EU opens probe into Microsoft’s £59bn deal to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard November 8, 2022 The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into Microsoft’s proposed $68.7bn (£59.5bn) acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. The commission said it was concerned that the proposed deal may reduce competition in the market. A preliminary investigation found that the transaction may significantly reduce competition, including multi-game subscription services and cloud game [...]
Soaring inflation and recession fears trigger UK dealmaking slowdown June 6, 2023 Mergers and acquisitions in the UK tumbled sharply in the first three months of the year as recession fears and rapid rate hikes spooked dealmakers, official figures have revealed today.
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 [...]
UK government set to launch national security probe into Nvidia’s $54bn takeover of ARM November 14, 2021 Ministers are lining up a full-blown national security investigation into Nvidia’s planned $54bn takeover of British chip designer ARM, after months of negotiations between regulators and the US chip company. The investigation is likely to be announced on Tuesday week, after digital and culture secretary Nadine Dorries orders a “phase 2” probe into Nvidia’s acquisition [...]
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?
Shop ’till you drop: Christmas spending up despite rampant inflation December 20, 2022 Shopping habits die hard as Brits continue to spend across the board in the run-up to Christmas and the holiday season despite historic levels of inflation raising prices. Spending on essentials is up by an average of 43.5 per cent compared to the same time last year, with non-essential expenditure also rising by an average [...]
EU mulls metaverse regulation as businesses jump into virtual reality February 8, 2022 As key players in fashion, tech and finance develop virtual reality metaverses EU authorities are considering new rules to protect consumers.
UK trade bodies rebel against ‘cartel-like’ shipping costs October 19, 2021 Make UK, the trade body representing UK manufacturers, has called on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to open an investigation into the shipping sector’s “cartel-like practices” when it comes to the increase in prices. Writing a letter to the CMA alongside the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC), Make UK has said that the “increase [...]
CMA launches coronavirus taskforce to stamp down on over-pricing March 20, 2020 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a taskforce to prevent businesses from taking advantage of shoppers during the UK coronavirus outbreak. The UK competition watchdog warned the outbreak has “prompted many concerns that businesses might exploit the situacion to take advantage of people”. Amid stockpiling of food and toilet roll across the UK, [...]
Merge UK’s financial services regulators into one body, says Tory think tank August 8, 2022 The government should consider merging the UK’s several financial services regulators into one body post-Brexit, an influential Tory think tank has said. A new report from the centre-right Policy Exchange, which was founded by Michael Gove, today said “meeting the demands” of the multiple City regulators can be “a major barrier to innovation” for new [...]