CMA probe throws £16bn Adobe and Figma tie-up into doubt June 30, 2023 The UK’s competition watchdog has said it may move to block Adobe’s acquisition of design platform Figma unless they can resolve anti-trust concerns. In a summary of the decision, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the merger of the two companies gives rise to “a realistic prospect of a substantial lessening of competition”. Leading [...]
Jeremy Hunt to meet CMA, Ofgem, Ofwat and Ofcom over ‘profiteering’ concerns June 26, 2023 Jeremy Hunt will ask industry regulators what they are doing about any companies exploiting rampant inflation by raising prices. The Chancellor is set to meet the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), and the watchdogs for energy, water and communications on Wednesday. He will press them on whether there is a profiteering problem in their sectors [...]
Vodafone and Three UK ‘transformative’ merger sparks speculation over CMA approval June 15, 2023 Britain’s competition regulator is set to scrutinise the long-awaited tie-up of Vodafone and Three, announced yesterday. The deal will create the largest mobile network in the UK. Vodafone boss Margherita Della Valle said the merger is “great for customers, great for the country and great for competition”, but commentators warned last night the CMA was [...]
CMA slaps BMW with fine for not complying with probe request December 8, 2022 The Competition and Markets Authority has slapped BMW with a £30,000 fine for not complying with an information request. The watchdog – which has also added a daily penalty of £15,000 – believes the German marque is withholding information regarding a probe from earlier this year. Launched in March, the investigation focused on suspected anti-competitive [...]
Pets at Home and CVS shares plunge after CMA vows to investigate veterinary fees September 7, 2023 Shares in British veterinary services firms Pets at Home and CVS Group plunged on Thursday, after the UK’s antitrust watchdog launched a review into the market amid concerns that pet owners might not be getting a good deal. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will look into the fees charged for veterinary services amid soaring [...]
Asda slashes petrol prices after CMA review December 8, 2022 Asda has slashed petrol prices at the pumps over the past two days, opening up the possibility of a price war with its supermarket rivals.
Activision deal: Survey says CMA wrong to block Microsoft tie-up May 8, 2023 A quarter of the public thought the UK competition watchdog was wrong to block Microsoft’s $70b deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, a new poll has found. One in four of the public were opposed to the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) decision to block the deal, while a further 16 percent thought it was [...]
CMA launches probe into £7.5bn UK cloud market following Ofcom study October 5, 2023 Britain's competition watchdog has launched an investigation into the UK's cloud market after an Ofcom study found competition issues.
Game Over? CMA block of Activision deal to set the tone for other regulators April 26, 2023 The UK competition regulator today blocked Microsoft’s $70bn bid for the video game publisher, Activision Blizzard, citing concerns over competition in a fledgling cloud market. The move by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to scupper the deal — Microsoft’s largest acquisition — comes as a blow to the tech giant, which has already announced [...]
70 per cent drop in cartel whistleblowing to CMA since 2018 should cause ‘concern’ September 17, 2023 The UK’s competition watchdog should be concerned by a 70 per cent drop in whistleblowing on illegal cartels in the last five years, top lawyers have said. A freedom of information (FOI) request from law firm RPC showed the staggering drop in reporting, down from 1,442 calls in 2017 to just 427 in 2022, City [...]