MSFT - Activision falls on report that Microsoft believes UK antitrust will oppose deal

Activision ( NASDAQ: ATVI ) fell 3.2% on a report that Microsoft ( NASDAQ: MSFT ) believes that the UK's antitrust authority may oppose its $69 billion videogame megadeal.

Microsoft's ( MSFT ) legal team expects the UK's Competition and Markets Authority will opposed its planned purchase of Activision ( ATVI ), according to a New York Times report on Saturday, which cited four people familiar with the matter. The European Commission may be amenable to potential remedies.

The NYT report comes as the UK regulator is expected to publish its provisional findings on the transaction this week. The report also follows after Microsoft is said to have received a formal statement of objections from the European Union in regard to its planned $69 billion acquisition of Activision.

Earlier this month the UK antitrust watchdog's review of the transactio n was extended to late April from early March. The UK'S CMA in September confirmed it was taking a deeper look at the Activision deal after Microsoft failed to assuage concerns about potential anticompetitive effects.

Activision ( ATVI ) is expected to report its Q4 results after the close on Monday and CEO Bobby Kotick is scheduled to appear on CNBC on Tuesday morning.

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