2021 saw the global pandemic roll on, and so too did global M&A activity with expanding foreign investment regimes and increasing merger control enforcement continuing to be a determining factor in deal execution. 2022 looks to be another year of high activity levels with authorities set to up their enforcement efforts and apply new tools. The new UK NSI Act is now in force, the European Commission looks set to “call-in” problematic transactions and the US administration has announced their intent to increase antitrust scrutiny (to name a few). 

We have taken an in-depth look at six themes that deal makers will increasingly need to have regard to in the coming year. The outlook for 2022 sees new policies, new regulations, and new regimes right across the globe. Each of these brings new risks that financial sponsors (and others) will need to develop strategies for throughout the process of any transaction.