Fence crucial companies

Netherlands crackdown on acquisitions that harm the national interest.

The reason for the proposal is the multi-billionaire Carlos Slim who wanted to take over telecommunications company KPN in 2013. The Cabinet then looked helplessly and it ended up being a watchdog of KPN itself with a trick managed to thwart the takeover. For other industries, such as chemicals, Economic Affairs also examine whether additional regulation is needed there.

In recent years the unrest in politics rose on foreign parties who prey on the Dutch crown jewels. So the House climbed the barricades last year when PostNL threatened to be taken over by the Belgians. The government was urged to do more to stop the 'sale' of the Dutch business community. Ultimately, the acquisition fell through.