HSBC and Barclays call for open banking reform over higher costs May 24, 2021 UK banks are reportedly unhappy with the high costs associated with open banking reforms which force them to share data with rivals in a bid to increase competition. Open banking is the UK’s implementation of the EU’s revised directive on payment services, which was introduced in 2015. UK regulated banks are required to let customers [...]
Facebook fails to block antitrust lawsuit over WhatsApp and Instagram ownership January 12, 2022 Meta faces another blow as it loses its attempt to dismiss a US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) antitrust lawsuit, which could force it has to sell WhatsApp and Instagram.
Nvidia’s $54bn Arm deal faces yet another setback as EU regulators press pause on probe December 6, 2021 EU competition watchdogs have temporarily hit pause on their investigation into Nvidia’s planned takeover of British chip designer Arm, introducing another obstacle in the way of the $54bn deal. The European Commission halted its probe into the takeover on its previous deadline on November 25, as it awaits more information, Reuters first reported from a [...]
Watchdog opens competition probe into Uber’s Autocab takeover January 29, 2021 The competition watchdog has opened an investigation into Uber’s planned takeover of taxi tech firm Autocab. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today said it had launched a probe and was inviting views on how the deal could impact the private hire vehicle market in the UK. Stockport-based Autocab sells booking and dispatch software to [...]
UK competition watchdog ‘to probe Amazon buy box’ June 10, 2021 The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority is planning to formally investigate competition at Amazon, according to reports this morning. The investigation comes amid a similar ongoing one by the EU into Amazon. The UK competition watchdog, which has been analysing the online retailer for months, has focused on how Amazon uses data collected on its [...]
Research shows we’re listening to over 18 hours of music a week October 22, 2021 The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry’s (IFPI) have released their new report, Engaging with Music 2021, which shows that fans are listening to more music than ever before, with unlicensed music continuing to be a pertinent issue.
CMA flags competition concerns on First Group’s West Coast Rail franchise November 7, 2019 The UK’s competition watchdog has sounded the alarm on 21 routes awarded under the new West Coast Rail franchise. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concerns on routes between Preston and Scotland after the government awarded the rail franchise to a joint venture between First Group and Trenitalia. Read more: Watchdog casts eye over [...]
Competition watchdog raises concerns over £6.5bn Gumtree takeover February 16, 2021 The competition watchdog has raised concerns over the £6.5bn takeover of Gumtree by Norwegian rival Adevinta, warning it could push up prices and reduce choice for consumers. In July Adevinta struck a cash and stock deal with Ebay that would create the world’s largest online classified ads business. The merger would bring together advertising platforms [...]
Facebook’s Giphy takeover to face in-depth competition probe April 1, 2021 Facebook’s takeover of Giphy will face an in-depth competition probe in the UK after the social media giant declined to offer remedies to the regulator’s concerns. The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) last week gave the companies five days to address worries that their deal could harm the digital advertising market and the supply of [...]
British Airways owner IAG moves to terminate takeover agreement with Air Europa December 15, 2021 IAG, the aviation giant that owns British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, has moved to back-track on its takeover of Spanish airline Air Europa, bringing down shares by 4.59 per cent to 126.48p. The BA owner this morning said “discussions are at an advanced stage to terminate the agreement signed on 4 November 2019” whereby [...]