Austria

Austria

New approval regime on M&As

08 Dec 2011

An amendment of the Austrian Foreign Trade Act (in force since 08 December 2011) subjects the acquisition of 25 percent or more of a controlling interest by non-EU, non-EEA and non Swiss persons in an Austrian enterprise engaged in specific industries ("protected sectors") to review and approval by the Austrian Ministry of Economic Affairs. The list of protected industries includes not only the defense equipment industry, but, inter alia, also telecom, energy, water supply, hospitals, railway and road traffic as well as universities.

Type:
  • Entry and establishment (Approval and admission - other)
Industry:
  • Manufacturing (Other manufacturing)
  • Services (Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, Transportation and storage, Telecommunications, Education, Human health activities)
Inward FDI:
No
Outward FDI:
No
Sources: