The TMT M&A game change: Are dealmakers ready to play? May 18, 2022 A few months into 2022, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sector is already setting the tone for an interesting year ahead, with some organizations making bold moves into the new and next. This is after a banner 2021 where the sector topped the tables in both value [...]
Watchdog opens investigation into emergency services radio network October 25, 2021 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announces they will be investigating the Motorola Airwave network, the infrastructure and service provider that enables the police, fire and emergency services to communicate securely with each other. The decision to launch a market investigation follows a consultation, opened in July 2021, which set out concerns about the impact [...]
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s £2.43bn Olink acquisition catches CMA’s eye February 2, 2024 The planned $3.1bn acquisition of Olink Holding by Thermo Fisher Scientific is being investigated by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority.
CMA hits firms with £100m in fines for making drugs unaffordable for the NHS July 29, 2021 Drug company Advanz, as well as two private equity firms, have been hit with fines of over £100m by the UK’s competition watchdog for hiking vital drug prices. The investigation found that Advanz pushed up prices for thyroid tablet packs, known as liothyronine tablets, more than tenfold. A pack would have cost just £20 in [...]
Hours after IPO, Universal Music faces competition inquiry September 22, 2021 Hours after its shares surged by more than a third on its trading debut, Universal Music and other major record labels have been threatened by an official investigation into their dominance of the music market. Government ministers have called on the UK’s competition watchdog to take the first step towards regulatory action and conduct a [...]
Petrol retailers could face fines if they fail to pass on fuel duty cuts to consumers May 19, 2022 Petrol retailers could be fined if they fail to pass on fuel duty cuts to customers, warned the Competition and Markets Authority.
Leaseholder victory: Countryside to remove ground rent doubling terms after CMA action September 15, 2021 Developer Countryside Properties has struck out terms meaning ground rents double every 10 to 15 years, after a watchdog’s instruction Leaseholders’ ground rents will stay at the amount charged when they first bought their home, following action by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Big Four developer has voluntarily given formal commitment to removing [...]
CMA backs Ofgem cuts to energy network returns August 11, 2021 The competition watchdog has today ruled in favour of Ofgem’s plans to slash returns for investors in the UK’s energy network. In its provisional ruling, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) knocked back the appeals of several of the country’s biggest energy suppliers, but acknowledged that the energy regulator had erred in some areas. It [...]
CMA says Sony’s $430m purchase of independent label AWAL raises competition concerns September 7, 2021 The UK’s competition watchdog has today said the US recording giant Sony’s purchase of independent record label AWAL could lead to worse terms for musicians. Sony bought the company, which represents artists such as Jungle, Banks, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Deadmaus for $430m back in May. At the time, the Competition and [...]
CMA to probe S&P Global’s £33bn takeover of IHS August 23, 2021 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has just announced the launch of an inquiry into S&P Global’s £33bn takeover of IHS Markit Ltd. The CMA gave notice today that it plans to investigate the anticipated merger between credit ratings giant S&P Global and IHS Markit. The deadline for its decision on whether the merger is [...]