Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard could receive regulatory approval next month. This would be much sooner than anticipated, as previous estimates put the completion date of the merger in June 2023.
The deal will go through as soon as this August if the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) does not request further information from either party. This suggests that the regulator has dismissed the objections of the labor unions or is satisfied with the response of Activision Blizzard and Microsoft.
Multiple outlets are reporting that Microsoft responded to the FTC’s second request for documentation this week. If nothing else is asked of them within 30 days, the deal will automatically get the approval it needs from the US regulator.
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This comes after a lengthy FTC approval process, with the Communications Workers of America union frequently urging the regulator not to rush the deal. While it is not known if this was the cause, both Activision and Microsoft have expressed a willingness to cooperate with the unions.
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Of course, the FTC seal of approval isn’t the only green light the two media giants will need for the deal to move forward. The EU and the UK will also have to approve the deal, the latter of which is already investigating whether the deal would harm the industry. However, Microsoft Chairman Brad Smith recently said the deal is “moving fast” even with the level of scrutiny it has received, so approval due next month wouldn’t be too surprising.
It’s also worth noting that Sony’s acquisition of Bungie was completed relatively quickly. The Microsoft competitor deal received regulatory approval on Friday, with Bungie now working with PlayStation on the development of the live service.
With this latest news in mind, many may be wondering what this means for Activision Blizzard’s always controversial CEO, Bobby Kotick. We recently learned that he was re-elected to the board of directors for another year. If Microsoft forced him out anyway, he could make millions. In any case, it remains to be seen how the deal will affect Activision Blizzard workers, who have long fought for better conditions.
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