Lobbying for Sensitive Transactions

Securing institutional dialogue for transactions exposed to the State factor

In certain acquisitions, restructurings or cross-border transactions, the success of the deal depends as much on its institutional coherence as on its legal or financial structuring.

Acquisition of a strategic asset, foreign investment, sensitive technology, critical infrastructure, defense-related operation or regulated sector: certain transactions require close interaction with public authorities.

In this context, lobbying for sensitive transactions does not fall within a traditional public affairs approach.

It consists in structuring a credible dialogue with public authorities in order to secure:

For more than twenty years, Relians has supported investors, industrial groups, investment banks and law firms facing issues relating to sovereignty, economic security and foreign investment screening.

A strategic approach to lobbying for sensitive transactions

In transactions exposed to State risk, public authorities do not assess only the regulatory or competition-related aspects of the project.

They also assess:

the credibility of the parties;
the stability of governance;
the transparency of the investor;
industrial and sovereignty-related issues;
the strategic consequences of the transaction;
the ability of the parties to preserve national interests.

Lobbying for sensitive transactions therefore consists in integrating the institutional factor as a direct component of the execution strategy.

Relians acts as a strategic and institutional advisory firm specializing in:

institutional dialogue for sensitive transactions;
foreign investment screening;
State risk;
sovereign-sensitive transactions;
transatlantic transactions;
situations involving high political or regulatory exposure.

Our services

Relians supports transactions requiring advanced institutional structuring, particularly in the defense, dual-use, critical infrastructure, sensitive technology and strategic industry sectors.

Our support may include:

strategic and institutional assessment;
State risk analysis;
FDI screening risk qualification;
institutional dialogue strategy;
mapping of public stakeholders;
preparation of discussions with public authorities;
support for senior executives;
structuring of institutional arguments;
coordination of sensitive sequences;
interest representation;
management of critical situations;
support for transactions exposed to CFIUS.

Our objective is to strengthen the predictability of the transaction and reduce the risk of administrative, political or sovereignty-related tensions.

Institutional dialogue at the heart of sensitive transactions

In strategic transactions, dialogue with public authorities often becomes an implicit condition of feasibility.

The objective is not only to obtain an administrative authorization. It is also to:

establish a relationship of trust;

anticipate public authorities’ expectations;

identify institutional sensitivities;

reduce misunderstandings;

preserve the credibility of the parties;

avoid political or administrative tensions.

In certain situations, poor institutional management can durably weaken a transaction that is otherwise legally sound.

Relians supports its clients in structuring a coherent and credible institutional trajectory throughout the deal.

Securing transactions subject to foreign investment screening

Transactions involving foreign investors in strategic sectors often require close dialogue with the administration.

In this context, Relians supports its clients in order to:

anticipate the expectations of public authorities;
prepare discussions with the competent authorities;
strengthen the credibility of the investor;
structure commitments;
preserve the transaction timetable;
secure the authorization process.

Our approach combines transaction execution logic, institutional understanding and mastery of sovereignty-related issues.

When should you call on Relians ?

Relians intervenes in particular when:

an acquisition involves a strategic asset;
a foreign investor is exposed to FDI screening;
the transaction presents political or sovereignty-related risk;
discussions with public authorities become sensitive;
the transaction timetable appears vulnerable;
the transaction involves critical technologies;
an institutional or parliamentary sequence must be prepared;
senior executives need support in their institutional interactions;
he institutional credibility of the project must be reinforced.

In these transactions, institutional anticipation often becomes a determining factor in execution.

Influence, interest representation and compliance

Certain transactions require structured interest representation actions within a transparent framework compliant with applicable rules.

Relians operates in compliance with the obligations of the French High Authority for Transparency in Public Life.

Our support may include:

preparation of institutional meetings;
organization of strategic discussions;
preparation of hearings;
support for senior executives;
coordination of sensitive public relations;
management of situations involving high media or political exposure.

This approach makes it possible to distinguish clearly between:

Examples of assignments

Relians regularly supports transactions in which institutional issues become central to deal execution.

In an acquisition involving a strategic asset exposed to foreign investment screening, our role may include:

In the defense, dual-use or technology sectors, our support also aims to:

Relians, institutional architect of strategic transactions

Relians supports transactions involving, in particular:

foreign investment screening;
CFIUS in the United States;
defense assets;
dual-use technologies;
critical infrastructure;
transatlantic transactions;
strategic or regulated sectors.

Our approach is based on a strong conviction:

in certain transactions, the State becomes a central variable of the deal.

The challenge is therefore to integrate the institutional factor from the earliest stages of the transaction in order to secure its execution.

Relians, our experts

Pascal DUPEYRAT

Strategic advisor specializing in international transactions involving strategic assets and foreign investment screening.

Expert in French FDI screening, CFIUS, strategic lobbying and Franco-American relations.

Jean-Christophe MARTIN

Expert in mergers and acquisitions, economic security, aerospace, space and defense.

Charles LUDOLPH

Expert in international negotiations, lobbying and the Franco-American environment.

Need institutional support for a sensitive transaction? ?

For more than twenty years, Relians has supported transactions exposed to sovereignty, economic security and foreign investment screening issues.

We intervene from the initial strategic analysis through to the conduct of institutional dialogue during critical execution phases.

Structure dialogue with public authorities
Secure a sensitive transaction
Anticipate State risk
Prepare a transaction exposed to French FDI screening
Speak with a sensitive transactions expert

— FAQ —
Lobbying for Sensitive Transactions

What is lobbying for sensitive transactions?

Lobbying for sensitive transactions consists in structuring the institutional dialogue of a transaction exposed to sovereignty, economic security or foreign investment screening issues in order to secure its execution.

In what situations does a transaction require institutional support?

Institutional support may become necessary when a transaction involves:

a foreign investor;
a strategic asset;
a sensitive technology;
a defense or dual-use sector;
critical infrastructure;
political or sovereignty-related risk.

What is the difference between lobbying and foreign investment screening?

Foreign investment screening is a regulatory authorization mechanism. Lobbying for sensitive transactions consists in structuring institutional dialogue and the public-facing strategy around the transaction in order to anticipate the authorities’ expectations and secure deal execution.

Why is institutional dialogue important in a sensitive transaction?

In certain transactions, public authorities assess not only the legal or financial aspects of the project, but also the credibility of the parties, sovereignty-related issues and the strategic impact of the transaction.

Institutional dialogue helps anticipate these issues and reduce the risk of blockage or administrative tensions.

Does Relians support international transactions?

Yes. Relians regularly supports transatlantic transactions and transactions involving foreign investment screening mechanisms in France or CFIUS in the United States.