Persimmon and Aviva agree to make leasehold payments fairer for homeowners after CMA probe June 23, 2021 Following an investigation by the UK’s markets watchdog, housebuilder Persimmon and financial services group Aviva have agreed to overhaul their leasehold contracts to make payments fairer for homeowners. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into Persimonn’s leaseholds pushed the housebuilder to cap the price of freehold at £2,000 in its Right to Buy scheme [...]
INEOS boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe brands CMA ‘increasingly hostile to business’ after $1bn deal snub July 4, 2023 INEOS chair Sir Jim Ratcliffe has lashed out at Britain’s competition watchdog for being “increasingly hostile” to business – after it blocked a $1bn deal involving his firm. The business titan who founded the private chemicals giant made his comments after the Competition and Markets Authority prevented INEOS’ acquisition of Sika AG, a concrete additives [...]
Unilever probed over ‘greenwashing’ concerns – and use of green leaves December 12, 2023 Unilever are under the microscope over 'greenwashing' accusations - with criticism over their use of 'green leaves'
CMA: Hitachi takeover of Thales’ rail signalling unit won’t impact London Tube projects August 23, 2023 Hitachi’s £1.4bn takeover of Thales’ rail signalling business won’t impact competition in the market for supplying signalling systems for the London Underground, the UK’s antitrust agency said today. The proposed deal led the Competition and Markets Authority to raise competition concerns back in December, as Hitachi and Thales are two of the main suppliers of [...]
Nationwide’s £2.9bn swoop on Virgin Money gets go-ahead from CMA July 19, 2024 A tie-up between Nationwide and Virgin Money has got the greenlight from the competition watchdog today, paving the way for the £2.9bn deal to close in the final quarter of this year.
Pennon mega-deal for Sutton and East Surrey Water facing competition probe March 7, 2024 Pennon paid £89m in equity but the total enterprise deal was worth £380m
Anti-virus firm Norton taken to court amid competition investigation March 23, 2021 The UK competition watchdog is taking anti-virus software firm Norton to court after it refused to provide information relating to an ongoing investigation. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has identified concerns that Norton’s practices for automatically renewing contracts result in customers paying for services they no longer want or need. It asked the company [...]
Competition watchdog set to block £140m Seedrs and Crowdcube merger March 24, 2021 The competition watchdog has provisionally blocked the planned £140m merger between Seedrs and Crowdcube over concerns it would lead to less choice and higher fees. The two crowdfunding platforms announced plans to merge in October, saying the deal would create one of the world’s largest private equity marketplaces. But following an in-depth investigation, the Competition [...]
Tesco, M&S and Primark among brands hesitant to make some green claims over greenwashing action May 24, 2024 Big retail brands are hesitant to make green claims despite the majority embracing sustainable practices over fears of being hit with greenwashing action
Facebook’s Giphy takeover could harm Gif supply, watchdog warns March 25, 2021 The competition watchdog has given Facebook and Giphy five working days to address concerns their merger could harm the digital advertising market and the supply of Gifs. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today said Facebook’s planned takeover of the popular gif-maker, worth a reported $400m (£320m), could stifle competition. Following an initial investigation, the [...]