US platform buys Seedrs for $100m after CMA blocks Crowdcube merger on home turf Tech M&A UK crowdfunding platform Seedrs is being acquired by US investment platform Republic, just months after the UK’s competition watchdog blocked its plans to merge with homegrown rival Crowdcube. In a transatlantic deal that values Seedrs at approximately $100m (£75m), the two platforms are billing the combined entity as “the first global private investment marketplace with [...]
Google commits to play ball with CMA over anti-competitive ‘Sandbox’ Google Google has improved its commitments to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over its ‘Privacy Sandbox’ amid concerns that changes by the tech titan could reduce competition in the digital advertising market. The competition watchdog launched an investigation into alleged anti-competitive behaviour by Google at the start of the year, following proposed changes to its [...]
CMA to open EV charging competition on motorways Charger competition The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to open up a competition for electric vehicle charging on motorways. Citing the necessity for drivers to have “a greater choice of chargepoints where they need them”, the CMA has set established for competing firms to offer legally-binding assurances, also known as commitments. For its part, [...]
Watchdog opens investigation into emergency services radio network October 25, 2021 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announces they will be investigating the Motorola Airwave network, the infrastructure and service provider that enables the police, fire and emergency services to communicate securely with each other. The decision to launch a market investigation follows a consultation, opened in July 2021, which set out concerns about the impact [...]
Streaming platforms like Spotify in the sights of competition watchdog October 19, 2021 An inquiry into the music industry, examining whether the rise of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music are fair and competitive for the industry is set to begin. The UK watchdog will look at the issues that exist for both listeners and artists, gathering evidence to decide the best course of action against [...]
CMA: UK businesses have until New Year to clean up greenwashing claims September 20, 2021 The UK’s competition watchdog has today given British businesses a deadline of the end of the year to resolve any misleading green marketing claims – so-called “greenwashing” – to avoid regulatory action. At the beginning of 2022, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will carry out a full review of the environmental declarations made [...]
CMA extends deadline to probe Facebook’s $400m Giphy deal September 10, 2021 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today extended the deadline of its investigation into Facebook’s $400m acquisition of Giphy until December 2021, according to the CMA website. The changes to the schedule of the regulator’s investigation follows criticism levelled at it by the social media giant Facebook after the CMA said it may force [...]
Watchdog clears £2.9bn Viagogo and StubHub merger September 8, 2021 A $4bn (£2.9bn) merger of ticket resale websites Viagogo and StubHub has been approved by a UK watchdog. Viagogo was given the green light to acquire StubHub after US investment group Digital Fuel Capital agreed to buy part of the business. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had instructed Viagogo to sell StubHub’s operations to [...]
US Nvidia’s $54bn UK Arm buyout faces EU competition concerns September 7, 2021 European Union officials have reportedly voiced competition concerns over US tech giant Nvidia’s purchase of UK chip design company Arm, in the deal’s latest wave of opposition. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) echoed the EU’s sentiment last month, saying the sale raises “serious competition concerns.” The California-based company is preparing to file for regulatory [...]
PCR test firm for travel being investigated over results, refunds and service September 3, 2021 One of the UK’s largest and cheapest PCR test companies focussed on travel is under investigation by the competition watchdog over several service failings. Expert Medicals faces allegations that tests and results were not provided in a timely manner, or at all in some cases, bosses failed to respond to complaints and refunds were not [...]