Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard Merger Agreement Officially Extended to October

Today, Phil Spencer – the CEO of Microsoft Gaming – announced that Activision-Blizzard and Microsoft have agreed to extend their merger agreement’s deadline to October 18th, 2023, to give them more time to negotiate with the Competition and Markets Authority in the UK. On Twitter, and in a memo sent to employees early this morning (Pacific Time), Spencer said the companies are “optimistic” the deal could close on time.

Microsoft and Activision Blizzard remain optimistic that we will get our acquisition over the finish line, so we have jointly agreed to extend the merger agreement to October 18, 2023. While we can technically close in the United States due to recent legal developments, this extension gives us additional time to resolve the remaining regulatory concerns in the UK.

[Email from Phil Spencer to Microsoft employees, via Verge]

According to Tom Warren, senior editor at The Verge, it appears that all parties (including the CMA) are aiming for the deal to close by August 29th:

We’ll, of course, keep you posted on any new developments regarding the acquisition.

[Verge]

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