FTC to Pause Microsoft Merger Trial, Opening Door to Settlement Talks
- Move allows Microsoft, Activision to speak with commissioners
- Companies asked for delay ahead of August in-house trial
This article is for subscribers only.
The US Federal Trade Commission paused its in-house trial against Microsoft Corp.’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc., opening the door to potential settlement talks.
The step is a win for Microsoft and Activision as they seek to close the largest-ever gaming deal despite regulatory challenges in the US and the UK. On Thursday, two days after the companies asked the FTC to withdraw the case, the agency said in a filing that it’s suspending an administrative challenge that had been scheduled for trial in August before an in-house judge.