Microsoft-Activision-Blizzard Discussion Thread |OT3| - Sony bends the knee!

Oh that’s interesting, thank you for the correction

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Not a fan of this thread. It’s very editorialized and really intransparent what is quoted and what he adds personally.

It’s his decision how to post it, but this isn’t valuable information to me personally.

His job is providing opinions and insight. Hes not a journalist that should just be repeating everything that was said. They have transcripts for that.

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These two answers are particularly concerning regarding the question of whether the UK is open or closed for business.

If most mergers will result in SLCs and be blocked, then the UK is not a place where growing companies can continue to business with the CMA structured and led as they are. They also imply that companies should not invest in nascent markets because it will negatively impact their ability to grow in other areas.

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Is there another thread on this that isn’t coloured by opinions that sound like a spurned person lol.

I mean the problem is you have people reading this sort of selective quoting mixed with opinion and believing it to be fact.

It’s very clear now - the only chance MS have is to overturn the decision substantively following CAT. It’s their only shot. There might be political rumblings but nothing that will change the decision in time. It’s down to CAT and a review (as came up this morning) at a very high level that is probably not that likely to substantively change the CMA decision.

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You can watch the CMA parliamentary meeting

https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/625b836d-971f-47ee-b4b5-e537eca5d70f

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This is an actual issue, as both Amgen and Horizon are buying rights to different drugs and raising the prices. With at least Horizon as far as I know, never once actually developing or even paying for the development of the drugs they have the rights to.

So it seems like these 2 companies merging is nothing but bad news for people who depend on the drugs they bought the rights for.

This article :point_up: goes over a brief history of Horizon, quite frankly this tweet reads as someone trying to ride the antagonism the FTC have occurred about the ABK deal to drum up support for a deal that will come with a large price hike for comsumers.

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Wait! Doesn’t the CMA’s chair know that the CMA speaks to no one and that Parliament is powerless?

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Parliament can pass legislation to change how the CMA operate or their legal framework. It can’t interfere in its decision making though unless it changes legislation.

That’s the thing. People confuse potential for parliament to change the law over a long period of time with interfering directly in this decision. One is possible. The other is not.

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They also have an impact on who is chosen for a role on the CMA:

Members are appointed to the CMA panel by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for up to 8 years. They are appointed through open competition for their experience, ability and diversity of skills in competition economics, law, finance and business.

The prime minister is the one that appoints the roles that appoint the CMA members.

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Yep and of course provide a strategic steer though that’s not parliament.

Still none of that will overturn the decision that has been made.

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So no appeal then?

Thanks for the link. It’s pretty obvious CMA has delusions of grandeur when it comes to American tech companies. Basically nominating themselves CEO of big tech. Without any checks and balances this is not going to end well for the U.K. I don’t know how any tech company could watch that and not begin to plan their exit from U.K.

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The appeal is not parliamentary. It’s a legal appeal through CAT on legal grounds.

The legal framework the CMA can work in is defined and will be relevant to the appeal. Parliament can if they choose update legislation and change this over time but it won’t impact the decision on this case.

Yep, and that’s why his thread is not valuable to me.

From what I’m seeing the CMA is not doing themselves any favors. They looked bad yesterday when they tried slamming the EU decision and they weren’t any sound in answering some of the questions today.

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I now have concerns that there may have been procedural and legal violations in contact with the FTC violating the merger agreements with the parties. I won’t be surprised if lawyers also key in on this, they would be subject to all communications (or at least the tribunal would) to dtermine if there were procedural and legal violations on the CMA behalf. This is probably why Sarah Cardell squirmed so much at this question.

If thats included in Microsoft’s appeal then I won’t be entirely surprised if the CMA abandons to save face and potentially Sarah’s job.

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I really get the feeling that the CMA doesn’t like the prospect of an appeal at all.

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Totally agree when you are asked a simple Yes or No and go into long talk that ultimately sounds like a NO and the other guy just danced around in trying to support. Her demeanor makes me think she’ll come around quickly. https://twitter.com/i/status/1658438739893313538

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