TRADE-RELATED INVESTMENT MEASURES COVERED BY GATT
ARE THERE STRUCTURAL OR ARE PRIOR APPROVAL
GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS AND/OR PRE-NOTIFICATION
ON TAKEOVERS?
The government retains authority to No pre-notification or pre-approval The government retains the
screen all foreign takeovers of
"important" manufacturing
concerns.(4)
Under the Fair Trading Act of 1973,
the government may block any
takeover attempt, for antitrust or
other reasons, or if it determines
that the investment is not in the
public interest.(5)
Foreign investors sometimes face
difficulties in acquiring British
firms. Potential investors may find
themselves caught in bureaucratic
red tape. Mergers, takeover bids,
or substantial corporate acquisitions
may be referred for investigation
and may be blocked.(6)
In many recently privatized firms,
the government carefully monitors
and restricts investment for seven
years.(7)
The U.K. maintains a list of all
U.K. corporations indicating
whether a company is foreign or
domestically owned. This list is
available to the public.(8)
authority to screen all foreign
takeovers of "important"
manufacturing concerns.(9)
Under the Fair Trading Act of 1973,
the Government may block any
takeover attempt, for antitrust or
other reasons, or if it determines
that the investment is not in the
public interest.(10)
FOREIGN INVESTMENT BARRIERS