© Reuters. Microsoft brand is seen on a smartphone positioned on displayed Activision Blizzard brand on this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration(Reuters) -Britain’s antitrust watchdog stated on Wednesday it had began an investigation into Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:)’s $68.7 billion deal to purchase “Name of Responsibility” maker Activision Blizzard Inc (NASDAQ:).
The Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA) stated it had till Sept. 1 to make its section 1 choice on whether or not the deal between the U.S. know-how firm and video-game maker Activision would cut back competitors within the UK.
The section 1 investigation by the CMA will both result in the deal being cleared or will transfer to a extra in-depth section 2 probe.
Each Microsoft and Activision didn’t instantly reply to Reuters’ requests for feedback.
Within the largest gaming business deal in historical past, Microsoft in January stated it was shopping for Activision Blizzard. In line with Refinitiv knowledge, the Microsoft-Activision deal can be the biggest all-cash acquisition on file.
