So the deal’s deadline is July 18th and Microsoft is posturing to go through with the deal and finalize “at any time”, because they don’t want the deal to expire and have to go through the process of making a new one. The reason for this injunction is because the trial to settle the FTC’s concerns begins August 2nd, and they don’t want Microsoft to claim victory just yet.
The FTC is using the imminent nature of the deal, combined with recent sales success of Diablo 4 as reason to delay a judgment. Microsoft would prefer to get this done before having to go to trial.
It doesn’t mean any decisions have been made about the deal itself yet. The FTC may still allow the merger to happen, though likely with concessions in favor of preserving competition.
So the deal’s deadline is July 18th and Microsoft is posturing to go through with the deal and finalize “at any time”, because they don’t want the deal to expire and have to go through the process of making a new one. The reason for this injunction is because the trial to settle the FTC’s concerns begins August 2nd, and they don’t want Microsoft to claim victory just yet.
The FTC is using the imminent nature of the deal, combined with recent sales success of Diablo 4 as reason to delay a judgment. Microsoft would prefer to get this done before having to go to trial.
It doesn’t mean any decisions have been made about the deal itself yet. The FTC may still allow the merger to happen, though likely with concessions in favor of preserving competition.