The whole world is awaiting Microsoft’s acquisition deal with the gaming giant Activision Blizzard. While Europe has given the green light, the United Kingdom refuses.
“And to convince the British regulators, Microsoft has decided that nothing beats a personal visit to the United Kingdom, meeting with the Chancellor and the CMA.
Microsoft’s President, Brad Smith, will meet with the British Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, next week to express his frustration over the surprising decision of the British competition regulator to block the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.”
Is there a danger of Microsoft forcing the agreement?
Smith will hold talks with Hunt and officials from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the body that imposed the veto on April 26, according to people familiar with the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Microsoft confirmed that Smith will be in London, where he will give a “scheduled talk on the potential of AI and the need for thoughtful regulation.”
He will also have private discussions on other topics, “including the proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, as we remain committed to exploring creative and constructive ways to address the remaining regulatory concerns,” said a representative from Microsoft.
Smith is expected to highlight the benefits of the acquisition for gamers and oppose the initiative to block the largest merger in the sector, a decision that will soon be debated in a special UK antitrust court.
Smith will also meet with Microsoft’s legal representatives to discuss the company’s strategy to counter the CMA’s decision, outlining a series of options the company could take to salvage the deal.
An extreme option could be to bypass the UK’s order and proceed with the agreement or withdraw Activision from the UK market, said one of the individuals, confirming earlier reports from Mlex.
The company is also likely to rely on the EU’s findings in its legal arguments against the CMA, after EU merger officials conditionally approved the record-breaking gaming merger last month.
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