Microsoft’s progress in court and the decision of the UK competition authority to withdraw its opposition have brought the company closer to finalizing its acquisition of Activision.
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced its intention to appeal a federal judge’s ruling that allowed Microsoft’s $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard to proceed.
Despite these developments, there is still the possibility that regulatory obstacles could prevent the deal from being completed by the July 18 deadline. Microsoft has expressed its disappointment with the FTC’s decision to appeal and has vowed to continue fighting for the deal to move forward.
The FTC may request a stay to halt the deal’s closure, and legal experts have differing opinions on the grounds for appeal. Microsoft has made concessions to address competition concerns, including licensing “Call of Duty” to rivals. While appeals in merger challenges are rare, the FTC has previously pursued appeals in similar cases.
