2020-11-14 智邦网
编译 致远
11月11日,英国政府出台《国家安全与投资法案》,加强立法监管,阻止潜在敌对国家直接投资控制,加强对可能对国家安全构成威胁的兼并、重组和其他交易的审查和干预。
法律规范的17个国防与航空航天工业领域包括人工智能、机器人、军民两用、卫星与太空等技术,以及相关国防与关键供应商,提高政府对包括美国在内的任何国家的投资者采取应对措施的能力。
该法规赋予政府采取针对性强、适当的方法,严格审查、加强管控乃至最终阻止国家安全交易的权力。
法律对敏感资产和知识产权收购以及对公司的收购也明确了相关规定。
Britain moves to protect its defense industry from foreign influence
LONDON – Defense and space industries are among nearly twenty sectors named by the British government in the introduction of new legislation Nov. 11 aimed at tightening regulations allowing it to block potentially hostile direct foreign investment.
The government said the National Security and Investment Bill will strengthen its ability to investigate and intervene in mergers, acquisitions and other types of deals potentially posing a threat to British national security.
Artificial intelligence, robotics, military or dual-use technologies, satellite and space technologies, defense and critical suppliers to the government were among 17 industry sectors included in the new legislation.
The new powers allow the government to act against investors from any country, including the United States.
“Under the National Security and Investment Bill, the government will be taking a targeted, proportionate approach to ensure it can scrutinize, impose conditions on or, as a last resort, block a deal in any sector where there is an unacceptable risk to national security,” said the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy in a statement.
The acquisition of sensitive assets and intellectual property, as well as the acquisition of companies is covered by the legislation.
The government said the move brings British legislation into the 21st century.
Reporting of deals in the sectors covered by the legislation will be mandatory and companies could face heavy fines and the transactions made void if they fail to get approval from the Business department.
The Philippines has taken delivery of the first of 16 Polish-built S-70i Black Hawk transport helicopter it has on order, with another due to arrive in the next month.
Earlier this year the United States introduced mandatory notification requirements for transactions concerning specified types of businesses as part of a broader program of reform.
The Australian government have also introduced legislation requiring foreign investors to seek approval to acquire a direct interest in sensitive national security businesses.
The powers pending before parliament are similar to those already in place with allies like France, Germany and Italy, said the government.
Paul Everitt , the chief executive of the defense, aerospace and security lobby group ADS, welcomed the move but said it was important the government didn’t deter overseas investors.
“The government’s plans must strike an appropriate balance between putting protections in place and continuing to ensure the UK remains an attractive environment for international investment,” said Everitt.
Consultant Howard Wheeldon, of Wheeldon Strategic Advisory, also supported the government action, but he cautioned: “Does it [the legislation] have sufficient teeth? We certainly need to protect our specialist industry but we must also ensure and expect the playing field to be kept level.”
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