The Australian Government has announced temporary changes to its foreign investment review framework so as to protect the national interest. Key Highlights Monetary threshold for foreign investment applications will now be $0. Statutory deadline for application decisions extended from 30 days to up to 6 months (but with priority given…
Temporary Changes to the Australian Foreign Investment Framework Following the announcement by the Australian Government of temporary changes to its foreign investment review framework, the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) has released a Q&A, which may be found here. Recapping the announced changes All proposed foreign investments into Australia subject…
ASX has issued some helpful and pragmatic guidance in relation to continuous disclosure obligations in the COVID-19 environment. Key aspects of the guidance are: ASX recognises the challenges for listed companies in satisfying their disclosure obligations in this rapidly evolving and highly uncertain situation. The key issue remains that disclosure…
As COVID-19 continues to spread and market uncertainty surrounding it persists and intensifies, a number of ASX-listed companies have taken the unusual step of withdrawing, deferring payment of, or reducing, their previously announced dividends in order to preserve cash for the uncertain times ahead. Last week, for example, saw companies…
Healthcare and life sciences is a robust market. Though it’s not immune to the economic and geopolitical headwinds affecting all industries, its underlying strength will continue to promote dealmaking. Following a robust 2018, dealmaking activity in the sector softened in 2019. Our Global Transactions Forecast, compiled in collaboration with Oxford Economics,…
After successfully prosecuting the first penalty for gun-jumping in Australia earlier this year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recently released a publication warning merger parties of the gun-jumping risks when completing a merger or acquisition. The publication provide a straightforward outline of the relevant legislation and risks…
Our world has never been more connected – by technology, manufacturing, trade, supply chains, tourism and popular culture – and this unprecedented globalization has created enormous benefits for much of the world’s population as a result. At the same time, there are both public and private forces in Asia Pacific,…