Why did Santander buy TSB? July 3, 2025 Santander might have hoped its takeover of TSB would make waves across the banking industry, but analysts have dubbed it a more modest splash. The deal, which is set to be worth £2.9bn when closed in 2026, will add TSB’s five million customers, £34bn in mortgages and £35bn in deposits to Santander’s portfolio as well [...]
Aviva’s £3.7bn takeover of Direct Line approved by UK watchdog July 1, 2025 Aviva’s acquisition of smaller insurance peer Direct Line has been approved by the competitions watchdog, paving the way for the formation of Britain’s biggest home and motor insurer. The £3.7bn takeover will not be subject to a phase-two investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Tuesday, after a preliminary probe to assess whether [...]
UK’s competition watchdog sets its sights on Google search June 24, 2025 The UK’s competition watchdog has proposed designating Google with ‘strategic market status’ after an investigation earlier this year revealed market issues. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had “heard concerns” that Google’s search advertising costs are higher “than would be expected” in a “more competitive market”. It will also look into the transparency [...]
One twist left in the PHP and KKR bidding war for Assura June 23, 2025 The Assura bidding war between KKR and PHP looked to be sealing its final chapter on Monday – but analysts warn there could be one more twist in the saga. Assura said on Monday it had recommended its board to accept a fresh cash offer from PHP, which valued the firm at £1.79bn. The deal [...]
Getty Images’ £3bn Shutterstock merger captures watchdog’s eye June 23, 2025 The $3.7bn (£2.9bn) merger between Getty images and Shutterstock has caught the attention of the UK’s competition watchdog. The deal, which was first announced in January, has the potential to monopolise the stock image market for creative, media and advertising industries. At the time of the announcement, Getty Images said the merger was expected to [...]
CMA won’t look back in anger over dynamic pricing practices June 20, 2025 Dynamic pricing can deliver “good outcomes for consumers”, the UK’s competition watchdog has said, after concluding a probe into the practice sparked by a consumer backlash over soaring prices at Oasis concerts. The strategy, in which the same products are sold to different consumers at different prices based on levels of demand, attracted furore last [...]
Challenger banks scout exit routes as giants circle Metro and TSB June 19, 2025 Analysts are pencilling in a fresh wave of banking deals with challenger banks set for a market departure. Moody’s analysts have said challenger banks will “seek exit after weak performance” as industry juggernauts set their sights on ramping up their market share. Takeover talk has gripped the City after reports Shawbrook’s private equity owners were [...]
Wowcher: Profit slashed after huge refund over pressure selling tactics June 17, 2025 Profit at Wowcher has been slashed after the UK’s competition watchdog scored a major victory against the e-commerce giant. The London-based business promised the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in July last year that it would change its online selling practices and hand 870,000 customers a share of more than £4m in refunds. The move came [...]
Wincanton: Losses double as GXO takeover decision drags on June 12, 2025 Losses at Wincanton have doubled after leaving the London Stock Exchange as a decision over its acquisition by GXO has still yet to be made. The Wiltshire-headquartered business slipped into the red for the first time in more than 20 years in the year to 31 March, 2024 – posting a pre-tax loss of £44.9m. [...]
Vets complaints service for pet owners ‘completely unjust’, says consumer body May 30, 2025 Britain’s pet owners are being underserved by the vet industry’s complaints service, according to a leading consumer body. Which? found that the complaints process is “often stacked against pet owners”, with owners put off making a complaint and limited help for those that do. The findings come amid a watchdog probe into the vet sector, [...]