Microsoft Activision Blizzard Acquisition Given Greenlight In US After FTC Loses (Again)

Following FTC’s appeal of the previous court ruling permitting Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the US regulator has now lost again.

The Federal Trade Commission was also seeking injunctive relief to prevent Microsoft from closing the deal but has been denied by the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. This means when the existing temporary restraining order expires at midnight Pacific, the deal can finally close in this part of the world.

Microsoft’s vice chair and president Brad Smith has issued the following statement in response to this outcome:

“We appreciate the Ninth Circuit’s swift response denying the FTC’s motion to further delay the Activision deal. This brings us another step closer to the finish line in this marathon of global regulatory reviews.”

It’s now just the CMA standing in the way of Microsoft and the deal going through in the UK, with the CMA delaying its decision until the end of August. Fortunately, it does seem like both parties are willing to work together. Reports suggest Microsoft could potentially sell the rights of Activision cloud releases to remove certain roadblocks.

Microsoft has until 18th July to finalise the acquisition in the US, and is expected to seal the deal as soon as possible.