EU is set to decide on Microsoft's Bethesda acquisition by March 5th

[Flash]

@Flash

The EU’s antitrust regulators will soon decide whether to wave-through Microsoft’s proposed $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media, with a filing released today setting a provisional deadline of 5 March (thanks, Reuters). Microsoft requested approval from the European Commission on January 29.

Zenimax represents the largest gaming-focused acquisition in Microsoft’s history, and if cleared the deal would see various top-tier studios joining the Xbox division: including Arkane, Besthesda, id Software, Machinegames, Tango Gameworks, and Zenimax Online Studios. The EU will now be undergoing a preliminary review of the acquisition, after which it can approve the deal, approve it with caveats, or open an investigation.

EU to make preliminary ruling on Microsoft's $7.5 billion acquisition of Zenimax by March 5 | PC Gamer

https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/1356213735283707904

EU to make preliminary ruling on Microsoft's $7.5 billion acquisition of...

https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/1356213735283707904

[TheGanker101]

Turns out Skypes acquisition happened 1 week after the EU approved it, I imagine that the deal will close before April

[foxlife]

@Flash

They updated it.

Competition case search

[Daniel]

Just read this on EU law about mergers

Timing

There is no specified deadline for when a notification must be submitted. However, as notifiable transactions cannot be implemented before obtaining clearance from the Commission, parties must submit the notification far in advance of their intended closing date to allow sufficient time for the Commission’s review

[SuikerBrood]

@Daniel

Just read this on EU law about mergers

Timing

There is no specified deadline for when a notification must be submitted. However, as notifiable transactions cannot be implemented before obtaining clearance from the Commission, parties must submit the notification far in advance of their intended closing date to allow sufficient time for the Commission’s review

‘far in advance’ could be anything. They submitted it on January 29th. That could well be far in advance of March 5th.

[Daniel]

@SuikerBrood

‘far in advance’ could be anything. They submitted it on January 29th. That could well be far in advance of March 5th.

it’s more about the “intended closing date” bit that intrigue me the most haha.

[foxlife]

Here you can find the others acquisition by MS https://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/index.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_result&policy_area_id=2&case_title=MICROSOFT

[Daniel]

Would this be the last hurdle? I’m gonna assume they’ve done the US legal stuff side first. I guess they’ll just announce it on some random day.

[Biggzy (Hassan)]

@Daniel

Would this be the last hurdle? I’m gonna assume they’ve done the US legal stuff side first. I guess they’ll just announce it on some random day.

Going by past evidence, yes this seems like the final hurdle. There would be no point filing the application if US regulators blocked the acquisition.

[Xplainin]

Why would the EU have any say about one US company buying another US company? Do they also need to get approval from China? Russia? New Zealand?

[Daniel]

@Xplainin

Why would the EU have any say about one US company buying another US company? Do they also need to get approval from China? Russia? New Zealand?

3 Studios within Bethesda are from EU, if they said no MS would have to do something with those 3 studios not the entire publisher.

[Staffy]

I don’t think anyone really expects any problems here?

[DeoGame]

@Daniel

Just read this on EU law about mergers

Timing

There is no specified deadline for when a notification must be submitted. However, as notifiable transactions cannot be implemented before obtaining clearance from the Commission, parties must submit the notification far in advance of their intended closing date to allow sufficient time for the Commission’s review

I wouldn’t worry too much. Github closed 4 days after the EU hearing and was submitted within a similar timeframe.

[Biggzy (Hassan)]

@Staffy

I don’t think anyone really expects any problems here?

Absolutely no problems, it is a vertical acquisition and in no way puts Microsoft in a monopolistic position - if anything it will mean more competition. From what I read, the fact the EU is looking to make a decision fairly quickly might mean they have done an initial review and haven’t seen anything glaring that should worry them.

[Outrun]

@Biggzy

Absolutely no problems, it is a vertical acquisition and in no way puts Microsoft in a monopolistic position - if anything it will mean more competition. From what I read, the fact the EU is looking to make a decision fairly quickly might mean they have done an initial review and haven’t seen anything glaring that should worry them.

Yep.

Even if the wild rumor of them buying Sega videogame division is true, it still is not like they are trying to buy Nintendo.