China Announces New M&A Panel
By: Ainsley Brown
Is China growing more hostile to foreign investment?
Many would answer the question with a resounding, YES, especially given the recent Cabinet announcement of a panel to review foreign mergers and acquisitions (M&A). However I think it’s all a matter of perspective – are the Chinese doing anything different than what the United States, Canada or the UK does?
The panel, a collaboration between the National Development and Reform Commission and Commerce Ministry, will review foreign acquisitions of local Chinese companies and will have a keen eye on the following sectors: defense, equipment manufacturing, energy, technology, agriculture, resources, infrastructure and transportation.
What do all these areas have in common?
What these areas represent for China, indeed for any nation, are strategic – national security, political, social, and economic – nodes that are in need (in the estimation of national leaders) of protection from foreign influence. The panel will therefore have the ability to block foreign takeovers that it deems to be a threat to China – economic stability, social order or the nation’s ability to research and develop key technologies.
Please don’t get me wrong, I am by no means a China apologist, I just see little difference between this panel and others set up by other governments.
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