Adobe Abandons $20 Billion Figma Acquisition Amid Regulatory Scrutiny

Adobe’s withdrawal from the Figma deal underscores the importance of understanding and addressing regulatory concerns early in the acquisition process.

In a surprising turn of events, Adobe has announced the termination of its planned $20 billion acquisition of collaboration software company Figma. This decision comes in the wake of warnings from the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), indicating potential harm to innovation. The termination is said to be a mutual agreement as both companies couldn’t envision a clear path to regulatory approval from the European Commission and the CMA.

The global regulatory environment has become increasingly stringent, with technology acquisitions facing heightened scrutiny. The CMA, after conducting a detailed investigation, expressed concerns that the acquisition would eliminate competition in the product-design software sector, stifle innovation, and remove Figma as a competitive threat to Adobe’s flagship products, Photoshop and Illustrator.

Adobe’s CEO, Shantanu Narayen, stated that the companies strongly disagree with the findings but believe it is in their respective best interests to move forward independently. As part of the termination agreement, Adobe is obligated to pay Figma a $1 billion termination fee.

The initial announcement of Adobe’s intention to acquire Figma in September 2022 surprised investors, causing Adobe’s shares to drop nearly 17%. Some investors were concerned that Adobe might be overpaying for the collaboration software company. Adobe’s shares rose 2.47% after the news of the termination, as investors seemingly felt relief that the company was no longer committed to the deal.

This development highlights the challenges companies face in navigating the regulatory landscape, especially when it comes to significant acquisitions. The regulatory bodies, particularly the U.K. CMA, have been taking a closer look at technology mergers, as seen in their rejection of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Adobe’s decision to call off the acquisition follows a trend of global regulatory bodies subjecting technology deals to intense scrutiny. The CMA’s involvement in scrutinizing Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard and now Adobe’s attempt to acquire Figma indicates an increasing focus on potential anti-competitive outcomes and impacts on innovation in the technology sector.

In recent years, regulatory bodies worldwide have been paying more attention to technology mergers, emphasizing the need to protect fair competition and innovation in rapidly evolving markets. These regulatory interventions, although posing challenges for companies seeking acquisitions, aim to ensure that consumers benefit from a competitive and innovative marketplace.

Adobe’s withdrawal from the Figma deal underscores the importance of understanding and addressing regulatory concerns early in the acquisition process. Companies involved in significant acquisitions must navigate regulatory hurdles to gain approval, and failure to do so can result in termination, as seen in this case.

The termination of the Adobe-Figma deal has broader implications for the technology sector, signalling the need for companies to carefully assess regulatory risks before pursuing large-scale acquisitions. It also highlights the role of regulatory bodies in shaping the landscape of technology mergers, influencing the strategies and decisions of major players in the industry.

As the regulatory environment continues to evolve, companies will need to adopt a proactive approach to address potential concerns and ensure compliance with antitrust laws. This case serves as a reminder that even deals between industry giants can face challenges if regulatory bodies perceive potential harm to competition and innovation.