Microsoft's planned $69 billion purchase of video game company Activision Blizzard was blocked by a federal judge Tuesday, giving more time for an antitrust review of the deal.
U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco ruled in support of a temporary restraining order sought by the Federal Trade Commission that will stop Microsoft from closing the deal.
In a court filing Monday, the commission had sought both a restraining order and injunction to stop Microsoft’s acquisition of the California company behind hit games such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush Saga.
Microsoft, maker of the Xbox game system, has spent months trying to win worldwide approval for the merger. While a number of countries have approved the acquisition, regulators for two important economies — the U.S. and the U.K. — have taken action to stop it, arguing it could suppress competition in the video game market.
The judge said her order temporarily blocking the deal “is necessary to maintain the status quo” while the Federal Trade Commission's legal cases against it are still pending. The bar for issuing an urgent restraining order is lower than it is to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the deal. A hearing on the commission's request for an injunction is set for June 22.
The commission said it brought its case to a federal court this week because it was concerned that Microsoft was trying to imminently close the deal before the trial begins, which would make it "difficult, if not impossible” to reverse course if the acquisition was later found to be illegal.
Microsoft said in a written statement late Tuesday that “accelerating the legal process in the U.S will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the gaming market."
“A temporary restraining order makes sense until we can receive a decision from the Court, which is moving swiftly,” the company said.
Simple Goodness Sisters produces homemade cocktail syrup from their farms in Buckey, Washington. Cheddar News was joined by the sisters and Co-Founders themselves, Belina Kelly and Venise Cunningham, to talk more about the business and make a cocktail themselves!
The baby formula crisis hit a new level of concern in February. A facility that produces 40% of the baby formula in the U.S. was shut down for contamination, leading to bare shelves in supermarkets across the country. However, the issue is now getting attention at the federal level and changes are being made. Lauren Smith Brody, the founder of The Fifth Trimester and co-founder of Chamber of Mothers, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
Modeled after traditional Taiwanese night markets that founder John Wang experienced growing up, the market showcases the borough it calls home and the diversity Queens is known for.
On today's Biz Breakdownm, Ford beats Tesla to the first EV truck Deliveries, massive flight cancelations wrap up Memorial Day Weekend, and Apple announces new IOS 16 features one week before the WWDC.
Catching you up on what you need to know on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, EU leaders agree to ban 90% of Russian oil by year-end, funerals begin in Uvalde, Texas one week after a mass shooting killed 19 children and two adults, and President Biden meets with the world's biggest boy band BTS.
New real estate data shows that mortgage applications are slipping but home listings are increasing 9 percent from a week ago. It comes as sellers worry they might miss out on the hot housing market before it's too late. Skylar Olsen, Senior Director, Principal Economist, at Tomo joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
Gas prices are at record highs just as many Americans are getting ready to hit the road for memorial day weekend. The average price for a gallon of gas is now $4.59, with all 50 states above $4 per gallon. Dan Eberhart, CEO of Canary, has tips on how to save money and ease some of the pain at the pump.
The Week's Top Stories is a guided tour through the biggest market stories of the week, from winning stocks to brutal dips to the facts and forecasts generating buzz on Wall Street.
Catching you up on today’s top stories with discount chain Dollar General stock jumping on its earnings report and Alaska Airlines pilots going on strike.
