UK Government Signals NSIA Reforms in Industrial Strategy

Ross Evans’ commentary was included in a Global Competition Review article on the UK government’s efforts to amend the definitions of the National Security and Investment Act’s mandatory notification sectors and the introduction of new exemptions as part of its ongoing drive to promote investment and growth.

Ross said that, for example, a “well-targeted” exemption for internal restructurings would significantly reduce the number of low-risk transactions notified without damaging the regime’s ability to screen the few transactions that could pose national security concerns.

“That would materially reduce the administrative burden for global businesses investing in the UK in the areas of the economy that the UK government seeks to develop under the Industrial Strategy,” he said. Ross added that other exemptions could be structured to exempt particular kinds of investment, certain targets, or investors with specified characteristics, or transactions which have a combination of those characteristics.