Hacker News Reader

Oh really ARM is not selling/operating in Europe? Brexit or not it doesn't change a thing. Last big merger (Qualcom and NXP) was blocked by China. Even if EU don't do it China is likely going to mess Up with this one again.

View on HN

Firstly the EU doesn’t have the same requirements as the Chinese anti trust authorities, secondly it’s not about what they could do in theory but want can do in practice it’s politically impossible for the EU to block it now with Brexit going on.

The EU can walk and chew gum at the same time. They have buildings full of people to take care of this stuff.

I'm sure they do, however if the CMA clears the deal the DG COMP can't block it politically in general and lawfully if there isn't a clear violation of the TFEU.

Brexit is less of a distraction for the EU than you seem to think.

The DG COMP isn't able to give the CMA direction atm, the sale doesn't violate article 101 or 102 and no member state has raised a complaint against it.

This isn't about Brexit being a distraction, it's about their mandate and optics.

Until the 31st of December the DG COMP actually needs not only to show that there is a sufficient reason to investigate the deal, but that the CMA ruling wasn't in line with the TFEU.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com