Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, believes that his company's acquisition of Activision Blizzard will secure regulatory approval.
Microsoft's buyout of Activision Blizzard came as a shock to many in the gaming industry when it was announced earlier this year. The deal, worth $68.7 billion, will be the biggest the game industry has ever witnessed if it is successful, with a massive influence across the length and breadth of the industry. The process is ongoing and is expected to conclude on June 30, 2023.
With 98% of the company's shareholders voting in support of the deal, it would seem that Microsoft has a clear path to take over the company. However, that is not the case as the proposed acquisition is under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The FTC is investigating the deal for insider trading as well as whether it breaches anti-trust regulations. On the other hand, the CMA is investigating the acquisition's possible impact on market competition in the UK. According to the CMA, the acquisition "may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom."