Jul 15, 2023 16:30:00

The Federal Trade Commission's final attempt to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is dismissed, the acquisition is finally close

The US

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Microsoft to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. The FTC appealed against this ruling, but this was also dismissed, and Microsoft is one step closer to the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Court denies FTC's last-ditch attempt to stop Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/14/23794707/microsoft-activision-blizzard-ftc-acquisition-appeal-loses

In January 2022, Microsoft announced the acquisition of major game maker Activision Blizzard . Since Microsoft operates its own game brand, Xbox, multiple regulatory bodies have put a hold on the acquisition, saying that the company's acquisition of Activision Blizzard 'could lead to a monopoly.' The FTC, which oversees and monitors fair trade in the United States, is also one of the organizations that sued Microsoft to block the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Regarding Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Japan's Fair Trade Commission and the European Commission, which is the policy enforcement agency of the European Union, were independently investigating, but neither agency has finally approved the acquisition. increase.

On the other hand, the UK Competition and Market Authority (CMA) and the FTC were moving to prevent the acquisition, but on July 11, 2023, Jacqueline Scott Corey, a California judge, was acquired by the FTC. Denied the request for a preliminary injunction to block and granted Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Microsoft wins US regulators in trial over Acquisition of Activision Blizzard - GIGAZINE

However, the FTC, which is dissatisfied with this ruling, has appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and has made a request to prevent Microsoft from completing the Activision Blizzard acquisition transaction until the appeal is over. However, this appeal has been dismissed .

Commenting on the outcome, Microsoft vice chairman and president Brad Smith said, 'We appreciate the swift response of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in denying the FTC's motion to further delay the transaction. I was able to get one step closer to the goal of the regulatory review marathon,” commented to The Verge.

In addition, Microsoft will be free to enter into a contract with Activision Blizzard in response to the preliminary injunction, which is part of Judge Corey's order, expiring at 23:59 local time on July 15, 2023. will be However, if Microsoft does not conclude a contract with Activision Blizzard by July 18, 2023, it will either renegotiate the terms of the acquisition with Activision Blizzard or withdraw from the acquisition ($ 3 billion (about 420 billion yen) penalty must be paid) or the contract period must be extended by mutual agreement.

However, Microsoft may not be able to complete the acquisition deal soon. In the UK, the CMA is working to prevent Microsoft from acquiring Activision Blizzard, ``to protect cloud gaming options and innovation.''

UK authorities block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft immediately announces objection - GIGAZINE

In the third week of July 2023, the CMA warned that the acquisition investigation ``may lead to a new acquisition investigation'' and that discussions with Microsoft are ``in the early stages''. In addition, CMA has announced that it will postpone the investigation deadline for Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard from July 18, 2023 to August 29, 2023.