UK antitrust chief Sarah Cardell says she doesn’t want to ‘create’hostile environment» for technology companies to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard by their decision.
Image source: Activision
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which operates independently of the government, said in April that the deal could not go ahead because it would hurt competition in the nascent cloud gaming market, angering Microsoft. Company President Brad Smith has accused the regulator of undermining confidence in the UK as a location for tech companies, worrying lawmakers who are pinning their hopes on Britain’s science and innovation sector.
CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell told a group of lawmakers on Tuesday that she supports the decision, even after the European Union approved the deal on Monday. “Together we want to ensure that we can create and maintain the best competitive environment in this sector, enabling companies large and small to thrive, including many UK start-ups and many UK competitors“, – She said. Cardell added that CMA actively works with companies in the industry. “I don’t think we’re operating in a hostile environment”She added.
The deal is also being stymied by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which has filed a lawsuit blocking the deal but Microsoft has said it will appeal the decision.
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