Markets Authority

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has opened a formal inquiry into Intersurgical AG’s announced purchase of Teleflex Incorporated’s acute care and interventional urology businesses. The deal would transfer those units to Intersurgical, after which Armira Beteiligungen GmbH & Co. KG and TA Associates Management, L. P. would take control of Intersurgical AG. The CMA is inviting public and industry stakeholders to submit comments on the transaction’s potential impact on competition. The inquiry will assess whether the merger could reduce supplier choice or raise prices for hospitals and patients. If the CMA finds no significant anti‑competitive concerns, the transaction could proceed, allowing the new owners to integrate the urology assets into their broader portfolios.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has released updated plans that will require Google to present users on new Android devices with a choice of search service, covering the default search app, home‑screen widget and Chrome. Mozilla argues that the proposal addresses only half the problem, as most UK smartphone users use a preinstalled browser set as default without ever choosing it. Mozilla’s 2023 experiment showed that 98 % of participants wanted a browser choice screen, and that such screens can improve retention. The organisation is urging the CMA to launch browser choice screens alongside search choice screens, mirroring the EU Digital Markets Act and Japan’s approach, to reduce confusion and give users full control over the tools they use daily.

On Friday, EU finance ministers agreed a compromise on the Markets in Securities and Investment Products (MISP) package, aiming to strengthen the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) while preserving national control. The deal grants ESMA limited executive powers but stops short of full autonomy, prompting a rebuke from Finance Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque and ECB President Christine Lagarde. France pushed for stronger supervisory authority, while Ireland trimmed a rule that would let national supervisors delay ESMA decisions. Germany secured carve‑outs that exempt its stock exchange, Deutsche Börse, and Spain’s BME from direct EU oversight, sparking criticism from smaller members. Belgium warned that Euroclear could face new supervisory fees. The compromise also sets the EU budget to cover 60% of ESMA costs not covered by industry fees, a figure the Commission says is too high. The deal now awaits European Parliament approval before final legislative negotiations can begin.