Judge denies injunction in Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition

A judge has denied the Federal Trade Commission’s request for a preliminary injunction to block Microsoft and Activision Blizzard’s pending merger. While the FTC can still appeal this decision, this is a major win in favor of the acquisition.

Had the FTC won, it would have prevented the two companies from closing the deal before hearings on August 2. The original agreement includes a termination date of July 18. During last week’s hearings, Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, confirmed that the company’s board did not see a path forward to complete the deal if the judge granted the injunction.