CMA launches investigation into rising cost of antibiotics amid Strep A outbreak December 14, 2022 The rising prices of antibiotics amid an outbreak of Strep A in the UK has raised concerns with the UK’s competition watchdog. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into the price rises today. Some pharmacies have reported being charged up to £19 for a box of drugs that normally costs a few [...]
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 [...]
CMA provisionally clears Mitie and PAE over Heathrow and detention centre contracts December 7, 2022 The markets regulator has closed an investigation into alleged anti-competitive behaviour over procurement contracts for Heathrow and an immigration centre. In an update published on Wednesday, the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) said it would close the probe into the conduct of Mitie and PAE launched in March. The two firms were responsible for on-going [...]
CMA concerned £94m hearing implant merger will stoke higher prices for NHS December 6, 2022 A merger between two hearing implant suppliers has raised concerns within the UK’s competition watchdog, which said a deal could risk higher prices for the NHS and less choice for patients. Should Cochlear and Demant’s £94m deal for Otican Medical go ahead, it would mean the combined group would control between 90 and 100 per [...]
CMA raises consumer concerns over proposed Baker Hughes-Altus deal November 22, 2022 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has raised concerns over Baker Hughes' proposed acquisition of Altus.
Barclays told to pay £1m to more than 1,000 mortgage customers over PPI breaches November 9, 2022 The UK’s competitions watchdog has ordered Barclays to pay up to £1m in compensation to at least 1,000 of its mortgage customers, over its failure to comply with rules around Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) policies. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said Barclays should pay compensation to as many 1,306 of its mortgage customers, [...]
Hashtag Ad: Competition watchdog asks brands to be more transparent over influencer adverts November 4, 2022 The competition watchdog has published fresh guidance for Instagram influencers and big tech firms to help users identify a paid for endorsement. Regulators want to see social media publishers commit to being more open and transparent about when posts are paid for adverts. Under the new guidance, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has asked [...]
Pfizer and Flynn Pharma to appeal £70m fine for price hiking October 27, 2022 Pfizer and Flynn Pharma have filed an appeal against the UK’s competition watchdog over its decision to fine the firms £70m for hiking the price of a life-saving epilepsy drug. Pharma giant Pfizer and privately-owned neuroscience specialist Flynn are appealing the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) £70m fine, after the two firms previously forced the [...]
Govt drags feet with new digital markets bill October 25, 2022 A new report by MPs on the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee has called on the Government to push forward with a draft Digital Markets Bill that would allow regulators to take a more proactive approach to curbing big tech dominance. The bill would enshrine the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) Digital Markets Unit (DMU) [...]
Competition watchdog orders Facebook owner Meta to sell Giphy October 18, 2022 The competition watchdog told Facebook’s parent firm Meta this afternoon that it would need to dump Giphy, marking the first time the regulator has blocked a deal struck by a Big Tech firm. In its “final decision”, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ruled that the combination of the two companies would allow Meta to [...]