UK regulator aims for decision on Microsoft-Activision deal by Aug. 29

Activision Blizzard

31/07/2023 12:53

LONDON, July 31 (Reuters) - Britain's antitrust
regulator on Monday opened up its inquiry into Microsoft's
Activision Blizzard deal for comments as it aims for a final
decision by Aug. 29 on a $69 billion takeover it had previously
blocked in April. 
    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) also on Monday
published Microsoft's arguments explaining why the deal should
be re-evaluated, as the U.S. software giant battles to win UK
approval to buy "Call of Duty" maker Activision.
    A court involved in the case had already published
Microsoft's argument that the binding commitments accepted by
the European Union shortly after Britain had blocked the deal
had now changed the situation. 
    Any persons wishing to comment on the new version of
Microsoft's takeover should do so by Aug. 4, the CMA said in its
statement. 
    It is aiming to make a final decision on the deal by Aug.
29, the CMA said. 
    In its submission, Microsoft laid out commitments it has
made that Activision games can be streamed for a decade after
the merger, and highlighted agreements it has entered into with
Sony, NVIDIA, Boosteroid and Ubitus, which it believes should
ease the CMA's competition concerns. 

 (Reporting by Sarah Young and Sam Tobin; Editing by Kate
Holton)
 ((sarah.young@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 1109; Reuters
Messaging: sarah.young.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))