To the surprise of no one, a multi-billion dollar deal comes under CMA scrutiny The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a merger inquiry into IBM's acquisition of HashiCorp.… The CMA is considering whether the proposed merger will hurt competition in the affected industries in the UK.

The U.K.'s antitrust watchdog has opened an investigation into whether IBM's planned acquisition of HashiCorp would affect competition.

The Competition and Markets Authority is deciding whether to clear the deal or refer it for a further in-depth investigation.

The CMA is assessing whether the merger could “result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services”.

The U.K.’s antitrust regulator has launched an inquiry into IBM Corp.’s proposed acquisition of HashiCorp Inc. for $6.4 billion. The CMA is seeking to determine whether the acquisition could reduce market competition.