Waitrose admits it signed deals with landlords to block rivals from opening nearby stores September 2, 2022 Waitrose has admitted to signing deals with landlords halting other supermarkets from opening nearby for a decade, following a probe by the UK competition watchdog. The supermarket, which is owned by the John Lewis Partnership, has said it has re-written property deals for numerous sites to allay competition concerns. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) [...]
Panic in pharma as bosses of four firms face being struck off: Shock CMA decision includes Alliance’s CEO September 2, 2022 Pharmaceutical firms have appealed against a competition case underlying the disqualifications of multiple industry bosses, which could potentially lead to the seven individuals being struck off. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Friday that it had issued proceedings in the High Court to disqualify directors at four groups, including the chief executive of [...]
Raft of UK pharmaceutical directors risk being disqualified after CMA ruling September 2, 2022 The UK’s competition watchdog has today issued High Court proceedings to disqualify a raft of pharmaceutical directors, including Alliance Pharma’s CEO, over suspected anti-competitive agreements. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched the investigation into the UK’s pharmaceutical sector in 2017, and revealed earlier this year that several firms had been impeding competition in the [...]
UK competition watchdog clears £6bn Avast takeover by NortonLifeLock September 2, 2022 The £6bn acquisition of Avast by NortonLifeLock has been officially cleared by the UK’s competition watchdog. The Competition and Markets Authority had launched an investigated into the merger in March, with concerns the combined cyber security powerhouse would squash competition in the sector. The watchdog said that while it found a “realistic prospect” of weaking [...]
Google heads to court over billion pound competition row for Play Store September 1, 2022 Google will have to defend itself at trial over a £1bn consumer claim about Play Store, a competition judge has decided. A Competition Appeal Tribunal ruling this week found that consumer champion Liz Coll is authorised to bring an opt-out collective claim against the tech giant for alleged competition infringements. The Tribunal said that the size of the class allegedly harmed was [...]
Watchdog flags competition concerns for Microsoft and Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard’s £50bn deal September 1, 2022 Regulators have flagged competition concerns over Microsoft’s $68.7bn acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard, giving the US giants until next week to provide evidence.
NatWest forced to dish out £600,000 refunds after breaching banking rules August 31, 2022 The UK’s competition watchdog has forced NatWest to dish out £600,000 in refunds after it ruled the bank breached rules by forcing business customers to open “costly” current accounts to access loans.
North Sea body urges Government to confirm green rules for new projects August 31, 2022 OEUK has called on the Government to publish its requirements for exploration projects ahead of a looming winter crisis.
‘Break the chains’ of regulation holding back challenger banks, MPs say August 30, 2022 A “one-size-fits-all” approach to regulating UK lenders has failed and watchdogs need to “break the chains” restricting the growth of challenger banks, a group of MPs said today.
Thousands more homeowners to be refunded after ground rents doubled August 24, 2022 Press Association Thousands more homeowners who paid a doubled ground rent on their property will receive a refund after the competition watchdog cracked down on “unfair” leasehold practices. More than 5,000 households in the UK will be compensated after being caught in contracts that saw their ground rents double in price every 10 years. Many [...]