Microsoft Gets More Time from UK To Plead Case To Buy Video Game Maker Activision

LONDON, England – British antitrust regulators delayed the deadline for issuing a final order barring Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of video game producer Activision Blizzard on Friday, allowing them to evaluate the US tech giant’s “detailed and complex submission” pleading its case.

The acquisition, the largest in tech history, was denied by the Competition and Markets Authority due to concerns that it would hinder competition for major game titles such as Call of Duty in the fast-growing cloud gaming market.

However, the UK watchdog appears to have changed its stance when a judge blocked US officials’ attempts to prevent the merger.

British antitrust regulators delayed the deadline for issuing a final order barring Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of video game producer Activision Blizzard on Friday.

The authority says it has pushed back its original deadline by six weeks to August 29 to review the company’s answer, which includes “material changes in circumstance and special reasons” why regulators should not reject the acquisition.

The watchdog’s decision could be a favorable sign for Microsoft and Activision as they fight to complete the agreement negotiated roughly 18 months ago.

Microsoft has filed an appeal against the UK rejection with a tribunal scheduled to hear the issue on July 28. However, both parties indicated last week that they had jointly requested that the hearing be postponed while Microsoft worked on reworking the arrangement to appease regulators.

The news came just after the US Federal Trade Commission lost a court battle to block the acquisition, providing Microsoft a significant victory. The FTC has filed an appeal.

SOURCE – (AP)