It started at the beginning of 2022 and has not been fully resolved after 1.5 years. Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard The process turned into a snake story. The objections to the agreement reached for 68.7 billion dollars and the efforts of legal authorities to block it, especially due to “competition concerns”, were rejected by the court. However, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) once again took action against the purchase in question.
Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been ongoing since the beginning of 2022
Microsoft’s acquisition of the game company Activision Blizzard, which started to be mentioned in the gaming and finance industry as a rumor at the end of 2021, was announced at the beginning of 2022 and the 2 companies were announced. $68.7 billion They declared that they had reached an agreement in return. But this agreement; It was not initially accepted by the legal authorities of the USA, the UK and the European Union and was subject to review.
Official authorities, who doubt that Microsoft’s acquisition move will hinder competition in the gaming industry, stated that they will not allow a monopoly to be formed. This in the gaming industry, especially Sony Different actors also supported it. The process became inextricable with the objections of other gaming companies.
Official trade authorities in both the EU, the UK and the USA market regulatory bodiesAs a result of the investigation they initiated, they also resorted to court action. While some of these courts have been completed, some are still ongoing.
First the EU Commission, Then the US Court Approved
While the legal authorities’ investigations were continuing, the first good news for Microsoft came from the EU last May. The European Commission, the governing arm of the European Union, reviewed and approved the acquisition in question.
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The Court Rejected the US Federal Trade Commission FTC’s Objection!
Finally, last July, the US Federal Trade Commission FTC; Miscrosoft’s Activision Blizzard His objection to the purchasing process was rejected by the court. Thus, Microsoft managed to obtain provisional approval from the USA for the acquisition. However, instead of accepting the court decision, the FTC made another move.
New Objection from FTC to Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard!
After the court gave provisional approval to the purchasing process, the company appealed the decision. FTC, also announced that it has initiated another internal review process. Microsoft, on the other hand, does not seem to be concerned about this objection.
Stating that the process has come to an end and the agreement is about to be approved, the Microsoft side is confident that the FTC’s objection will not be accepted. Commenting on the subject Activision CCO Lulu Cheng Meservey also; He declared that they were very close to completing the agreement with Microsoft.