Restart game? EU approves Microsoft’s $69bn Activision bid weeks after UK rejected deal May 15, 2023 Microsoft’s $68.7bn bid for Activision Blizzard has been approved by EU regulators today, just weeks after the UK’s competition agency blocked the deal. The EU decided to approve the deal after remedies were put in place to address competition concerns, with the European Commission saying Microsoft offered 10-year free licensing deals to customers. “These licenses [...]
Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard bid would mean higher prices and less choice for gamers, CMA probe warns February 8, 2023 Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of gaming firm Activision Blizzard could result in higher prices, fewer choices or less innovation for UK gamers, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said. In the provisional findings of its five-month investigation into the 68.7 billion dollar (£56.7 billion) deal, the CMA said the merger could make Microsoft stronger, stifle [...]
Vodafone’s merger with Three is an open and shut case of a monopolistic power June 19, 2023 A merger between Vodafone and Three, two of the biggest telecoms companies in the UK will drive up prices for consumers and kill competition, writes Max von Thun
Blocking the Microsoft and Activision deal leaves gamers – and the UK – out in the cold May 19, 2023 On Monday, EU regulators approved Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, leaving the UK and US alone in their choice to stall the deal.
Government ‘will not hesitate’ to ensure retailers give drivers fair fuel prices December 23, 2022 Fuel retailers have been threatened with state intervention over prices by the business secretary, who urged companies “to take any steps necessary” to ensure affordable prices for drivers. In a letter to retailers on Thursday, Grant Shapps said the government “will not hesitate to act to ensure competition is healthy and consumers get a fair [...]
CMA provisionally clears cyber firm NortonLifeLock’s £7bn bid for Avast August 3, 2022 The competition regulator has provisionally cleared cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock's $8.6bn (£7.1bn) deal to snap up Avast.
The return of Virgin Trains: Can Richard Branson give Avanti a good kicking? May 23, 2024 Could Richard Branson's return to the West Coast Main Line finally get Avanti West Coast on the right track?
Open banking body appoints former Mastercard and Natwest exec to top job January 23, 2023 The body charged with overseeing the rollout of open banking in the UK has appointed a former Natwest and Mastercard executive as its new chair, City A.M. can exclusively reveal, as the regime moves into its next phase of implementation. Marion King, a former director of Payments at Natwest Group and president of Mastercard UK [...]
Inmarsat and Viasat £5.4bn merger paused until CMA wraps up probe August 9, 2022 The £5.4bn takeover of British satellite giant Inmarsat by US rival Viasat has been put on hold until the UK’s competition watchdog completes a probe into the merger. The Competition and Markets Authority today officially launched an inquiry into the merger, having invited onlookers for comment in late July. The regulator will have until 5 [...]
Vodafone’s merger with Three would help build the 5G network Britain needs July 24, 2023 Britain's connectivity issues are at risk of undermining the strength of our tech sector, writes Ed Vaizey.