COVID-19 and government measures to fight it may significantly affect M&A transactions.

On March 16, 2020, President Emmanuel Macron announced the implementation of unprecedented and extendable quarantine measures in order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Following this announcement, a new bill came into force on March 24, 2020, the purpose of which is to declare a state of health emergency and authorize the government to implement measures to support sectors of the economy impacted by this crisis. While further details on the content of such measures are yet to be provided, this Client Alert outlines key points to consider when carrying out a M&A transaction in France within the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.