Da wir ja alle Idas lieben, hier eine Zusammenfassung:
New and very interesting report from
MLex:
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Microsoft executives are actively looking at ways to close the acquisition despite a UK veto on the deal, MLex has learned.
- The CMA currently has an interim order in place preventing Microsoft from acquiring "an interest in Activision or any of its subsidiaries."
It is likely to make that permanent very soon.
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The surprise speed of the CAT appeal process may dampen any calls within the company for it to close the deal regardless of the UK block.
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"Our priority is pursuing the appeal process in the UK, and we remain committed to constructive dialogue and solutions to address regulatory concerns," a Microsoft spokesperson said today.
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Microsoft has hired extra lawyers and has tasked some with examining how it could close the Activision deal, MLex understands.
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One option could include Activision exiting the UK for another European country in a bid to remove itself from the CMA's jurisdiction. Its games could continue to be sold via a distributor.
One rub is that any such decision must be taken by Activision to avoid breaching merger laws that stipulate that merging companies must be managed separately and independently until they actually close.
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Another option could see Microsoft extend remedies given to and accepted by the European Commission to the UK unilaterally, even though they were rejected as insufficient by the CMA.
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The company is also actively contesting the CMA's draft order that would give effect to its veto, banning Microsoft from acquiring an interest in Activision for several years, and vice versa. The ability of the UK watchdog to impose a global ban solely to address concerns relating to the UK market is at the center of that, MLex understands.
Microsoft could challenge the final order in court to seek to narrow its scope, to potentially allow it to close elsewhere in the world.
- Alternatively,
Microsoft could seek to close the transaction and argue that the order was illegal in its defense when sued by the CMA.
- In mid-May, a reporter for CNBC asked Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella whether the company could close the deal and just stop selling Activision's products in the UK. The CEO responded:
"Let's wait for it all to play out." Asked by MLex on May 12 whether it could close around the UK, a representative of Microsoft said it was a
"complicated question," but
"at some point we may need to think about it." A spokesperson from Microsoft advised against reading too much into the comments.
It sounds like MS is ready to close this no matter what :o
The next six weeks, until July 18th (the outside date in the merger agreement) could be a lot of fun
Sehr gut, love it
Und dann hätten die Leute, die meinen, dass man unbedingt UK benötigt, mal wieder unrecht ^^
