Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision has reportedly received approval from the Serbian competition and markets authority. Sony and Microsoft might reach a 10-year deal over Call of Duty in order to obtain clearance from other countries.
Microsoft Activision acquisition approved in Serbia
The competition authority in Serbia is said to have granted the go-ahead to Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. Consequently, Microsoft has to receive 20 regulatory clearances from authorities throughout the world in order to acquire Activision-Blizzard.
While it has already received three of these approvals, it appears that the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union will be the biggest challenges for the acquisition.
A ten-year agreement between Microsoft and Sony regarding Call of Duty exclusivity is possible
The likelihood of the Activision Blizzard merger has increased as a second country approves the merger and the EU demands Microsoft make concessions. As a result, in order to get regulatory approvals from the European Union for the still-unannounced acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft appears prepared to make a few compromises.
Reuters reports that the European Union will have to present a list of concerns about the market’s diminished competitiveness as a result of the acquisition. Microsoft must get the list by the deadline in January, but it’s possible that the firm may propose solutions to speed up the regulatory procedure.
The years-long license agreement for Call of Duty that was recently made public and became known earlier this month may be on the board during the current discussions concerning the issue. The Xbox exclusivity of Call of Duty was the main concern, but both firms subsequently made reassuring promises. Microsoft and Sony may probably enter a ten-year agreement in order to give these terms legal effect and obtain EU approval.
Microsoft has already discussed a transaction similar to this in public. Microsoft reportedly made a straight 10-year COD contract offer to Sony last week, but Sony declined to respond. It now appears that Microsoft is willing to submit that contract for review by the authorities, who may then conclude if it would be appropriate to satisfy their concerns. However, it is yet unknown whether Microsoft’s planned concessions will satisfy the European Union’s concerns.
