France Foreign Investment Control – New Rules Temporarily Applicable to non-EU/EEA Investments Enter Into Force Today

On July 23, 2020, the Government published a Decree no. 2020-892 and a Ministerial Order both of July 22, 2020 on the temporary lowering of the threshold triggering control of foreign investments in French listed companies.

The Decree aims to temporarily reduce the threshold triggering review of non-EU/EEA investments when targeting French listed companies in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.  As explained by the French Minister for the Economy, “[w]hile most foreign investment transactions are opportunities for French companies, the volatility of financial markets and the very sharp decline in the valuations of a large number of companies make them particularly vulnerable to potential unfriendly transactions, which calls for increased vigilance ».

Click here, to continue reading on the Cleary International Trade and Sanctions Watch blog.