Microsoft president Brad Smith is just not a cheerful bunny. Yesterday the UK’s Competitors and Markets Authority, in a transfer that took nearly everybody without warning, blocked Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard (opens in new tab). It is a choice that might scupper your complete deal, although no-one’s but positive of the ramifications (opens in new tab). And so Smith is on the warpath about what a boneheaded, plain incorrect, backwards-ass transfer the CMA has made.
“We’re in fact very disillusioned concerning the CMA’s choice however greater than that, sadly, I believe it is unhealthy for Britain,” Smith informed BBC World Information (opens in new tab). “The robust message the CMA has despatched is not only to shock everybody who absolutely anticipated this acquisition to be authorized, however to ship a message that I believe will discourage innovation and funding in the UK, and I believe in that sense the impression of this choice is way broader than on Microsoft or on this acquisition alone.”
