London 2nd September : The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Friday approved the $8.1 billion merger of cybersecurity companies NortonLifeLock and Avast. NortonLifeLock and Avast both provide cyber security software for consumers from the umbrella of various brands, including privacy software, antivirus software (such as VPNs) and identity security software.
The two companies have announced plans to join in an $8.1 billion agreement in the month of August in 2021.
“After studying the evidence in an in-depth examination we are now convinced that this deal will not impede the choices available to consumers.
So, we believe the agreement should be implemented,” said Kirstin Baker Chair of the CMA inquiry group.
In the initial phase of its Phase 1 investigation in Phase 1, the CMA concluded that the merger presented a realistic possibility of significant reduction of the competition.
The CMA recommended to an in-depth Phase 2 inquiry to look into these concerns in greater specific detail.
The CMA proviso reached a conclusion in August that the agreement doesn’t significantly impact the level of competition in the UK and it isn’t expected to reduce competition in the UK in the near future.
The UK market watchdog also discovered that security apps offered by Microsoft which holds an exclusive place in the market because it is the sole owner of the Windows operating system, offers an increasing number of options for customers.
Recent years have seen Microsoft has improved its built-in, integrated security application so that it now provides security that is as effective as many of the security products that are offered by specialist suppliers.
Additionally, the applications that were recently released by Microsoft for its customers brings its cyber security offering closer to that of the two businesses that have merged and are likely to enhance Microsoft as an alternative in the future the CMA added.
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