Features
Special reporting on high-profile situations
How a tightening regulatory environment amidst increasing geopolitical risk may have affected outcome of aborted Zijin Gold/Allied Gold merger
The proposed C$5.5bn (US$3.9bn) acquisition of Canadian gold miner Allied Gold by China’s Zijin Gold has been terminated amidst reported security concerns about the target’s mining operations in Mali by China’s National Development and Reform […]
European Parliament’s softened corporate sustainability proposals receive mixed response amidst ongoing trilogue negotiations; outcome of policymaking process won’t hinge on lobbying pressure, say EU officials
Earlier this month, ExxonMobil’s senior management criticised Europe’s sustainability policies, going as far as threatening to exit the EU market if stricter regulations such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which woul… To […]
A “new normal”: how advisers and investors are navigating increasing regulatory and geopolitical uncertainty through stringent merger agreement clauses and data analysis
As M&A deals become more complex amid geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty, lawyers say new contractual safeguards such as “hell or high water” clauses, reverse break fees, and extended long-stop dates are now becoming the “new […]
Swiss banking sector critical of “one-size-fits-all” regulation as UBS and government signal willingness to engage in dialogue on current proposals
Following the 2023 collapse of Credit Suisse ─ one of Switzerland’s oldest financial institutions ─ and its government-brokered takeover by rival UBS, Swiss authorities have been striving to find ways to strengthen the regulatory framework […]
Aramco and ADNOC on different strategic paths as they strive to diversify beyond oil
As state-owned energy company Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) seeks to diversify its offering through prospective acquisitions within the chemical and gas sectors, Saudi peer Aramco is keeping its balance sheet and Vision 2030 […]
Creation of regional banking champion in the balance as EC warns EU governments against protectionist approach
The consolidation of Europe’s banking sector will be defined in the coming months as clashes play out between the European Commission (EC) and the governments of Italy and Spain regarding two controversial deals: Italian bank […]
US government’s new trade tariff policy will have greater impact on global M&A than antitrust enforcement, EU academics warn
In 2025, the number of M&A deals in the US, EU and globally could be influenced more by US president Donald Trump’s new trade policy than any changes in US or EU antitrust policy, EU academic experts […]
China’s new filing thresholds see quicker approvals for simplified cases as SAMR focuses its efforts on strategic sectors
On 26 January 2024, China’s State Council unveiled the long-awaited new merger notification thresholds, which were implemented by the country’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) with immediate effect. With the first quarter of enforc… […]
Pre-emptive rights clauses in “older” oil and gas contracts contain legal loophole, energy disputes sources say
As ExxonMobil and its joint venture (JV) partners in Guyana’s Stabroek block are engaged in ongoing International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration claims to confirm whether pre-emptive rights apply to Chevron’s US$53bn acquisition of Hess, […]
Consultation on details of Australia’s merger control reform expected to attract scrutiny from wide range of stakeholders
Last week, the Australian government announced sweeping regulatory changes which, it said, will make the country’s merger control process “faster, stronger, simpler, more targeted and more transparent”. While the changes outlined have been accepted b… […]
