The Corporate Finance Faculty organised a National Security and Investments Act launch event in December 2021. It was introduced by Michael Izza, ICAEW CEO and supported by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, the Law Society, the City of London Law Society, the Institute of Directors and the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

The National Security & Investment Act, which came into force on 4 January 2022, has had a significant implications for many M&A, private equity, infra investment, venture capital and capital markets transactions that involved UK businesses in a wide range of industrial sectors.

At this first public event about the new legislation – hosted by ICAEW – guest speaker Lord Callanan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, talked about its introduction.

The expert panel discussed practical measures that companies, investors and corporate advisers need to consider. This was a hybrid event, where attendees were able to join virtually via livestream or alternatively in person at Chartered Accountants’ Hall, Moorgate Place, London EC2R 6EA for networking, coffees and refreshments.

Programme

Welcome

• Michael Izza, Chief Executive, ICAEW

Key Note Speaker

• Lord Callanan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Q&A with Lord Callanan

• Lord Callanan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

• Moderator: David Petrie, Head of Corporate Finance, ICAEW (taking questions from attendees)

Expert Panel

• Moderator: David Petrie, Head of Corporate Finance, ICAEW
• Sam Bagot, Partner, Cleary Gottlieb; Member, Company Law Committee, City of London Law Society
• Roger Barker, Director of Policy & Corporate Governance, Institute of Directors (unable to attend)
• Dr Andy Sellars, Strategic Development Director, CSA Catapult
• Chris Blairs, Deputy Director of National Security Policy, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Fenton Burgin, Head of UK Advisory, Deloitte; member of the Board, Corporate Finance Faculty
• Selina Sagayam, Partner, Gibson Dunn; member of the Board, Corporate Finance Faculty

Closing

• David Petrie, Head of Corporate Finance, ICAEW