Beyond COVID-19: Antitrust and competition

Global rules on foreign direct investment (FDI)

Cross-border acquisitions and investments increasingly trigger foreign direct investment (FDI) screening requirements.

Global | Publication | July 18, 2024

Australia: Liquidity management obligations for investment funds

In response to recent market volatility and disruption, operators of retail investment funds and their boards have been reminded of their governance and conduct obligations in light of potential liquidity risks. In addition, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has requested that responsible entities, as the operators of registered schemes (retail funds), assist the regulator with monitoring the situation by introducing notification measures.

Australia | Publication | August 05, 2020

Australia: Mergers involving firms in financial difficulty: Some practical tips

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic global impact. Current forecasts indicate that the global economy will contract during 2020 by more than the global financial crisis of 2008-09.

Australia | Publication | July 02, 2020

3M represented in federal price-gouging lawsuit

The lawsuit is related to counterfeiting and price-gouging on N95 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

United States | Press release - Business | June 18, 2020

Global: The COVID-19 crisis: EU Competition Policy response

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, European Union (EU) President Ursula von der Leyen has formed a team led by eight Commissioners to coordinate the EU response.

Global | Publication | May 14, 2020

Canada: Timely, or too soon? Competition Bureau releases guidance on “failing firm” claims in merger reviews

On April 29, in a rare decision based on the “failing firm” rationale, the Competition Bureau announced it would not challenge the acquisition of Total Metal Recovery (TMR) Inc. by American Iron & Metal Company Inc. (AIM), because TMR would have likely exited the market without the merger.

Canada | Publication | May 13, 2020

Global: EU relaxes antitrust restrictions in the food and agriculture sectors

On May 4, 2020, the European Union (EU) announced a package of measures to support the food and agriculture sector and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, including relaxing some antitrust rules on cooperation.

Global | Publication | May 11, 2020

US: Proposed COVID-19 legislation would pause merger activity

Representatives wrote to US House leadership requesting that the next stimulus bill include a moratorium on transactions that do not involve firms that are truly failing.

United States | Publication | May 06, 2020

Germany: To save competition: Rethinking exceptions to the ban on cartels

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis has disrupted the conditions for effective competition in several markets.

Global | Publication | May 06, 2020