United Kingdom: CMA investigation into the merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard
Progress
Scope
Timeline of events
Approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in the UK
On 13 October 2023, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision with the exclusion of Activision’s cloud streaming rights outside of the European Economic Area (EEA). The approval was granted after M…
SourceClosed consultation on undertakings to implement Microsoft’s new proposal of Activision Blizzard acquisition
On 6 October 2023, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) closed its consultation on proposed remedies to potential issues regarding Microsoft's new restructured deal. Under the proposed new deal, cloud streaming rights to all current and futur…
SourceOpened consultation on undertakings to implement Microsoft’s new proposal of Activision Blizzard acquisition
On 22 September 2023, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issued a decision stating that Microsoft's new restructured deal may be accepted and opened a consultation, until 6 October 2023, on proposed remedies to potential issues with the new…
SourceClosed consultation on Microsoft’s new proposal of Activision Blizzard acquisition
On 1 September, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) closed the consultation on Microsoft's new restructured deal, after the CMA issued a final order blocking the original deal on 22 August 2023. According to the CMA, Microsoft will dispense …
SourceOpened consultation on CMA investigation into Microsoft's new proposal of Activision Blizzard acquisition
On 22 August, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) confirmed its blocking of Microsoft's original proposed acquisition of Activision and opened a public consultation on Microsoft's proposal for a restructured deal until 1 September 2023. Acco…
SourceClosed consultation on Microsoft’s submission on material change of circumstances in Microsoft/Activision merger
On 4 August 2023, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) closed its public consultation on Microsoft's submission concerning a material change of circumstances in relation to the takeover of Activision Blizzard. In particular, Microsoft su…
SourceOpened consultation on Microsoft’s submission on material change of circumstances in Microsoft/Activision merger
On 31 July 2023, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened a public consultation until 4 August 2023 on Microsoft's submission concerning a material change of circumstances regarding the takeover of Activision Blizzard. In particular, …
SourcePublished order regarding appeal in case 1590/4/12/23 against CMA ruling blocking Microsoft/Activision merger
On 21 July 2023, the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal published an order regarding the appeal in case 1590/4/12/23 against the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) ruling blocking the Microsoft/Activision merger. The CMA and Microsoft jointly app…
SourcePublished CMA Notice of Extension to issue Final Order in Microsoft/Activision merger
On 14 July 2023, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a notice extending the statutory period to issue its Final Order concerning the acquisition of Activision by Microsoft. The original statutory period ended on 18 July 2023 and ha…
SourceClosed consultation on CMA proposed order blocking Microsoft/Activision merger
On 19 June 2023, the public consultation closes on the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Final Order issued following the Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard merger investigation. The parties were invited to submit information regardi…
SourceFiled appeal in case 1590/4/12/23 against CMA ruling blocking Microsoft/Activision merger
On 24 May 2023, Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) submitted an application for review to the Competition Appeal Tribunal under section 120 of the Enterprise Act 2002. The application challenges the decisions of the Competition and Markets Authority …
SourceOpened consultation on CMA proposed order blocking Microsoft/Activision merger
On 18 May 2023, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened a public consultation on the Final Order issued following the investigation into Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard merger, until 19 June 2023. The parties are invited to s…
SourceIssued CMA Final Report blocking Microsoft/Activision merger
On 26 April 2023, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issued its Final Report in the investigation into the Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard merger. The CMA did not approve the acquisition. In particular, the CMA stated that the …
SourcePublished updated provisional findings in CMA investigation into Microsoft/Activision merger
On 24 March 2023, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published an update of its provisional findings concerning the Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard merger after reviewing new evidence received in response to its original provis…
SourceClosed consultation on CMA provisional findings in investigation into Microsoft/Activision merger
On 1 March 2023, the public consultation closes on the UK Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) provisional findings concerning the Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard merger. Regarding competition in the supply of cloud gaming services, t…
SourceClosed consultation on remedies relating to CMA provisional findings in investigation into Microsoft/Activision merger
On 22 February 2023, the public consultation closes on the notice of possible remedies issued by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) addressing the competition concerns concerning the Microsoft Corporation and Activision Blizzard merger. …
SourceIssued CMA provisional findings in investigation into Microsoft/Activision merger and opened consultation
On 8 February 2023, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its provisional findings following the in-depth investigation launched on September 2022 concerning the Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard merger. The CMA has opened…
SourceOpened consultation on remedies relating to CMA provisional findings in investigation into Microsoft/Activision merger
On 8 February 2023, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened a consultation on potential options for addressing its provisional concerns regarding its in-depth investigation into the Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard merger unti…
SourceClosed consultation on Phase 2 investigation into Microsoft/Activision merger
On 28 October 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) closed its consultation on an Issues Statement of its Phase 2 investigation into the Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard merger. In the Issues Statement, the CMA outlines how it …
SourceOpened consultation on Phase 2 investigation into Microsoft/Activision merger
On 14 October 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published and opened a consultation on the Issues Statement of its Phase 2 investigation into the Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard merger. In the Issues Statement, the CMA out…
SourceAnnounced in-depth investigation into Microsoft/Activision merger
On 15 September 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced its decision to open an in-depth investigation into the Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard merger. In Phase 1, the CMA concluded that the merger might be expected to …
SourceClosed Phase 1 of CMA Microsoft/Activision merger
On 1 September 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) closed Phase 1 of its investigation into the Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard, Inc merger, which started on 6 July 2022. The CMA decided that the merger may be expected to res…
SourceClosed CMA consultation on Microsoft/Activision merger
On 20 July 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) closed the consultation on the Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard, Inc merger, as part of its investigation announced on the 6 July 2022. The investigation will inquire whether the …
SourceLaunched CMA investigation into Microsoft/Activision merger
On 6 July 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced an investigation into the merger between Microsoft Corporation and Activision Blizzard, Inc. The investigation will inquire whether the merger complies with the merger provisions …
SourceOpened CMA consultation on Microsoft/Activision merger
On 6 July 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened a consultation on the Microsoft Corporation/Activision Blizzard, Inc merger as part of its investigation announced on the same day. The investigation will inquire whether the merger …
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