MSFT - Microsoft President Smith going to Washington to try to save Activision deal -report

• Microsoft ( NASDAQ: MSFT ) President Brad Smith is said expected to go to Washington DC to meet with the Federal Trade Commission in attempt to save the $69 billion Activision ( NASDAQ: ATVI ) deal.
• Smith is expected to meet with three Democratic members of the FTC on Wednesday to try to persuade them not to block the deal over antitrust concerns, according to a NY Post report.
• The last ditch effort comes after Smith penned a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece on Monday where he confirmed that Microsoft ( MSFT ) was offering rival Sony (SONY ) a 10-year guarantee for same-day Call of Duty release in attempt to save the mega videogame deal.
• The company's Xbox "remains in third place in console gaming, stuck behind Sony's dominant PlayStation and the Nintendo Switch ( OTCPK:NTDOY )," and Microsoft has "no meaningful presence in the mobile game industry," Smith said in the op-ed piece.
• The FTC has a closed-door meeting scheduled for Thursday where the agency will discuss the transaction and there's an outside chance they may vote on the videogame deal, according to the NYP.
• The latest NYP report comes after the publication on Sunday said that at least one Democrat on the four-member Commission is said to be possibly leaning in favor of the transaction.
• Earlier Tuesday Edward Jones upgraded Activision ( ATVI ), saying its a buy with or without the Microsoft ( MSFT ) deal.

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