UK minister rejects Microsoft criticism of decision to block Activision deal

Activision Blizzard

19/09/2023 14:44

LONDON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - British business minister
Kemi Badenoch said on Tuesday she did not agree with Microsoft
 MSFT.O  President Brad Smith that the Competition and Market
Authority's initial decision to block its purchase of videogame
maker Activision was bad for Britain.
    "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard  ATVI.O  has since
said it will sell its streaming rights in a fresh attempt to win
approval from Britain's anti-trust regulator, the CMA, for its
$69 billion sale to Microsoft.
    Asked about Smith's criticism, given that the deal had been
approved in some other countries, Badenoch pointed out it had
gone to appeal in the companies' main market, the United States.
    "We were not an outlier if you talk about the size of the
market... At some point, we have to decide are we making
(decisions) in a way that's right for us or just trying to do
what everybody else is doing? So no, I don't agree with his
comment," she told lawmakers.
    "If the CMA is doing something wrong, I think that will
become evident through a pattern which is not yet the case."

 (Reporting by Alistair Smout and Muvija M; Editing by Sachin
Ravikumar)
 ((alistair.smout@thomsonreuters.com; +44 207 542 7064; Reuters
Messaging: alistair.smout.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))