Countdown on for Microsoft and Activision as they try to extend deal deadline July 18, 2023 Time is ticking for Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, which are reportedly in discussions to extend the deadline for their proposed multi-billion pound tie up. Originally set to be closed by today, the deal may now require more time as the two tech companies work to address regulatory concerns, according to sources close to Reuters. If [...]
UK optical chip company Optalysys bags £21m in funding for ‘groundbreaking’ encryption tech July 17, 2023 A UK chip designer has secured £21m in a Series A round of investment as it looks to enhance its “groundbreaking” data-sharing security that could pave the way for new levels of encryption able to defend users even from quantum computer-using hackers. Leeds-based Optalysys has secured the funding led by investment companies Lingotto and Northern [...]
Microsoft pens agreement to keep Call of Duty on Playstation after Activision mega-deal July 17, 2023 Microsoft has signed an agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said in a tweet. A deal to keep Call of Duty on Playstation could further ease concerns surrounding the acquisition’s impact on competition. Speaking on the agreement, Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a tweet, “Even after we cross the finish line [...]
Seraphim: Investment deals take off as UK ranks third globally July 17, 2023 Seraphim Space has reported that overall startup activity and later-stage funding within the space tech industry are at higher levels than ever before, according to its half year investment index published today. Globally, the UK ranks as having the third-highest number of space deals in the past 12 months at 39, trailing behind the US [...]
UK announces in-depth probe of Adobe’s $20bn Figma deal July 13, 2023 Britain’s antitrust regulator on Thursday announced an in-depth probe of Adobe’s $20 billion bid for cloud-based designer platform Figma, after the Photoshop owner said it would not offer any remedies to ease the regulator’s concerns. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said late last month it had found the deal could lead to less choice [...]
Law firms filed over 1,000 legal tech patents globally – but only 1 was filed in the UK July 13, 2023 Law firms around the world are increasingly investing in technology to remain competitive, new data shared with City A.M. reveals. Exactly 1,184 patent applications for legal services technology were filed globally in the year ending September 2022, according to data obtained by Thomson Reuters from the World Intellectual Property Organisation. China filed the most with [...]
CMA outlines next steps for Microsoft and Activision as firms work to clear deal July 12, 2023 Microsoft and Activsion would have to present a new revised deal to the UK’s competition authority if it is to reconsider the multi-billion pound takeover deal, the agency said today. “While the merging parties do not have the opportunity to submit new solutions once a final report has been issued, they can choose to restructure [...]
FCA chief: AI could disrupt financial services ‘at a scale not seen before’ July 12, 2023 The chief of the Financial Conduct Authority has said that artificial intelligence could disrupt the financial services sector in “ways and at a scale not seen before”, warning that the regulator would look to take action against AI-based scams.
CMA agrees pause on Microsoft appeal after US court waves through Activision deal July 12, 2023 The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said it is willing to work with Microsoft over its planned acquisition of video game company Activision Blizzard, which could help end its legal battle with the firms over the deal. It comes after a US judge yesterday handed Microsoft a victory by saying it would not [...]
Investor Terry Smith ditches Amazon stake over concerns with grocery business July 11, 2023 Top investor Terry Smith has revealed that he ditched his fund’s stake in Amazon due to concerns with the company’s grocery business. In a letter to investors, released yesterday, Smith revealed that the primary catalyst behind Fundsmith’s decision to drop its holding in Amazon last month was due to a “concern over potential capital misallocation”. [...]