Knowledge | ARQIS Foreign Law Office

FDI and Merger Control in Japan

Quick Guide

This quick guide provides an overview of the required filings for foreign investors investing in Japan under the national security and competition laws and regulations.

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Information Exchange under EU Competition Rules

Quick Guide

This quick guide provides a concise summary of the EU’s stance on information exchange, which is relevant to Japanese companies operating in the EU, as well as EU-based companies operating in Japan, since even interactions abroad may affect competition within the EU internal market.

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EU Merger Control for Japanese Companies

Quick Guide

This quick guide provides an overview of the simplified EU merger control regulation, by explaining the meaning of “EU merger control” and how it is relevant for Japanese companies.

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Recent Trends in Renewable Energy in Japan: Hydrogen Energy

Quick Guide

In 2023, Japan made certain important amendment to its policy regarding hydrogen energy. This quick guide provides an overview of the amendment.

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Setting up Business in Japan

Quick Guide

Japan continues to attract the interest of foreign investors. Japanese law provides for a broad variety of legal types of investment, the most prevalent whereof are described in this quick guide.

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Offshore Wind Power Generation in Japan; current development

Newsletter

The recent major developments in offshore wind power generation in 2023, in particular the regulatory updates and the circumstances of new and potential projects are summarized in this newsletter.

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Expansion of the Scope of Business Categories subject to BOJ Prior Notification Filing

Newsflash

From May 2023 onwards, the scope of foreign investors’ mandatory prior notification to the competent authorities has been further expanded by newly added core business sectors subject to the notification.

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Stricter policies, safer data – Amendments to Japan’s Act on the Protection of Personal Information come into force

Newsletter

Amendments to Japan’s data protection rules significantly alter the landscape for companies that collect data from their customers, business partners, or anyone else they interact with.

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Data Protection: “We expect increased awareness”

Interview

Dr. Tobias Schiebe and Daniel Schwarz spoke to Asia Bridge, the largest German-language publication on Asian markets, about changes to the Japanese data protection laws.

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Stricter Road Safety Rules in Japan: Mandatory Alcohol Check for Employees

Newsletter

The Safe Driving Manager of a company making use of vehicles by its employees faces a series of a new duties in relation to controlling and confirming the alcohol level of drivers using vehicles for business.

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From Human Rights to the Environment: How the German legislator regulates global supply chains

Article

Dr. Carmen Appenzeller and Ulrich Kirchhoff write on the German Supply Chain Act and its effects for Japan-based companies in the AHK Japan’s publication Japanmarkt.

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Restructuring Human Resources

Quick Guide

This quick guide provides an overview of the measures available for restructuring human resources, such as revision of salary schemes, compensation conditions, and explains the appropriate redundancy proceedings or dismissals.

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Workplace Harassment

Newsletter

The Anti-Harassment Act now applies to all employers in Japan. Cultural and linguistic misunderstandings increase the risk of harassment claims for foreign companies in Japan.

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German FDI Screening

Newsletter

Following the global trend of tightening the oversight of foreign direct investment (“FDI”), the German government has stepped stepped up its FDI screening and increased sanctions.

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Assertion of Monetary Claims

Quick Guide

This quick guide describes the most common court procedures for claim assertion in Japan to help foreign investors understand how to enforce their rights.

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German Supply Chain Act

Newsletter

New compliance obligations under German law to prevent human rights and certain environmental risks along the entire value chain will also impact Japan-based companies.

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Re-Employment after Retirement Age

Newsletter

Since 1 April 2021, a legal amendment has been effective which seeks to promote further employment of elderly employees until the age of 70.

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Amendments to Japanese Rules on Renewable Energy

Newsletter

Renewable energy operators should pay attention to the new rules on feed-in premiums, infrastructure charges, disposal of solar power facilities, and inoperative plants.

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BOJ Filing and FDI Category Expansion

Newsletter

Since 2020, foreign investors face significantly more mandatory prior-notification obligations to the competent governmental authorities through the Bank of Japan (BOJ).

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Notification Obligations for Investors in Listed Companies

Newsletter

Foreign investors must observe various reporting obligations when making equity investments in a public Japanese stock corporation.

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Overtime

Newsletter

Overtime is one of the most sensitive topics in Japanese labor relations, and overtime-related investigations by the competent authorities are expected to increase.

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Corporate Governance Structures for Japanese Stock Corporations

Newsletter

A Japanese stock corporation can be governed by one of three alternative governance schemes: (1.) a company with a board of statutory auditors; (2.) a committee-type company; and (3.) a company with audit and supervisory Committee.

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Work Style Reform

Newsletter

The reform aims at reducing excessive overtime hours of employees in order to prevent stress-induced illnesses and nourish a more balanced work-life culture.

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Low-Performer: How to separate?

Article

Rie Taiko (TMI Associates) and Dr. Tobias Schiebe write in the AHK Japan’s publication Japanmarkt about Japanese employment protection law.

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