The vice president of the US software giant Microsoft was reacting to the decision of the British antitrust authority CMA to block Microsoft’s takeover of the video game company Activision Blizzard, which develops games like “Call of Duty”.
“There is a clear message here – the European Union is a more attractive place to do business than the UK,” Smith told BBC radio in an interview published on Thursday. He complained about a lack of willingness to talk to the CMA. That is different with the EU, with which adjustments are being negotiated.
The CMA decided on Wednesday not to approve the acquisition. She said the deal, worth around $69 billion, could distort competition in the growing cloud gaming market. CMA chief Sarah Cardell dismissed Smith’s criticism. The agency is acting in the interests of the people, businesses and economy of Britain, she told the BBC.
CMA rejection isn’t the only hurdle to the deal. In the USA, the FTC regulator is suing the largest takeover in the industry announced in early 2022. A decision by the EU antitrust authorities is still missing. The takeover requires the green light from the authorities in the USA, the EU and the UK.
Microsoft shares are temporarily up 2.57 percent on the NASDAQ at $302.94.
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