Microsoft President and Vice Chairman Brad Smith offered additional insight into the historic merger deal between Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard in a recent interview with Belgian business publication L’Echo.
In the interview, Smith stated,
“It’s moving fast, at least fast enough for an acquisition of this size. We have received requests for information on this subject here in Brussels, but also in London and Washington. We answer questions, we give briefings, and we provide the information requested…One of our attorneys summed it up nicely by saying, ‘We’re coming to the end of the beginning and now we’re entering the beginning of the middle.’…It’s a long process and we’re still at the stage where we’re answering questions. For us, of course, the sooner it is done the better, but we will respect the process.”
The $68.7 billion bid to acquire embattled Activision-Blizzard shocked the business and gaming world when it was announced on January 18, 2022. The acquisition breaks down to $95.00 per share and would make Microsoft the third largest gaming company behind Tencent (China) and Sony (Japan). The deal is currently being reviewed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and all signs are pointing towards the deal holding up.
While the acquisition is pending, Activision-Blizzard is still dealing with lawsuits resulting from California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing, along with new allegations of insider trading (in regards to the acquisition) that surfaced in March 2022. Microsoft expects the deal to acquire Activision-Blizzard to close in the first half of 2023.
Image from: Microsoft
