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(Bloomberg) -- Europe is circling the wagons. Following reports of a U.S. offer to German biotech firm Curevac, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said authorities were scrutinizing one concrete attempt to purchase a German company involved in "medical production" and examining several others. Without taking the ultimate power of approving deals away from individual EU governments, the law sets up a bloc-wide "cooperation mechanism" for foreign direct investments. [Extracted from the article]

Germany's machine makers warned that concerns over investments from China into Europe's largest economy are at risk of being blown out of proportion. Germany has stepped up protectionist measures ever since China's Midea Group Co. swallowed robot maker Kuka AG in 2016. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Chancellor Angela Merkel's government plans to tighten restrictions on foreign takeovers amid growing concerns China is scooping up Germany's technology jewels. While Germany is trying to sidestep a trade conflict between the U.S. and China, its government is also under pressure to curtail Chinese inroads into Germany's industrial heartland. Germany has stepped up protectionist measures since the takeover of robot maker Kuka AG by China's Midea Group Co. in 2016. [Extracted from the article]

China policy is not about to soften under the incoming commission, according to a senior EU official with knowledge of trade issues. China is angry about the measures, but the EU will hold to its stance even as the economy staggers because it sees a risk China could ramp up exports subsidies even more, the official said. [Extracted from the article]

Deka, which represents some 9 million Daimler shares, is against granting BAIC or Geely a seat on the company's supervisory board due to potential conflict of interest. Daimler is exploring additional cooperation projects with Geely, former CEO Dieter Zetsche said at the company's annual general meeting in May and sought to allay concerns about potential conflicts with BAIC. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- China Courts Friends in Low Places to Gain Influence in Europe The regional government of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, followed with a mission to China in October. [Extracted from the article]

Chinese investment in German takeovers or in stakes in German companies plunged to $311 million during the period from almost $10 billion in the first half of 2018. German state-owned investment bank KfW agreed in July to temporarily acquire a 20 percent stake in 50Hertz Transmission GmbH, thwarting an attempted acquisition by a Chinese company. [Extracted from the article]

Rule lowers threshold for government review to 10% stake Germany has stepped up pressure for coordinated EU action since the takeover of robot maker Kuka AG by China's Midea Group Co. in 2016. [Extracted from the article]

Rule would lower threshold for government review to 10% stake AttributionTony Czuczka: editor primaryIain Rogers: editor secondaryBirgit Jennen: by reporterArne Delfs: by reporterBen Sills: editor responsible. [Extracted from the article]

Italy, Portugal among countries welcoming Chinese deals China isn't actively targeting investments in southern Europe as opposed to other regions, and the motivation is entirely economic, according to its diplomatic mission to the EU in Brussels. [Extracted from the article]

Germany plans to increase regulatory barriers to foreign investors by the end of the year, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said, making takeovers by Chinese companies more difficult. "We will examine takeovers more closely in the future when they affect central infrastructure", Altmaier said in a statement on Wednesday, a day after European Union negotiators agreed on tightened rules. "The EU initiative is an important step to protect our most sensitive German or European industrial sectors effectively against state-financed or state-driven strategic takeovers from third countries", Altmaier said. [Extracted from the article]

EU negotiators due to meet Nov. 20 in bid for deal on new law The law would create an alert mechanism for future foreign investments in Europe and a centralized database of ones that occur after the system enters in force without taking the ultimate power of approving deals away from individual EU governments. [Extracted from the article]

Merkel's Cabinet vetoes possible takeover of Leifeld Metal Chancellor Angela Merkel's government for the first time vetoed a possible Chinese takeover of a German company, signaling a toughening stance toward investments from the country. As part of the tougher approach, Merkel's government swooped in last week to nab a stake in one of the country's largest power-grid operators, thwarting an attempt by a Chinese firm to buy the holding. [Extracted from the article]

Merkel's government thwarts China with power grid purchase The country is also set to block the acquisition of an engineering company by investors from the world's second-largest economy in what would be the first outright ban by Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet, according to a government official. [Extracted from the article]