Bet: Will the Activision Deal close? - It has closed

[the-pi-guy]

Approved in New Zealand.

Commission satisfied the #merger is unlikely to substantially lessen competition in any New Zealand market. “While $ATVI games, in particular Call of Duty, are popular with NZ gamers, our enquiries did not find they are likely to be ‘must have’ to compete with $MSFT in NZ."

— Diane Alter (@diane_alter) August 7, 2023

[Legend]

Uk and America are xbox's only strong markets right? Wouldn't expect trouble anywhere else.

[the-pi-guy]

Uk and America are xbox's only strong markets right? Wouldn't expect trouble anywhere else.

Pretty much.

Although strangely, NZ kept delaying their decision.

[the-pi-guy]

Today we submitted a restructured proposal to the CMA for approval of our Activision Blizzard acquisition under UK law. This new proposal also honors our prior commercial and regulatory commitments. Read more here: https://t.co/t0UBcouTP9

— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) August 22, 2023

The Ubisoft+ lineup is expanding!

We're excited to announce a new agreement that will bring Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft+ via streaming upon the completion of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard!

We’ll also be licensing the games to a range of cloud streaming… pic.twitter.com/sZTnEFJedC

— Ubisoft (@Ubisoft) August 22, 2023

[kitler53]

ugh

[the-pi-guy]

Team,

Today, we're taking another important step regarding our proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. To address the concerns about the impact of the proposed acquisition on cloud game streaming raised previously by the UK Competition and Markets Authority, we are modifying the transaction to acquire a narrower set of rights. This includes executing an agreement effective at the closing of our merger that transfers the cloud streaming rights for all current and new Activision Blizzard PC and console games released over the next 15 years to Ubisoft. Under the modified transaction, Microsoft will obtain those cloud streaming rights for Activision Blizzard games necessary to fulfill our commitments to the European Commission and under our existing streaming agreements.

We have notified the modified transaction to the CMA and we anticipate that the CMA review processes can be completed before the 90-day extension in our acquisition agreement with Activision Blizzard expires on October 18. You can read more about this important step in this blog post from our Vice Chair and President Brad Smith.

Thank you to everyone who has devoted their time and energy in support of our acquisition. I would like to specifically call out Sarah Bond's exceptional leadership throughout this process.

And as we continue to navigate the review process with the CMA, we remain as committed as ever to bringing the incredible benefits of the acquisition to players, creators, and the industry. Today's developments move us one step closer to bringing the joy of gaming to everyone on the planet.

Phil

[the-pi-guy]

Bloomberg reports how Microsoft bluffed the FTC into filing a losing lawsuit so it could bring UK regulators back to the table and hash out a new deal.

The bait was Microsoft hinting it would pull out of the UK something it never actually planned to do.https://t.co/jYEy0IkY8b pic.twitter.com/yZ5xK46Tbd

— AmericanTruckSongs9 (@ethangach) August 22, 2023

What?

[Legend]

Sure bloomberg, sure.

The reports and public comments about this have been another great demonstration about how misinformed the vast majority of people are. I supported the deal going through but I at least understand the arguments made by people trying to block it.

[the-pi-guy]

Felt like things were really speeding up late July.
And now things haven't particularly moved in almost a month.

[Legend]

Yeah I expected this to be a "deals gone through" bump.

[kitler53]

a month is not a long time. 

I'm afraid this will close but it will take a while.  six months probably. 

[the-pi-guy]

a month is not a long time.

I'm afraid this will close but it will take a while.  six months probably.

The deadline is next month. October 18th.

[kitler53]

The deadline is next month. October 18th.

which deadline?   the artificial one between Ms and ABK which can easily be renegotiate at any time just like last time when both players want to make this happen?   ..or a meaningful one with the CMA?

[the-pi-guy]

which deadline?   the artificial one between Ms and ABK which can easily be renegotiate at any time just like last time when both players want to make this happen?   ..or a meaningful one with the CMA?

Both.

You realize the "artificial one" has a multi billion dollar fee to it right? If the deal doesn't go through right now, MS will pay $4.5 billion to get nothing.  

[kitler53]

Both.

You realize the "artificial one" has a multi billion dollar fee to it right? If the deal doesn't go through right now, MS will pay $4.5 billion to get nothing.  

Yeah, thats a thing for sure but only if the deal doesn't go though.  As long as both players still want this and they see a path forward its pretty meaningless.   The contract had a date because the contract required a date to be legally enforceable.  So a date was picked that reflected their best guess at how much time they needed.   The date can be pushed out as far and as many times as needed so long as things are moving. 

The contract becomes a big deal only if things break down.  

All i'm saying is this phase will take a while and its totally the CMA that controlls how fast it moves.   As long as ms abk think things are moving they will just adjust accordingly.  



What is the CMA deadline?