UK launches national security probe of Chinese purchase of Welsh chip plant May 25, 2022 The UK has today launched a national security review of a Chinese takeover of a key Welsh semiconductor plant.
PCR test firm for travel being investigated over results, refunds and service September 3, 2021 One of the UK’s largest and cheapest PCR test companies focussed on travel is under investigation by the competition watchdog over several service failings. Expert Medicals faces allegations that tests and results were not provided in a timely manner, or at all in some cases, bosses failed to respond to complaints and refunds were not [...]
Facebook loses appeal over investigation into Giphy takeover May 13, 2021 Facebook has lost an appeal over the regulatory probe into its acquisition of Giphy. The social media giant announced plans to buy Giphy last May but the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) then said it was looking into whether it could cause a “substantial lessening of competition in any market or markets in the United [...]
Sunak says investors have nothing to fear over tougher tech M&A regulation September 15, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak said proposals from the UK’s competition watchdog for tougher scrutiny of M&A deals in the startup industry are reasonable and not intended to discourage early investors in UK tech companies. “I don’t think people need to be that anxious about it,” he told reporters at a tech event in London. “No one [...]
Over half of UK tech investors ready to pull capital over proposed clampdown on startup M&A September 14, 2021 Investors in UK startups are ready to pull capital over the threat that a proposed competition clamp down on startup M&A by the CMA’s new Digital Markets Unit (DMU) poses to the country’s startup innovation and growth. Half (50 per cent) of the UK’s investors in startups will significantly reduce the amount they invest in [...]
£222m takeover of Hawthorn pubs by Admiral Taverns faces competition probe September 28, 2021 The UK competition regulator said this afternoon it is leaning towards launching a probe into Admiral Taverns’ £222m takeover of the Hawthorn pub business. Admiral sealed a deal to buy the pub estate, which covers 674 venues across the UK, from the retail property investor NewRiver, in July. The move will strengthen Admiral’s position as [...]
CMA launches probe into Future’s TI Media merger January 20, 2020 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced today that it is investigating whether Future’s proposed acquisition of TI Media could harm competition. In October 2019, the publisher said it planned to acquire magazine printer TI Media, which owns popular titles Country Life and Marie Claire, for £140m in cash. The CMA said it was considering [...]
Petrol station firm EG Group mulls ‘potential $15bn sale’ September 9, 2021 Petrol station forecourt giant EG Group is reportedly mulling options for its future, including a potential sale. Bloomberg reported that a deal to sell the company, which is backed by the billionaire Issa brothers and private equity firm TDR Capital, could fetch as much as $15bn. The firm could also go for an initial public [...]
Fake reviews could be outlawed in consumer protection overhaul July 20, 2021 Paying for someone to write or host fake reviews online could be made illegal under new plans to ramp up protection for consumers. The government has unveiled proposals to crack down on fake reviews as part of a wider package of measures targeting “consumer catfishers” who use dodgy tactics to dupe online shoppers. It has [...]
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.