Foreign takeovers have triggered increasing vigilance of the host governments, as foreign ownership is likely to be deemed as a potential threat to local employment, strategic assets, economic network, high-tech competitiveness, and national security. Consequently, various countries have imposed different degrees of restriction on foreign investors.

The disparity that lies in the national rules regarding foreign takeovers implies that while companies in some countries are well shielded against foreign buyers, the policy toolkits available to protect local companies are likely to remain empty in other countries. Hence, recent years have witnessed an escalating call for a more reciprocal environment for cross-border takeovers.

Against this background, this book aims to investigate how national legislative designs react to the foreign takeover-related concerns in China and the Netherlands and accordingly propose several recommendations that may contribute to promoting a level playing field.

As a timely refection upon the increasingly protectionist national markets, this book will be interesting and inspiring for practitioners, academics, and policymakers in China, the EU and even beyond.