CMA approves £1.2bn Stonegate pub merger deal February 14, 2020 The owner of Slug & Lettuce has today been cleared to takeover Ei Group in a move that would make it the UK’s largest pub company. Last year the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a probe into Stonegate’s £1.2bn deal to buy Ei’s assets over fears that it could damage competition in 51 local [...]
AA praises Asda for not surging petrol prices as diesel approaches dreaded £2 litre milestone June 24, 2022 Motoring group the AA has praised supermarket chain Asda for preventing further fuel surges, as the price of diesel moved within 0.2p of the dreaded £2-litre. The organisation’s fuel price report showed this morning that on average, big oil firms’ forecourt reached the milestone, but it could have been much worse. The AA said while [...]
JD Sports may have to sell off Footasylum, says CMA February 11, 2020 Shoppers could be worse off online and in store if JD Sports’ acquisition of Footasylum goes ahead, the UK’s competition watchdog found today. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) warned the merger could lead to fewer discounts and worse customer service, as well as less choice in its preliminary ruling. “We’re currently concerned that shoppers [...]
Watchdog clears £2.9bn Viagogo and StubHub merger September 8, 2021 A $4bn (£2.9bn) merger of ticket resale websites Viagogo and StubHub has been approved by a UK watchdog. Viagogo was given the green light to acquire StubHub after US investment group Digital Fuel Capital agreed to buy part of the business. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had instructed Viagogo to sell StubHub’s operations to [...]
UK weighs up blocking £29bn Arm takeover by Nvidia due to potential risks to national security August 3, 2021 The UK is considering blocking US chip company Nvidia buying tech darling Arm for £29bn due to potential risks to national security, according to reports. According to Bloomberg, a Government-ordered report into the sale, delivered in late July from the CMA, contains worrying implications for national security and now Number 10 is currently inclined to reject [...]
Tech giants Alphabet, Meta and Amazon control half of ads outside China December 6, 2021 New data has revealed just how heavily Alphabet's Google, Meta and Amazon dominate advertising.
Ignore the ideologues, we should take our time to get rid of EU laws and do it right May 23, 2023 Kemi Badenoch did right in facing down the critics and moving the goalposts to scrap EU legislation. We need to have enough time to ensure we do it the right way, writes Bim Afolami
EU regulators set to whack Apple Music with another antitrust charge April 11, 2022 European regulators are set to whack Apple Music with an additional anti-trust charge following Spotify's complaints about the tech giant distorting competition in the market.
IAG boss says Air Europa deal will take at least 18 months April 6, 2022 The IAG – Air Europa deal will not be finalised for at least 18 months, IAG’s chief executive Luis Gallego said this morning. “We have to decide on a calendar to take 100 per cent, but I think it would take minimum 18 months,” said Gallego, adding that the company will need to secure anti [...]
Screenshot: Can the City harness the power of the Netflix model? August 13, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Victoria Derbyshire’s heels hiccup **Can the City harness the power of the Netflix model? **The CMA goes for GIFs Media Moment of the Week: Victoria Derbyshire’s heels hiccup Late on Wednesday evening prolific BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire tweeted to say she’d be on air three times in a [...]