Tory peer Lord Marland ‘in the running’ to chair competition watchdog March 29, 2021 Tory grandee Lord Marland is said to be in the running to become the next chairman of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in what could be the latest political appointment by Boris Johnson. Lord Marland, a former Conservative minister, is one of several names being circulated at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial [...]
Green light: Competition watchdog clears Uber’s Autocab takeover March 29, 2021 The competition watchdog has given the green light to Uber’s takeover of taxi tech firm Autocab, giving the ride-hailing giant a much-needed boost for its UK operations. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened a phase one investigation into the merger in January to examine how the deal could harm the private hire vehicle market. [...]
MPs launch inquiry into power of social media influencers March 26, 2021 MPs have launched an inquiry into the power of influencers amid concerns about a lack of regulation over how social media stars promote products online. Influencers have been gaining prominence in recent years thanks to the continued growth of social media use and the popularity of hit reality shows such as Love Island. But they [...]
Screenshot: Will workers’ rights put a puncture in Deliveroo’s IPO? March 26, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Farewell to the real McCoy **Will workers’ rights put a puncture in Deliveroo’s IPO? **A watchdog bares its teeth Media Moment of the Week: Farewell to the real McCoy In a shock bit of transfer news this week, BBC presenter Simon McCoy announced he was leaving the Beeb [...]
UK knows EU will not grant the City access to financial services: Lord Hill March 26, 2021 There is a growing realisation that the UK should not wait for the EU to give the UK access for financial services but get on with building a more competitive, outward-looking City of London, according to Jonathan Hill. Lord Hill, a former EU Commissioner for financial services who recently authored a report on easing the [...]
Post-Brexit City must be freed from European-style over regulation March 26, 2021 It has always been perceived wisdom that it was greedy bankers to blame for the financial collapse of 2008/9. The truth, however, is very different. Looking back, years of Establishment “too big to fail” support for uneconomic banking and financial institutions which began in the 1970s and culminated in the Greenspan intervention to save markets [...]
Facebook’s Giphy takeover could harm Gif supply, watchdog warns March 25, 2021 The competition watchdog has given Facebook and Giphy five working days to address concerns their merger could harm the digital advertising market and the supply of Gifs. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today said Facebook’s planned takeover of the popular gif-maker, worth a reported $400m (£320m), could stifle competition. Following an initial investigation, the [...]
Seedrs and Crowdcube abandon merger after CMA provisionally blocks deal March 25, 2021 Seedrs has announced the termination of its merger with Crowdcube after the competition regulator provisionally blocked the deal on Wednesday. Crowdcube agreed to buy Seedrs last October in a deal before the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that the tie-up would result in a substantial lessening of competition. Yesterday the regulator said its provisional [...]
UK sticks by open derivatives trading stance despite EU ban March 24, 2021 The UK’s financial regulator has today elected to keep its current stance on cross-border derivatives trading with the EU. Under the current Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules introduced after Brexit, UK banks have been able to trade derivatives on EU platforms to avoid disruption to business in the bloc. However, there is not currently a [...]
Competition watchdog set to block £140m Seedrs and Crowdcube merger March 24, 2021 The competition watchdog has provisionally blocked the planned £140m merger between Seedrs and Crowdcube over concerns it would lead to less choice and higher fees. The two crowdfunding platforms announced plans to merge in October, saying the deal would create one of the world’s largest private equity marketplaces. But following an in-depth investigation, the Competition [...]