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Timing and complexity of cross-border acquisitions

This map ranks 49 jurisdictions according to the complexity and challenges of carrying out a cross-border acquisition involving that jurisdiction, based on the factors listed below.
offices
Australia 01
01 Australia
UK 02
02 UK
Canada 03
03 Canada
Singapore 04
04 Singapore
Ireland 05
05 Ireland
New Zealand 06
06 New Zealand
Hong Kong 07
07 Hong Kong
Denmark 08
08 Denmark
Finland 09
09 Finland
Sweden 10
10 Sweden
Norway 11
11 Norway
Switzerland 12
12 Switzerland
Luxembourg 13
13 Luxembourg
Belgium 14
14 Belgium
Israel 15
15 Israel
Netherlands 16
16 Netherlands
Qatar 17
17 Qatar
Germany 18
18 Germany
Bahrain 19
19 Bahrain
Peru 20
20 Peru
Spain 21
21 Spain
Colombia 22
22 Colombia
South Korea 23
23 South Korea
Austria 24
24 Austria
Chile 25
25 Chile
Hungary 27
27 Hungary
Italy 28
28 Italy
Taiwan 29
29 Taiwan
Malaysia 30
30 Malaysia
Mexico 31
31 Mexico
Czech Republic 32
32 Czech Republic
South Africa 33
33 South Africa
Philippines 34
34 Philippines
Poland 35
35 Poland
France 36
36 France
Turkey 37
37 Turkey
Thailand 38
38 Thailand
UAE 39
39 UAE
Brazil 40
40 Brazil
Egypt 41
41 Egypt
Argentina 42
42 Argentina
Saudi Arabia 43
43 Saudi Arabia
India 44
44 India
Vietnam 45
45 Vietnam
Ukraine 46
46 Ukraine
Indonesia 47
47 Indonesia
China 48
48 China
Russia 49
49 Russia
Band
1
Band
2
Band
3
Band
4
Band
5

Level of Complexity

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

1=Least Complex, 5=Most Complex

Level of Complexity

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

1=Least Complex, 5=Most Complex

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  • #
  • #
  • Country
    #
  • Country
    #
  • Australia
    1
    1
    1
    2
    2
    1.5
    1
  • UK
    2
    1
    1
    1
    1.5
    2
    2
  • Canada
    3
    1
    1
    2
    2
    2
    1.5
  • Singapore
    4
    1
    1.5
    2
    1
    2
    2
  • Ireland
    5
    1
    1
    2
    2
    2
    2
  • New Zealand
    6
    1
    1
    2
    2
    2
    2
  • Hong Kong
    7
    2
    2
    2
    1
    2
    2
  • Denmark
    8
    1.5
    2
    2
    2
    2
    2
  • Finland
    9
    2
    2
    2
    2
    2
    2
  • Sweden
    10
    2
    2
    2
    2
    2
    2
  • Norway
    11
    1.5
    2
    2
    3
    2
    2
  • Switzerland
    12
    2
    2
    2
    2
    2.5
    2
  • Luxembourg
    13
    2
    2
    1.5
    2
    3
    2
  • Belgium
    14
    2
    2
    2
    2
    3
    2
  • Israel
    15
    2
    2
    2
    2
    3
    2
  • Netherlands
    16
    2
    2
    2
    2
    3
    2
  • Qatar
    17
    3.5
    3.5
    2
    2
    3
  • Germany
    18
    2
    2
    2
    2
    4
    3
  • Bahrain
    19
    3.5
    3.5
    3
    2
    3
  • Peru
    20
    3
    3
    2
    2
    2
    3
  • Spain
    21
    2.5
    2
    2
    3
    3
    3
  • Colombia
    22
    2.5
    3
    2
    2
    3
    3
  • South Korea
    23
    2
    3
    3.5
    2
    3
    3
  • Austria
    24
    3
    3
    2
    2.5
    3
    2
  • Chile
    25
    3
    3
    2
    2
    3
    3
  • Japan
    26
    3
    3
    2
    2
    3
    3
  • Hungary
    27
    3
    3
    2.5
    2
    3
    3
  • Italy
    28
    3
    3
    2
    2
    4
    3
  • Taiwan
    29
    3
    3
    3
    3
    2.5
    3
  • Malaysia
    30
    3
    3
    3
    3
    3
    3
  • Mexico
    31
    3
    3
    2
    3
    3
    4
  • Czech Republic
    32
    3
    3
    2.5
    3.5
    3
    3
  • South Africa
    33
    3
    3
    4
    2.5
    3
    4
  • Philippines
    34
    3
    4
    4
    2
    3
    3
  • Poland
    35
    3
    3
    3
    4
    3
    3
  • France
    36
    3
    2.5
    3
    3
    5
    3
  • Turkey
    37
    4
    4
    3
    2
    3
    4
  • Thailand
    38
    3
    4
    4
    3
    3
    4
  • UAE
    39
    4
    4
    4
    3.5
    4
    4
  • Brazil
    40
    4
    4
    4
    4
    4
    4
  • Egypt
    41
    4
    4.5
    4
    3
    4
    5
  • Argentina
    42
    4
    4
    5
    4
    4
    4
  • Saudi Arabia
    43
    5
    4
    4.5
    3.5
    4
    5
  • India
    44
    4.5
    4
    5
    4
    4
    5
  • Vietnam
    45
    5
    4.5
    5
    5
    3
    4
  • Ukraine
    46
    5
    4
    5
    5
    4
    4
  • Indonesia
    47
    5
    5
    5
    4
    4
    4.5
  • China
    48
    5
    5
    5
    5
    4
    5
  • Russia
    49
    5
    5
    5
    5
    4
    5

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The leading cross-border firm

This map is designed to assist clients (US outbound buyers in particular) considering multijurisdictional M&A transactions by ranking the complexity and challenges of M&A transactions in 49 jurisdictions based on the following factors:

  • Overall assessment of speed and ease of closing
  • Fully globalized M&A culture vs local law dominant M&A culture
  • Foreign investment restrictions and exchange controls
  • Merger controls
  • Employment related notifications, approval and consulting requirements, pension and benefits
  • Permits and licensing

Each of the factors was assigned a ranking on a scale of 1 (least complex) to 5 (most complex). A weighted average of these individual rankings was then used to give each jurisdiction an overall ranking and a Band 1 - 5 placement. The map was developed by drawing upon the experience and expertise of Baker McKenzie’s elite global M&A practice. It reflects our actual experience leading thousands of cross-border and other complex international transactions.

Baker McKenzie is the leading cross-border M&A firm, and over the last 10 years has completed more cross-border transactions than any other law firm. With nearly 1,300 M&A lawyers in 77 offices globally, we have one of the largest and most active integrated M&A practices in the world.

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