Microsoft Backs Off June 30 as Target for Activision Deal Close

Microsoft Corp., which had expected to complete its $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard Inc. by June 30, said it can no longer comment on the timing after the US Federal Trade Commission sued to block the deal on the grounds that it would hinder competition.

Microsoft spokesman David Cuddy on Friday said the company is now declining to comment on the timing of the transaction for the video-game publisher. The FTC on Thursday said it would sue to halt the acquisition, and scheduled its in-house trial to begin on Aug. 2, 2023.

In prior merger challenges in ...