It seems that Microsoft doesn’t want to wait for the UK decision and is already studying how to close the Activision Blizzard acquisition process as soon as possible. Top lawyers are strategizing to do this as soon as possible. Until then such information was brought by the reliable Mlex.
Microsoft executives are actively looking for ways to do just that, according to a new report Close the acquisitionDespite the UK veto on the deal, MLex found out.
As a reminder, the UK CMA has an interim order that makes it impossible for Rendondt to acquire “an interest in Activision or its subsidiaries”.
“Our priority is to move forward with the appeals process in the UK and we remain committed to constructive dialogue and solutions to resolve the regulatory issues,” a Microsoft spokesperson said today.
Microsoft hired additional lawyers and some to study how to close the deal with Activision, according to MLex. For this, some alternatives have already been found:
- Get Activision out of the UK asap, its games will be distributed by another company there. This would remove the jurisdiction of the CMA. Microsoft can’t do this to break the law, but Activision can. If they accept the idea, the purchase can now be completed.
- Another option is for Microsoft to unilaterally extend to the United Kingdom the remedies offered and accepted by the European Commission, even if rejected as inadequate by the CMA.
Another issue that needs to be resolved is that the CMA has already issued an order prohibiting Microsoft from buying any shares in Activision to avoid other strategies, but Microsoft will have to go to court to block this. Procurement takes place in other parts of the world. The idea is to close Activision Blizzard products in the UK for the time being.
Don’t forget that a CNBC reporter asked Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella if the company could go out of business and stop selling Activision products in the UK. The CEO replied, “Hopefully everything will work out.” Asked by MLex on May 12 whether it could close in the UK, a Microsoft representative said it was a “tricky question” but “we’ll have to think about it at some point”.
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