Episode #1: financial sponsors and the expanded scope of parental liability – 24 February 2021

The first podcast in our series focuses on the expanded concept of parental liability for antitrust breaches established in a recent European Court of Justice judgment and the implications this has for financial investors, even those who generally invest via indirect minority stakes.

In this episode, AFIG Partners Jonas Koponen, Annamaria Mangiaracina, Anna Mitchell and Associate Jennifer Willis discuss why this case raised interesting questions about parental liability. They examine the factors that lead the Court to find the financial investor liable for its portfolio company’s infringement, the risk of having personal links between the financial investor and its board nominees and the increased importance of taking a more hands-on approach to antitrust compliance of portfolio companies.

Episode #2: How does the UK’s new foreign investment regime impact financial investors? 18 March 2021

The second episode in our funds and financial sponsors antitrust and foreign investment podcast focuses on the UK’s proposed new foreign investment regime, with a deep dive into how the National Security & Investment Bill will apply to acquisitions and investments by financial investors.

In this episode, Anna Mitchell, Verity Egerton-Doyle and Jennifer Willis from the AFIG team discuss with Clare Baker from our Investment Funds group the key points investors and funds need to know about the UK's new and extremely wide-ranging foreign investment regime under the National Security & Investment Bill and how investment activity might be caught by the proposed rules. Given the radical change to scrutinising investments in the UK brought about by the Bill and serious penalties for non-compliance with the mandatory regime, make sure you tune in to this episode to get up to speed on what you need to know about the NSI regime when investing in the UK.

Episode #3: Joe Biden’s administration and its impact on antitrust enforcement – 8 April 2021

The third episode in our funds and financial sponsors antitrust and foreign investment podcast focuses on how Joe Biden’s new administration will shape US antitrust enforcement and foreign investment control in the coming years.

In this episode, London AFIG Partner Anna Mitchell is joined by Antonia Sherman and Jon Gafni from our US AFIG team and Karolis Pocius from our Brussels AFIG team to explore what policy and legislative changes we might expect from Joe Biden’s administration and what effect the new agenda will have on antitrust and foreign investment. Our experts also discuss how these changes might impact the way financial investors, PE investors and funds do US deals in the future. Tune in to stay on top of these developments and be well-prepared for the next four years of Biden’s antitrust policy.

Episode #4: Implications of Covid-19 on M&A in Private Equity – 25 May 2021

The fourth episode in our funds and financial sponsors antitrust and foreign investment podcast focuses on the impact of Covid-19 on Private Equity M&A, with a particular focus on merger control and foreign investment filing requirements in the UK and the EU.

In this episode, Anna Mitchell, Nick Peristerakis and Jennifer Willis from our Antitrust & Foreign Investment team discuss with Chris Boycott from our Financial Sponsors practice the implications of the pandemic on private equity deals and the new opportunities presented by the post-pandemic economic landscape. Tune in to stay on top of these recent developments and the important issues that private equity investors should currently be aware of.

Look out for the final episode in our Antirust financial sponsors mini-series which will be launched soon!

Episode #5: Recent Developments in Asia – 21 July 2021

The fifth and final episode in our funds and financial sponsors antitrust and foreign investment podcast mini-series focuses on recent developments in Asia, with a deep dive into VIE structures, increased enforcement of SAMR in the tech sector and the more proactive approach taken by regulators across the region.

In this episode, Anna Mitchell, Xi Liao and Marcus Pollard from our Antitrust & Foreign Investment team discuss the differences between the more established antitrust systems and the newcomers on the scene, and what issues are currently on their radar. Tune in to stay on top of these recent developments and the important issues that private equity investors should currently be aware of.