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Microsoft Lodges Appeal Against UK Block Of $75B Call Of Duty Deal

By  |  May 24, 2023

On Wednesday, Microsoft will file a formal appeal against the decision made by British regulators to prevent their $75bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the company behind Call of Duty.

According to Reuters, the technology company is expected to file a complaint with the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) in the coming hours in order to continue pursuing its bid for one of the largest takeover deals in recent years.

It was anticipated that Microsoft would challenge the CMA’s ruling on the Activision Blizzard transaction.

Read more: Microsoft Signs Call Of Duty Deal With Nintendo Ahead Of EU Hearing

The takeover has been approved in various important jurisdictions, such as the European Union and China. The CMA’s decision caused a strong reaction from the executives of both companies.

Brad Smith, the Vice-Chair and President of Microsoft commented that the CMA’s verdict may have a negative impact on technology investment and innovation in the United Kingdom.

“We’re especially disappointed that after lengthy deliberations, this decision appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works.”