The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is interesting a court docket’s resolution that might enable Microsoft to maneuver ahead with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Earlier this week, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley denied the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction to dam Microsoft from finishing its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard earlier than the deal’s July 18 deadline and the FTC’s administrative case in August. Now the FTC has filed an attraction in opposition to Judge Corley’s resolution.
Microsoft “upset” with FTC attraction
The attraction will see the FTC try and overturn the court docket’s ruling for the preliminary injunction. While FTC’s court docket submitting does not give any particulars concerning the US regulator’s argument, the FTC will need the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to increase the deal’s current momentary restraining order that expires on Friday, July 14. Once that restraining order expires, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard can shut the deal.
“The District Court’s ruling makes crystal clear that this acquisition is nice for each competitors and shoppers,” Microsoft president Brad Smith mentioned on Twitter. “We’re upset that the FTC is constant to pursue what has turn out to be a demonstrably weak case, and we are going to oppose additional efforts to delay the flexibility to maneuver ahead.”
In the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Microsoft, and Activision Blizzard have paused authorized proceedings to renegotiate the deal to be able to get it throughout the road. However, the CMA has mentioned that its ultimate report on the deal “nonetheless stands” and that new proposals from Microsoft might result in a brand new merger investigation.
