Government introduces national security screening for acquisitions and investments

Today, further guidance to help businesses understand their legal duties under the National Security and Investment  Act has been published.

From January 4 2022, the government will be able to scrutinise and intervene in certain acquisitions made by anyone, including businesses and investors, that could harm the UK’s national security.

The government will be able to impose certain conditions on an acquisition or, if necessary, unwind or block it - although the government expects to do this rarely and the vast majority of deals will be able to proceed without delay. 

Businesses and investors are encouraged to get ready for the changes and the guidance published today will help to ensure a smooth transition to the new rules.

The guidance helps businesses and investors to assess whether the government must be notified of an acquisition. Mandatory notification will apply across 17 sensitive areas of the economy, including Artificial Intelligence and Civil Nuclear

Companies also must understand what to expect when they submit a notification form and go through the NSI notification and assessment process.

This includes information on what parties can expect while their acquisition is being considered, such as requests for further information and when to expect final decisions on clearance

Business Minister Lord Callanan said: “The UK is world-renowned as an attractive place to invest, however we will not hesitate to intervene where necessary to protect our national security.  

“The new investment screening process will be simpler and quicker, giving investors and firms the certainty they need to do business, and I urge them to make sure they are ready for the changes before they come into force in January.”

The 17 sensitive areas of the economy are: 

• Advanced Materials 
• Advanced Robotics 
• Artificial Intelligence 
• Civil Nuclear 
• Communications 
• Computing Hardware 
• Critical Suppliers to Government 
• Cryptographic Authentication 
• Data Infrastructure 
• Defence 
• Energy 
• Military and Dual-Use 
• Quantum Technologies 
• Satellite and Space Technologies 
• Suppliers to the Emergency Services 
• Synthetic Biology 
• Transport