Gobsmacked Microsoft president says UK's regulator blocking the Activision deal is company's 'darkest day'
Microsoft president Brad Smith is not a happy bunny. Yesterday the UK's Competition and Markets Authority, in a move that took almost everyone by surprise, blocked Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard(opens in new tab). It's a decision that could scupper the entire deal, though no-one's yet sure of the ramifications(opens in new tab). And so Smith is on the warpath about what a boneheaded, plain wrong, backwards-ass move the CMA has made.
«We're of course very disappointed about the CMA's decision but more than that, unfortunately, I think it's bad for Britain,» Smith told BBC World News(opens in new tab). «The strong message the CMA has sent is not just to surprise everyone who fully expected this acquisition to be approved, but to send a message that I think will discourage innovation and investment in the United Kingdom, and I think in that sense the impact of this decision is far broader than on Microsoft or on this acquisition alone.»
Ominous enough, but Smith was just getting warmed-up: Note in particular the ludicrous implication that an independent regulator pissing off Microsoft has implications for UK national security.
«Microsoft has been in the United Kingdom for 40 years and we play a vital role, not just supporting businesses and non-profits but even defending the nation from cyber-security threats,» said Smith. «But this decision, I have to say, is probably the darkest day in our four decades in Britain. It does more to shake our confidence in the future of the opportunity to grow a technology business in Britain than we've ever confronted before.»
Rather starkly, Smith added that if the UK wants to bring in investment, «it needs to look hard at the role of the CMA and the regulatory
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