Significant Changes to Australia’s Foreign Investment Regime Due to COVID-19

The Australian Government has announced changes to Australia’s Foreign Investment Regime due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Cissy Ma is informing existing and potential clients that her company, Grow and Sell Your Biz, is working hard for clients that may be impacted by these changes. Continue reading →

Brisbane, Queensland, Apr 18, 2020 /prREACH/ -- Cissy Ma, founder of Grow and Sell Your Biz, is informing existing and potential clients that there are significant changes to Australia's Foreign Investment Regime due to the COVID-19 pandemic, starting March 29, 2020.

More information can be found at https://www.growandsellyourbiz.com/

The Australian government recently announced new temporary changes that, as of March 29, 2020, have put a $nil threshold for foreign investments. The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) will extend timeframes for reviewing applications from 30 days to up to six months and will prioritize urgent applications for investments that protect and support Australian businesses and Australian jobs.

“This COVID-19 change has partially leveled the playing field between foreign investors. For Australian investors, this may provide a significant advantage in any mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and capital-raising transactions, given the potential timing advantages without the need for FIRB approval,” Ma explains.

The additional FIRB oversight is aimed at ensuring investments are not contrary to the national interest (including economic and national security) given the likely rise of opportunities to invest in distressed assets and the possibility of debt restructuring.

Ma added, “We have a number of live M&A and capital raising transactions for SME clients that may be impacted by these changes. We are currently working with them to ensure they obtain the necessary approvals for foreign investment or pivot their funding strategy if required.”

Certain exemptions are likely to still apply under the new rules, such as a 20% private acquisition threshold for non-land rich businesses. However, foreign investors with proposed investments in Australia can contact FIRB for further details.

Ma’s long list of credentials includes SheEO, Activator, Entrepreneur, Chair of CPA Committee, Philanthropist, International Speaker, APAC Women Mentor, and Business Coach. Her company, Grow and Sell Your Biz, is the one-stop-shop for growing and selling businesses. Ma and her team have worked on over $17BN in transactions in over 20 industries since 1996 and provide tailored advice on business growth, M&A, capital raising and transaction services.

For those interested in learning more about working with Cissy Ma, visit her personal website and the official company website.

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