U.S. antitrust enforcer says pressing on with fight against Microsoft/Activision deal (updated)

Activision Blizzard

13/10/2023 15:39

(Adds quote from agency, background on deal)
    By Diane Bartz
       WASHINGTON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade
Commission said on Friday it remained focused on its appeal
opposing Xbox maker Microsoft's  MSFT.O  now-closed $69 billion
deal to buy Activision  ATVI.O  but would "assess" the company's
agreement with Ubisoft  UBIP.PA .
    The companies closed their transaction on Friday after
winning approval from Britain on condition that they sell the
streaming rights to Activision's games to Ubisoft Entertainment
 UBIP.PA  to address the UK regulator's competition concerns.
        In the United States, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) has also fought the deal, and has an argument scheduled
before an appeals court on Dec. 6. The agency said on Friday
that it remained focused on that appeal.
    "Microsoft and Activision's new agreement with Ubisoft
presents a whole new facet to the merger that will affect
American consumers, which the FTC will assess as part of its
ongoing administrative proceeding," added spokeswoman Victoria
Graham. "The FTC continues to believe this deal is a threat to
competition."
    

 (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Susan Fenton)
 ((Diane.Bartz@thomsonreuters.com;))