The UK government is currently analyzing the proposed sale of Activision Blizzard to Microsoft, a process that has been controversial until now. However, things only seem to get more chaotic as the next chapter of this legal saga unfolds. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is now inviting any person to comment.
People have commented extensively on the deal on social media so far, but this is the first time the CMA has officially announced that it is soliciting public comment on the proposed sale. “Here we invite everyone, including the public, to give us their views,” the CMA wrote on its website.
Of course, it’s expected that some people will tarnish the system and send in less serious opinions about the deal. After all, debates in online circles have been active and heated, particularly as Call of Duty’s multiplatform status has been challenged, among other high-profile issues.
Individuals can submit their views to the CMA at this email address: microsoft.activision@cma.gov.uk. The CMA said it likely won’t be able to acknowledge or respond to all emails due to the “expected volume of filings.”
The call for public insight came as part of a Guidance piece published today, in which the CMA outlined how it is investigating the proposed acquisition and what it means for gamers and the wider industry.
The CMA first conducted a Phase 1 investigation to determine if there would be “competition concerns.” The sale didn’t pass this and is now being raised in phase 2. As part of this, the CMA is gathering additional evidence to “investigate potential competitive issues that may arise from the merger.”
The CMA is now compiling an “Issues Statement” covering what the government agency calls “damage theories” or “potential concerns” regarding the proposed sale. As part of this, the CMA is gathering public opinion on the deal.
After that, the CMA will hold hearings and possibly visit the companies concerned to “learn more about their business”.
“If we believe that the merger may have adverse competitive effects, we are also considering possible solutions to those concerns,” the CMA said.
The CMA will then publish a “Preliminary Findings” document outlining a preliminary decision. Should the CMA have ongoing concerns, it will provide Microsoft and Activision Blizzard with its “Thoughts on Possible Resolutions” as part of a “Remediation Notice.”
The final phase is the release of the “Final Report”, which is the CMA’s final decision on whether Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard “would harm competition for consumers or businesses in the UK”.
If there are no competition concerns, the deal can go ahead as intended. However, if there are concerns, the CMA will “decide how to address them.” That could include “selling part of the business or prohibiting the merger altogether.”
For the Microsoft Activision Blizzard case, four panelists are responsible for decision making. These individuals – Martin Coleman (Chairman), John Thanassoulis, Humphrey Battcock and Ashleye Gunn – are experts in the fields of economics, finance, economics and law.
As for when the CMA might make a decision, the group said it would make a decision by March 1, 2023. You can visit the CMA’s website for a full overview of the group’s investigation into the deal.
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