A handful of large deals struck early in the year provided a few bright spots for Italian M&A activity in H1 2020

We highlight the key European M&A trends in the first half of 2020, and provide our insights into the outlook for M&A moving forward.

Financial Institutions M&A sector trends: Specialty finance/marketplace Lending — H1 2020 and outlook for H2 2020

Financial Institutions M&A sector trends: Consumer finance — H1 2020 and outlook for H2 2020

Financial Institutions M&A sector trends: Brokers/corporate finance — H1 2020 and outlook for H2 2020

Financial Institutions M&A sector trends: Stock exchanges/clearing houses/trading venues — H1 2020 and outlook for H2 2020

Financial Institutions M&A sector trends: Payments — H1 2020 and outlook for H2 2020

The global mining & metals industry began the new decade on a positive note. But as the global economy is struck by the unprecedented force of the coronavirus pandemic, how is the sector positioned for life post-COVID-19?

Financial Institutions M&A sector trends: Asset/wealth management — H1 2020 and outlook for H2 2020

Financial Institutions M&A sector trends: Fintech — H1 2020 and outlook for H2 2020

Financial Institutions M&A sector trends: Banks — H1 2020 and outlook for H2 2020

French M&A activity has suffered steep falls because of COVID-19, but green shoots are emerging as lockdown measures ease

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.

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.

The Luxembourg FDI screening regime is now a year old, and the first notification filings have been made.

Ireland’s Screening of Third Country Transactions Act entered into force on January 6, 2025.

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.

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.

Now into its second year of operation, the UK's National Security and Investment Act 2021 has become a standard feature of UK transactions for both foreign and domestic investors in certain sensitive sectors.

The Netherlands, complementing its existing sector-specific regulations, has introduced a general investment screening mechanism to enhance the protection of its national security across a broader range of sectors.

In 2023, Luxembourg adopted a national screening mechanism for foreign direct investments.

Ireland is expected to enact its FDI screening legislation in 2024.

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.

The Belgian FDI screening regime entered into force in July 2023. In its early days, investors and authorities alike are coming to grips with the new regime and the guidelines that help parties navigate it.

The European Commission continues to be a driver of FDI screening across the EU, with Member States now moving toward coordinated enforcement.