New Zealand Approves Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Acquisition - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 07 August 2023 / 6,477 Views
The Commerce Commission of New Zealand announced it has approved Microsoft's proposed merger of Activision Blizzard.
"The Commission has granted clearance for Microsoft to acquire 100% of the common stock of Activision Blizzard as part of a global transaction," reads the announcement from the Commerce Commission of New Zealand.
"With today’s approval from New Zealand, we’re cleared to move forward with our acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 41 countries," said Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith via Twitter. "We will continue to work to resolve outstanding concerns and bring this deal to a close."
With today’s approval from New Zealand, we’re cleared to move forward with our acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 41 countries. We will continue to work to resolve outstanding concerns and bring this deal to a close. https://t.co/PwoJj490Ah
— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) August 8, 2023
The acquisition has been approved in New Zealand, Turkey, South Africa, South Korea, China, the European Union, Ukraine, Japan, Chile, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Serbia. Microsoft also won its case against the FTC in the US, which was trying to block the deal.
The only place blocking the deal right now is the UK regulator, the CMA, which extended its deadline to make its final order on Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition from July 18 to August 29.
It was reported in July Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are considering giving up some control over cloud-gaming in the UK to appease the CMA. It is reported Microsoft might be willing to sell its cloud gaming rights in the UK to a telecommunications, gaming or internet-based computing company. One person said a private equity company might be interested.
Microsoft last month submitted its change of circumstances to the UK regulator arguing as to why the CMA should reverse its decision to block its Activision Blizzard acquisition and ultimately approve the deal.
Microsoft is arguing the CMA should consider its new agreement with Sony to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation consoles, its cloud gaming deals and the EU monitoring to make sure Microsoft upholds its end of the deals. Microsoft also argues the latest evidence from the FTC case "which undermines the FR's [final report's] conclusions."
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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Time for CMA to have a cup of tea and get this over with.
I mean... It would look really bad for them to "block" it now :) Like seriously haha
Not that Microsoft would care but well...
Good news for the 10 Xbox owners in New Zeland.
Another unconditional approval. FTC & CMA corruption undoubtedly confirmed dozens of times over,
EU also should be investigated for fraudulently and criminally blackmailing Microsoft into forcing cloud conditions .
When does the criminal trial start for these criminal âregulatorsâ,
I really donât get why youâve got such a bee in your bonnet over this, especially with regards to a company such a Microsoft.
But youâve got to take your âproofâ to the authorities for âtrialâ to happen. But never actually produced any beyond your own cynical opinion, and have also expressed contempt for the very agencies that would investigate your supposed âcorruptionâ, so what are you actually expecting to happen?
When Microsoft sues them for it, which would not be in Microsoft best interest. Why make the EU, UK and USA government your enemies. Whilst those markets are probably the main source of income for Microsoft. Also Microsoft has done some pretty shady things as well, which Microsoft probably don't want to get looked in to any deeper.
Sorry but you don't know what you're talking about on this subject, Lol.
There was absolutely nothing illegal, fraudulent or criminally blackmailing about what the EU did. They're well within their legal right and powers to demand the concessions that they did. You can make a personal disagreement with the concessions which were demanded and say something like, they were too extreme or w/e but there was absolutely nothing illegal about it.
Seriously...Microsoft cares less about these concessions than you do, Lol.
This also applies to the CMA and FTC as well, even though I would say both of these organisations have been a joke during this whole process, they have not done anything illegal, everything they're doing is within the laws of their respective countries.
