Microsoft-Activision's race for the finish line | This Week in Business
We racked our collective GI brain for another topic for This Week In Business. We tried, we really did. But there's no escaping it. The thing that must be discussed (yet again) is Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Before you reach for that little 'x' that closes the tab, let's make this as painless as possible with the use of the time-honoured Q&A format and more than a smattering of analysts' insights.
On the off-chance you somehow missed the news this week (if so, have we ever told you we have a daily newsletter?), here's what happened:
Yup. It's been quite the week.
Maybe. [Honest editor's note: we kinda really hope so] A lot has to happen in a very short amount of time; if the deal isn't done by July 18 (that's this coming Tuesday), Microsoft needs to pay a $3 billion fee to Activision Blizzard and renegotiate the deal.
The FTC's Ninth Circuit appeal is unlikely to be dealt with in the next four days and, as mentioned, the temporary restraining order against the deal's completion expires tonight.
Over in the UK, the CMA extended the deadline on its final decision this morning, saying it was nigh-on impossible to approve the deal before July 18 as Microsoft's proposals will require further investigation. It suggested a deadline of August 29 but added it will try to make a decision ahead of that.
The Competition Appeal Tribunal, which was going to oversee the appeal process later this month, has scheduled a hearing for Monday, July 17 to discuss what happens next.
Katana Games' Serkan Toto notes that Microsoft "seems to have a lot of ducks in order now," especially now it's able to renegotiate with the CMA. However, the CMA's extension means the July 18 deadline for the deal itself may
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