According to a source familiar with the matter, Microsoft is in the process of reworking the terms of its acquisition of Activision-Blizzard so that the European Commission validates the transaction. The organization is due to present the list of its concerns in January. In particular, the source mentions the possibility of a non-exclusive contract with Sony for 10 years.
would things be more complicated than expected to Microsoft? After the announcement of the company’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, everything seemed to be going well for the Redmond company. Then everything finally got complicated, when other supervisory authorities in particular became interested in the case European Commission – and that Sony went out of its way to express all of its concerns about the transaction.
Result: Microsoft sees today that they are turning soft eyes on the European Commission, whose investigation will see its verdict published by 11 April 2023. Before then, the institution must publish the list of its reservations regarding the takeover by January. Microsoft therefore has a short time to tip the odds in their favor. According to an internal source, a solution is under development at the American giant’s offices.
Related — Activision Blizzard: Microsoft promises future Call of Duty won’t be Xbox exclusive
Microsoft will get the eyes of the European Commission and Sony
After repeatedly reiterating to the competition police that Sony will not suffer from its takeover of Activision-Blizzard, Microsoft should soon return to the charge with another proposal. As Reuters reveals, the Redmond company is preparing to offer a 10-year non-exclusive contract to Sony before the European Commission. Those who follow the case closely will not be surprised.
In fact, we reported to you last week that Microsoft had already presented such a partnership to its Sony for the Call of Duty license, which is at the heart of the dispute between the two companies. Redmond could therefore try everything for everything by making it official to the regulatory authoritiesas a gesture of good faith – and to speed up the validation process.
“Such a move could get early approval from the European Commission and then be used by parties before other antitrust agencies.”, commented Stéphane Dionnet, attorney at McDermott Will & Emery. However, Microsoft is not at the end of its sentencepp. For a few days, a rumor says that the FTC, the US regulatory authority, is preparing a complaint against the company, which could completely block the takeover.
Source: Reuters