FTC's Injunction on Microsoft-Activision Merger Delays Closing, But Still on Track for July

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may lose its only ally against Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard, as the United States District Court for the Northern District of California is expected to deny the FTC's motion for a preliminary injunction. The earliest closing date for the merger will be July 3, giving two weeks to find middle ground with the UK Competition & Markets Authority (CMA), which has objected to the deal. The FTC's console theory of harm has been rejected by regulators in charge of 40 countries, and the CMA's April 26 decision is considered indefensible on appeal.