The CMA needs more time: final report delayed to 26 April 2023.
Provisional findings delayed to late January / early February 2023.
There are special reasons why the final report cannot be prepared and published within the reference period:
- The scope and complexity of the investigation
- The need to consider a large volume of evidence as well as main party and third party submissions
- The necessity to allow sufficient time to take full and proper account of comments that will be received in response to the Inquiry Group's provisional findings in due course and to reach a fully reasoned final decision in the statutory timeframe
Now the EC and CMA are very much aligned in timing for the final decision: April 11th for the EC / April 26th for the CMA
Welp. Lol.
Starting to feel like nobody wants to go first, Lol. CMA's delay is from March 1st to April 26th which now puts them behind EC who were reportedly waiting to see what the CMA says after FTC's decision, at least late January - early February is still fairly soon for provisional findings which should tell us what CMA is doing but who knows if that is delayed again.
Now Microsoft is on the hook for $2.5bn breakup fee, since that date was January 18th, the new extension will be April 18th, the assumption was that if CMA's findings were really negative that Microsoft could breakup before the fee increases but that's out the window now with a late January provisional finding date, doesn't matter, only $500m extra, Lol.
Now if CMA's provisional report in January is vague enough that Microsoft can't tell which way they're leaning, they'd likely continue ahead and CMA's new closure date puts Microsoft on the hook for the $3bn breakup fee if the deal fails, Lol. Honestly, I think at this stage that Microsoft might as well renegotiate the deal with ABK and extend the final date with all these constant delays.
I said that Microsoft should have the showcase in late Jan - early Feb in case CMA's findings are negative which cause Microsoft to abandon the deal, the showcase will drown out the negative news. I change my mind now, lets have it in Jan, I'm tired of waiting, Lol. It has felt like Microsoft has been on autopilot since this deal was announced, quite frankly, the Xbox brand can't afford these long quiet periods, time to blow the lid off marketing.
Last edited by Ryuu96 - on 05 January 2023
