IBM's $6.4B HashiCorp Acquisition Cleared by UK
The U.K.'s antitrust authority, the CMA, has greenlighted IBM's planned multibillion acquisition of infrastructure software company HashiCorp. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had "cleared the anticipated acquisition by IBM of HashiCorp," and it would publish the full rationale for its decision in due course. This announcement comes after a 10-month investigation, marking a significant shift in the CMA's approach to tech acquisitions.
- The UK's pro-tech stance, as exemplified by the recent appointment of a new CMA chairperson from an Amazon executive, may lead to a more relaxed regulatory environment for international deals, potentially altering the global landscape for tech acquisitions.
- How will the US Federal Trade Commission's review of the deal impact its potential approval and what implications might this have for IBM's future acquisition strategy?