Microsoft hits out at CMA: "darkest day" in four decades working in the UK
Microsoft has hit out at the Competition and Markets Authority's shock decision to block Microsoft's $68.7bn Activision Blizzard takeover, declaring it «bad for Britain».
In an interview with the BBC, Microsoft president Brad Smith said yesterday was «probably the darkest day in our four decades in Britain».
«It does more than shake our confidence in the future of the opportunity to grow a technology business in Britain than we've ever confronted before.»
The decision by the CMA prevents Microsoft from buying the publisher behind Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush.
The CMA is concerned over the deal's proposed impact on the cloud gaming sector. In its report, the CMA said Microsoft's ownership of Activision Blizzard risked «stifling competition in this growing market». Microsoft has said it will now appeal.
A clearly furious Smith said: «There's a clear message here — the European Union is a more attractive place to start a business than the United Kingdom.»
The «English Channel has never seemed wider,» he added.
The CMA responded by telling the BBC it had to do what's best for people, «not merging firms with commercial interests.»
While EU and US regulators are yet to have their say on the deal, the CMA insisted its decision means it cannot go ahead globally.
«Activision is intertwined through different markets — it can't be separated for the UK. So this decision blocks the deal from happening globally,» it said.
The BBC points out Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he wants the UK to lead the world in technology, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt stating ambitions to «turn Britain into the world's next Silicon Valley».
Coincidentally, yesterday — the same day the CMA blocked the deal — a reception was held at
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