Microsoft’s takeover of Activision Blizzard will continue to fuel passions before the European Commission and the CMA in the United Kingdom decide. But according to Reuters, Europe would have planned not to validate the takeover, or at least to have significant objections.
Europe would be on the verge of expressing its objections
We learned last week that Google and Nvidia would have raised concerns about the takeover, but it is Europe and the United Kingdom that Microsoft seeks above all to convince in the end. While the FTC wants to block the takeover as it stands, Microsoft has every interest in convincing the two other organizations to justify its operation.
But according to ReutersMicrosoft is expected to run into difficulties shortly as the European Commission is said to be drafting a Statement of Objections against the deal.
The EU’s antitrust watchdog declined to comment on the information and currently has a deadline of April 11 to issue a decision. For its part, Microsoft did not comment other than “We continue to work with the European Commission to address all market concerns. Our goal is to bring more games to more people, and this agreement will further that goal. »
The statement of objections is a usual procedure of the European Commission when it considers, on a preliminary basis, that there is a risk of abuse of a dominant position. The sending of a statement of objections does not prejudge the outcome of an investigation, as the organization itself specifies.
The Statement of Objections is a formal step in the Commission’s investigations into alleged breaches of EU antitrust rules. The Commission informs the parties concerned in writing of the objections raised against them. The undertakings concerned may examine the documents in the Commission’s file, reply in writing and request a hearing in order to present their observations on the case to representatives of the Commission and the national competition authorities. The sending of a statement of objections and the opening of a formal investigation into anti-competitive practices do not prejudge the outcome of the investigations.
No legal deadline is provided for the closure of an investigation into anti-competitive practices. The duration of this type of investigation depends on various elements, including the complexity of the case, the degree of cooperation of the companies involved with the Commission and the exercise of the rights of defence.
In other words, this means that Europe would like to raise its concerns and objections to the takeover, but that Microsoft would still have time to argue, but also to find other possible solutions to satisfy the authorities. For now, all we know is that Microsoft has offered a 10-year deal for Call of Duty on PlayStation and Nintendo.
