Microsoft And Activision Blizzard Merger Delayed Till October
Headlines:
- The Microsoft Activision Blizzard merger has been delayed till October 18, 2023.
- This delay is due to them trying to adhere to the new regulatory changes in the UK.
- The Microsoft-Activision-Blizzard merger was supposed to take place last year. However, it has been delayed many times so far.
The highly anticipated Microsoft Activision Blizzard merger – which was supposed to take place last year after its announcement – has been delayed again.
This time, the CEO of Microsoft Games, Phil Spencer, has announced that the deadline for the Microsoft Activision Blizzard merger has been extended till 18th October because both companies are anticipating the outcome of the negotiation with regulators in the UK
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have extended the merger agreement deadline to 10/18. We're optimistic about getting this done, and excited about bringing more games to more players everywhere.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) July 19, 2023
Activision Blizzard CCO and EVP of Corporate Affairs Lulu Cheng Meservey has stated that
“The recent decision in the US and approvals in 40 countries all validate that the deal is good for competition, players, and the future of gaming.Given global regulatory approvals and the companies’ confidence that CMA now recognizes there are remedies available to meet their concerns in the UK, the Activision Blizzard and Microsoft boards of directors have authorized the companies not to terminate the deal until after October 18.”
Vice Chairman and President of Microsoft Bradley Smith has stated that the next three months are crucial for working through all the final regulatory concerns.
Both companies have agreed to pay a termination fee of $3.5 billion if the deal is not finalized by August 29th or $4.5 billion if the Microsoft Activision Blizzard merger deal is not finalized by September 15th.
Together with @Activision, we are announcing the extension of our merger agreement to 10/18 to provide ample time to work through the final regulatory issues. We will honor all commitments agreed upon with the EC and other regulators and continue to work with the CMA on the…
— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) July 19, 2023
This three-month delay is taking place due to concerns raised by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) of the UK, as they raised several concerns regarding the security of its cloud gaming components.
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