Mandatory or voluntary notification

Mandatory notifications are required for acquisitions of a qualifying entity. For acquisition of an asset (IP) notifications are voluntary. However, if the government reasonably suspects it may give rise to a national security risk it may still be called in for scrutiny.

Submitting a voluntary notification avoids the risk of proceeding with an acquisition that might be later called in and potentially blocked or reversed.

The areas of the economy which require a mandatory notification and should be considered for voluntary notifications too are:

  • Advanced Materials
  • Advanced Robotics
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Civil Nuclear
  • Communications
  • Computing Hardware
  • Critical Suppliers to Government
  • Cryptographic Authentication
  • Data Infrastructure
  • Defence
  • Energy
  • Military and Dual-Use
  • Quantum Technologies
  • Satellite and Space Technologies
  • Suppliers to the Emergency Services
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Transport.

For further information about the scope of each of the above areas please see the UK government webpage here.

Back to: Legal & Governance