and the transaction is subject to a standstill obligation until the clearance has been issued by the competent authority, namely the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority.
The filing includes submission of an Estonian filing form and English Form B notification under the EU's Investment Screening Regulation, together with all relevant annexes, including transaction documents. Only upon submission of a complete filing, under the discretion of the competent authority, is the review process initiated and the clock starts running.
If the foreign investment would be otherwise blocked under the FIRAA, the authority may clear the foreign investment conditionally, whereby the foreign investor or the target is obligated to offer remedies to avoid risks to the security or public order of Estonia or any other EU Member State, including to divest a certain shareholding in the target or maintain existing service or supply agreements.
The authority may annul an earlier clearance after it has been issued on certain grounds, including where the investor does not comply with conditions specified in the decision (in case of a conditional clearance), or the investor has submitted false or misleading information or documents that constituted a decisive factor for the clearance. Upon annulment, the foreign investor or the target is required to immediately reverse the transaction by returning to the initial state of affairs to the maximum extent possible.
The process can take up to 180 calendar days from the date of submission of a complete application to the authority. By default, the authority is required to adopt a decision within 30 calendar days from the submission of a complete application.
The process may be extended once by up to 90 calendar days where this is necessary for the assessment of the foreign investment's impact, or another EU Member State, or the European Commission intends to provide comments on the foreign investment in accordance with the Investment Screening Regulation. Furthermore, where clearance can be given only conditionally, the authority may extend the above deadlines by up to 60 calendar days for discussions on remedies.
Where a transaction gives rise to the risk of being subject to FDI review and approval in Estonia, non-EU investors should consider filing the application with the authority at least 30 calendar days prior to the planned closing. It is important that all the required information is included in the filing, as incomplete filings do not start the clock.
For a foreign investment that risks having an adverse effect on the security and public order of either Estonia or another EU Member State, such as an investment into the defense sector or originating from a high-risk country, the time of filing an application should be brought further forward to account for the potential extension of the review process up to a total of 180 calendar days.
Foreign investors should be particularly mindful of a possible Estonian FDI filing whenever a target deals in dual-use or military goods and has activities or turnover in Estonia. Given the ambiguous wording of the Estonian FDI regulation, a filing in Estonia may be triggered where dual-use or military goods are produced, supplied or where technical assistance with respect to these goods is provided, in Estonia or into Estonia, including by a non-Estonian entity.
Looking ahead, the number of transactions caught by the regime is expected to increase, including as a result of the extended scope of the regime. Also, increased activity in the Estonian defense sector, where a number of ambitious start-ups have emerged and may seek foreign investments, may contribute to the number of FDI filings in Estonia.
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This article is prepared for the general information of interested persons. It is not, and does not attempt to be, comprehensive in nature. Due to the general nature of its content, it should not be regarded as legal advice.
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