What no one wanted or expected happened today, the CMA officially ruled on Microsoft’s takeover of Activision and the tails got out, the UK entity blocked that deal. Although a lot of information is being released at the moment, what has become clear is that Microsoft will seek to appeal the decision, although it won’t be a bed of roses.
The first thing is time, for this situation to change, more than expected must pass, that is to say that it would no longer be in 2023 when this call could be accepted and we would enter 2024. other side, even if said the call was accepted, CMA could overturn deal againas we know it from Eurogamerit is very rare for the authority to reconsider its decision in second instance.
The CMA could block the purchase contract beyond the appeal
According to the CAT website, the simplest appeals are usually resolved within nine months. And if the appeal is successful, the proposal is sent back to the CMA for further review, which will take longer. The chances that the acquisition will be finalized as early as this year have been considerably reduced. All this without forgetting that the next steps are the decision of the European Union scheduled for May.
The appeal has a chance of success, however, the AMC tends to win the vast majority of appeals that are filed. Recent news of the CMA focusing its concerns on the cloud gaming market raised hopes the acquisition would be approved following Microsoft’s moves to create alternatives by entering into public deals with other companies. cloud games.
Microsoft, how can it be otherwise, has already moved its cards, but now the process will not have a specific time, it will be something different from what we have seen so far.
