FTC Pauses Microsoft Merger Trial, Allowing Settlement Talks (1)

The US Federal Trade Commission paused its in-house trial against Microsoft Corp.’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc., opening the door to potential settlement talks.

The step is a win for Microsoft and Activision as they seek to close the largest-ever gaming deal despite regulatory challenges in the US and the UK. On Thursday, two days after the companies asked the FTC to withdraw the case, the agency said in a filing that it’s suspending an administrative challenge that had been scheduled for trial in August before an in-house judge.

WATCH: The US Federal Trade Commission has paused its in-house trial against Microsoft Corp.’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. Sara Forden reports.

Source: Bloomberg

With the administrative case now withdrawn, ...