Driving commercial and political engagement between Asia, the Middle East and Europe
Driving commercial and political engagement between Asia, the Middle East and Europe
Driving commercial and political engagement between Asia, the Middle East and Europe
Miriam Sapiro, Asia House Advisory Board member and Vice Chairman of SVC Public Affairs
As scrutiny on foreign investment into the US intensifies, Asia House Advisory Board member and Vice Chairman of SVC Public Affairs, Miriam Sapiro, says it is vital for private equity funds to carefully assess their own vulnerabilities and the political climate, and communicate clearly and effectively to key stakeholders.
Investors and private equity firms around the world have been alarmed by recent actions reportedly taken by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) on several transactions. As the US government body that reviews certain foreign investments for potential national security concerns, CFIUS has the power to recommend that the president block transactions, or even unwind transactions that have previously closed, as well as make their clearance conditional on meeting certain requirements. Below is our perspective on how CFIUS is handling a number of developments and how they may impact future M&A communications.
What’s happened?
Last August, President Trump signed into law the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (FIRRMA), which was the culmination of significant reform efforts and broadened the scope of activity subject to CFIUS review. Of particular interest to private equity firms that accept foreign investment, the US government now has the ability to review certain investments even if they do not result in foreign control — specifically transactions involving critical infrastructure, critical technologies or sensitive personal data.
A variety of factors are relevant, such as whether the foreign investor would have access to material, nonpublic technical information, membership or observer rights on the board of directors, or involvement — other than by voting shares — in substantive decision-making. FIRRMA, however, added a clarification that exempts indirect investment by a foreign investor that is a limited partner when certain criteria are met. The test includes whether the fund is managed exclusively by a US general partner, and whether any advisory board or committee on which the foreign person sits has the ability to control any of the fund’s investment decisions, or other decisions made by the fund or the general partner.
The Treasury Department, which runs the CFIUS process, is now writing the final rule to implement FIRRMA and expects to publish a draft this Fall, with the final regulations taking effect in February 2020. In the meantime, the Treasury has also created a “pilot programme” under FIRRMA that focuses on investments in the development of critical technology in 27 specific sectors, including the manufacturing of semiconductors and R&D in biotechnology. Such investments now require, for the first time, the mandatory filing of a declaration providing CFIUS with at least 45 days’ notice prior to closing.
While CFIUS applies to all foreign investment, whether from Canada or the United Kingdom, or from China or Russia, the key questions to ask are the same: does a proposed transaction pose a threat to US national security and, if so, can that threat be mitigated? The answers to these questions, of course, depend on a variety of factors. The analysis CFIUS undertakes is based not just on input from the government agencies that comprise the Committee — including the departments of Defense and Homeland Security — but also on information from members of the intelligence community. All relevant data is considered as CFIUS reviews the nature of a transaction, as well as the motives and behaviour of both the foreign investor and the government of the country where the investor is based.
Recent news regarding CFIUS’ concerns with three transactions that have closed, involving Cofense, Grindr and PatientsLikeMe, should be read with this context in mind. With Cofense, a cybersecurity firm, CFIUS had concerns with the stake owned by Pamplona Capital Management, which is backed by Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman. Concerns with Grindr and PatientsLikeMe revolve around a Chinese company obtaining access to sensitive personal data; while such data is not a new concern for CFIUS, FIRRMA makes it an explicit one.
CFIUS has also sent its strongest signal yet that it is serious about utilising its enforcement authorities. In April it posted, unpublicised, a notice that it had imposed a US$1 million penalty on a company last year for repeated breaches of a 2016 mitigation agreement with CFIUS. The government’s findings included the company’s “failure to establish requisite security policies and failure to provide adequate reports to CFIUS.”
What should private equity firms do?
As the CFIUS terrain becomes more complex, the stakes to get it right grow even higher. It is now vital for private equity funds to:
While much remains to be settled, it is clear that how investors position themselves and interact with CFIUS can help determine the outcome. SVC is ready to answer any questions you may have about the right strategic communications strategy and support you before, during and after a cross-border investment or transaction that may be subject to CFIUS review.
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