The Federal Trade Commission on Monday asked a federal court to prevent Microsoft from closing its $75 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard while the agency carries out a separate process to block the deal.
The FTC sought an injunction in San Francisco federal court, citing recent media reports that said Microsoft was considering closing the deal despite legal opposition in the U.S. and U.K. A judge would need to agree to issue the injunction, likely after a hearing at which the FTC would present evidence for why the deal is illegal.
“We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court,” said Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith in a statement following earlier reports of the FTC’s plans. “We believe accelerating the legal process in the U.S. will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market.”
Read the full story on The Wall Street Journal here.