On 9 April 2025, the German political parties CDU/CSU and SPD published their coalition agreement1 for the upcoming 21st legislative period. The agreement still must be approved by the relevant party committees of CDU and...more
Our Public Takeover Report provides an overview of market trends and legal developments relating to public takeovers in Germany in 2024.
A quick glance at the takeover market -
With six delisting offers and one mandatory...more
Blick auf den Markt und die bedeutendsten Transaktionen -
Die Analyse öffentlicher Übernahmen im Jahr 2023 erscheint auf den ersten Blick wie eine Blaupause des Vorjahres. Die bereits 2022 festgestellten Trends bestätigten...more
3/18/2024
/ Acquisitions ,
Capital Markets ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Germany ,
Global Dealmaking ,
Global Market ,
Investment ,
Investors ,
Listing Rules ,
Mergers ,
Private Equity ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Stock Markets ,
Takeovers
The German takeover market is declining and has shown clear signs of having been affected by the current economic and geopolitical environment. The number of takeovers and the total offer volume have both fallen...more
6/20/2023
/ Acquisitions ,
Delisting ,
EU ,
Germany ,
Global Market ,
Investment ,
Mergers ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Shareholders ,
Stock Markets ,
Takeovers
The German Act on Due Diligence in Supply Chains (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz, "LkSG") came into force on 1 January 2023 and imposes new obligations for supply chain due diligence. In parallel, the European legal...more
In an unprecedented double-strike, the German government recently blocked two transactions pertaining to Chinese investments in German semiconductor facilities. Just two weeks before, the cabinet had already intervened...more
11/17/2022
/ Canada ,
CFIUS ,
China ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Germany ,
Investment ,
Investors ,
National Security ,
Prohibited Transactions ,
Semiconductors ,
UK
Overview of the German public M&A market in 2021 -
The overall boom in M&A in 2021 was confirmed in Germany's public M&A sector, with a total volume of EUR 67.3 billion. Despite being influenced mainly by several special...more
After several months of discussion, the German Parliament ("Bundestag") adopted the "Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains" (Supply Chain Due Diligence Act – "Act" or "LkSG") on 11 June 2021.1 The Act imposes, for...more
The latest amendment of the German FDI rules brings mandatory reviews for 16 additional "critical activities" – but also some welcomed clarifications. The amendment entered into force on May 1, 2021 and is applicable to all...more
Overview of the German public M&A market in 2020 -
While the COVID-19 pandemic also had an impact on the German takeover market in 2020 due to the mood of uncertainty that dominated stock market activity, it did not slow...more
On January 22, 2021, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has published the anticipated draft revision of the German Foreign Trade and Payments Ordinance to align the scope of review more closely with...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed most governments' views on the strategic relevance of the domestic healthcare sectors across the globe. Although the European Commission, and also the German government, have re-emphasized...more
6/3/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
EFTA ,
European Commission ,
Foreign Acquisitions ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Foreign Investment ,
Germany ,
Health Care Providers ,
Investment Controls ,
Medical Devices ,
Medical Research ,
National Security ,
National Security Review Proceedings ,
Non-EU Investors ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Vaccinations
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed most governments' views on the strategic relevance of the domestic healthcare sectors across the globe. Although the European Commission, and also the German government, have re-emphasized...more
5/19/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
EFTA ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Foreign Acquisitions ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Foreign Investment ,
Germany ,
Health Care Providers ,
Investment Controls ,
National Security ,
National Security Review Proceedings ,
Non-EU Investors ,
Proposed Legislation
On April 28, 2020, the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) published a draft for the 15th amendment to the Foreign Trade and Payments Ordinance (AWV). The changes are expected to be effective shortly after...more
On January 31, 2020, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) presented a draft law amending the Foreign Trade and Payments Act (AWG-E) and forwarded it to selected trade associations for their comments....more
2/13/2020
/ Acquisitions ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
EU ,
EU Screening Regulation ,
Foreign Acquisitions ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Foreign Investment ,
Germany ,
Merger Controls ,
Mergers ,
National Security ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Public Comment ,
Technology Sector ,
Trade Associations
Following consultations, the Government Commission on the German Corporate Governance Code (the "DCGK") adopted the new version of the Code on May 9, 2019 and published it on May 22, 2019 (new version of the DCGK (in...more
The European Council ("Council") greenlighted the regulation on the screening of foreign direct investments into the EU ("Regulation") at the beginning of March. Following its publication in the Official Journal on 21 March...more
Following completion of the Trilogue process, the three main EU institutions have agreed on a compromise for a new Regulation that gives the EU a largely procedural and coordinating function in connection with foreign direct...more
1/8/2019
/ CFIUS ,
Cooperation ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Foreign Investment ,
Harmonization Rules ,
Member State ,
National Security ,
National Security Review Proceedings ,
New Regulations ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Screening Procedures ,
Technology Sector