UK regulator deepens investigation into Adobe’s ‘transformative’ deal to buy collaborative design start-up Figma
TECHNOLOGY POWERING BUSINESS
News Merger and acquisition
IBM Pays $4.6bn For Apptio To Bolster SaaS Insights
Big Blue opens its wallet to acquire financial and IT management software provider Apptio from venture capital owner
Japan Buys Out JSR As It Drives Chip Equipment Sector
Japanese government to buy out chip materials maker JSR as it seeks to take advantage of US-China tensions to boost domestic edge
Silicon UK Pulse: Your Tech News Update: Episode 8
Welcome to Silicon Pulse – your roundup of the latest tech news and developments impacting your business for the week ending 23/06/2023.
Adobe’s $20bn Deal For Figma At Risk From EU Regulators – Report
Adobe's ‘transformative’ deal to buy collaborative design start-up Figma for $20bn is reportedly to be reviewed by EU regulators
Amazon’s $1.7bn iRobot Acquisition Cleared By UK’s CMA
UK antitrust regulator clears Amazon’s proposed smart home acquisition of Roomba maker iRobot after investigation
Vodafone, Three Merger: Industry Reaction
Merger to create the largest mobile operator in the UK draws reaction from industry experts and commentators
Vodafone, Three Merger To Create UK’s Biggest Mobile Operator
Vodafone UK will own 51 percent of combined entity with Three UK, as challenge to EE and Virgin Media O2 heats up
Judge Grants FTC Injunction To Temporarily Block Microsoft-Activision Deal
Temporary restraining order by US regulator to prevent Microsoft's acquisition of Activision, is granted by US judge
Microsoft’s Brad Smith Meets Chancellor After Blocked Acquisition
Microsoft's Brad Smith meets with Chancellor and CMA, after saying the Activision block discourages investment in UK
Twitter Value Collapses After Fidelity Writedown
Financial institution slashes estimate value of its Twitter stake, suggesting the Elon Musk firm value has decreased significantly
China Approves Microsoft-Activision Deal ‘Unconditionally’
Chinese regulator approves $69 Microsoft-Activision Blizzard takeover 'unconditionally' amidst opposition from US and UK
EU Approves Viasat Inmarsat Merger
European blessing. Last remaining regulatory hurdle cleared, allowing proposed merger of Viasat and Inmarsat
Microsoft Appeals CMA Veto Of Activision Blizzard Acquisition
Expected appeal is filed by Microsoft against UK watchdog's decision to block its acquisition of Activision Blizzard
Meta Sells Giphy At Huge Loss After CMA Order
Mark Zuckerberg firm takes $260m (£210m) loss selling gif search engine Giphy, after UK ordered its divestment
Broadcom Offers Remedies To Ease EU Worries Over VMware Deal
US chipmaker Broadcom offers interoperability remedies to address European antitrust concerns over $61bn VMware deal
Kioxia, Western Digital ‘Accelerate’ Merger Talks
Toshiba memory spin-off Kioxia and Western Digital said to accelerate merger talks amidst oversupply, falling demand
UK Further Restricts Microsoft-Activision Buy
UK CMA regulator places further restrictions on Microsoft and Activision to 'prevent pre-emptive action' by companies
UK’s CMA Approves Viasat Inmarsat Merger
UK watchdog greenlights proposed merger of Viasat and Inmarsat, finding there is sufficient competition in the market
BlackBerry To Review Strategic Options
Board of directors at BlackBerry to review firm's 'strategic alternatives', including possible separation of some of its businesses
UK Regulator Defends Microsoft Activision Decision, After Angry Response
Microsoft and Activision slam UK decision to block acquisition, but CMA boss says blocking $69 billion deal was “right decision”
UK’s CMA Blocks Microsoft’s $69bn Acquisition Of Activision Blizzard
Final decision by UK regulator to block Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition, but Microsoft says it will appeal
Alphabet To Merge AI Units Deepmind And Google Brain
One better than two? Alphabet doubles down on artificial intelligence, by merging two of its key AI divisions
Sega Offers £625m For Studio Behind ‘Angry Birds’
Sonic the Hedgehog maker Sega offers 706m euros for Rovio, studio behind pioneering mobile game Angry Birds
Twitter No Longer Exists, As X Corp Takes Over
Elon Musk's Twitter no longer exists as company, after a filing this week shows Twitter has been merged into X Corp
Elon Musk Axed 80 Percent Of Staff, Admits Painful Tenure
Musk tells BBC Twitter is now roughly breaking even and advertisers are returning, but admits running platform is “quite painful”
Sony Lashes Out At CMA’s ‘Irrational’ Reversal Over Microsoft Activision Buy
UK regulator decision to reverse its preliminary judgement against Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard, slammed by Sony
Amazon’s $1.7bn iRobot Acquisition Triggers UK Antitrust Inquiry
UK's antitrust regulator begins investigation of Amazon's proposed smart home acquisition of Roomba maker iRobot
Broadcom’s $61bn VMware Deal Faces Phase 2 CMA Probe
Decision by Broadcom not to offer the UK watchdog remedies to its Phase 1 concerns, triggers in-depth Phase 2 investigation
UK Watchdog Rules Against Broadcom’s $61bn VMware Buy
CMA's Phase 1 investigation of Broadcom’s proposed acquisition of VMware, concludes deal could lead to less innovation and drive up costs