After the UK’s CMA has come out in favour of blocking Microsoft’s potential purchase of Activision Blizzard King, eyes turned to the EU to see which way it would lean, while Microsoft began the process of trying to appeal the CMA’s decision.
Now a report from Reuters points to the EU to have its decision released likely on May 15, 2023, and that it will in fact move to approve Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard King.
Prior to the CMA’s announcement that it would move to block the merger, all signs were pointing to the CMA approving the deal. It’s always possible that the EU could shock the industry as the CMA did, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
If the EU does approve the deal, then that could help Microsoft with some ammunition in its attempts at appealing with the CMA, though that process still won’t finish for a while.
And even when it does, if Microsoft is successful in its appeal, the acquisition will be sent back to the CMA for a second investigation. That’s without even mentioning when the FTC’s lawsuit might finish up.
Needless to say, there’s still nothing final to be said about this deal.