South Korea Approves Microsoft Acquisition of Activision Blizzard

Credit: South Korea Fair Trade Commission/Microsoft/Activision Blizzard

The Korea Fair Trade Commission has approved Microsoft’s proposed $69B USD acquisition of Activision Blizzard, according to reporting from FOSS Patents and several South Korean media outlets. South Korea joins European Union member countries, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Serbia, Chile, Japan, and Ukraine in approving the acquisition. Regulators in South Africa have recommended approval, with a final decision expected on June 21.

High-profile holdouts at this point are New Zealand, which is expected to make a ruling by June 9; Australia; and the United States. Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are currently appealing the UK’s Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) decision opposing the merger that was rendered in April.

On a related note—and as The Esports Advocate reported earlier this month–China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has published its ruling that gave unconditional approval to Microsoft’s proposed $68B USD acquisition of Activision Blizzard on its official website this week.