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☆ As the narrative of a looming recession loses steam, Jim calls out these stocks that are in favor
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

As the narrative of a looming recession loses steam, Jim calls out these stocks that are in favorA broader market rally Tuesday is giving a boost to cyclicals and energy, while defensives lag. And the strike down of the FTC's motion to stop Microsoft from acquiring Activision Blizzard opens possibilities of more deal making.

Persons: Jim Organizations: Microsoft, Activision

☆ Microsoft-Activision win is also a win for Amazon, says former FTC chair William Kovacic
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMicrosoft-Activision win is also a win for Amazon, says former FTC chair William KovacicWilliam Kovacic, FMR. FTC chairman, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss the latest on the Microsoft-Activision deal and what it means for future big tech deals.

Persons: William Kovacic William Kovacic Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, Amazon Locations: FMR

☆ Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is poised to score a $1 billion profit after Microsoft beats FTC in Activision case
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Berkshire Hathaway is poised to score a $1 billion profit after Microsoft prevailed against the FTC in its bid to acquire Activision. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owned nearly 50 million shares of Activision at the end of the first quarter. Berkshire Hathaway first purchased a stake in Activision Blizzard in the fourth quarter of 2021, just a few months before Microsoft announced its proposed acquisition of Activision. Berkshire Hathaway ultimately built its Activision stake to a peak of 68.4 million shares in the second quarter of 2022 at an estimated weighted average price of $73.95 per share, Insider calculated. Since then, the conglomerate pared down its position in the third, fourth, and first quarters of 2022 and 2023, respectively, to 49.7 million shares.

Persons: Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett's Berkshire, Warren, Todd Combs, Ted Weschler, Berkshire Hathaway's, Buffett, Microsoft's, Berkshire Hathaway —, —, CNBC's David Faber Organizations: Microsoft, FTC, Activision, Activision Blizzard, Warren, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Service, Berkshire, Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway's Locations: Berkshire, Wall, Silicon

Activision shares surged 10% on the day, as the U.S. and Britain have been the two countries opposed to what would be Microsoft's biggest deal ever and the largest transaction in the videogame industry's history. Microsoft shares rose 64 cents to $332.47. Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard's games characters in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. "It does seem like the Microsoft and the CMA could work out a deal within the next couple of weeks," said D.A. The FTC's complaint had cited concerns about loss of competition in console gaming, as well as subscriptions and cloud gaming.

Persons: Jacqueline Scott Corley, ”, Joost Van Dreunen, University's, Corley, Douglas Farrar, we'll, Dado Ruvic, Biden, Brad Smith, Franco Granda, Satya Nadella, Diane Bartz, David Shepardson, Jaspreet Singh, Aditya Soni, Chris Sanders, Caitlin Webber, Matthew Lewis David Gregorio, Muralikumar Organizations: Activision, Microsoft, Biden, U.S, Markets Authority, University's Stern School of Business, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Nintendo, Sony Group, FTC, Sony PlayStation, REUTERS, FOCUS Gaming, CMA, Davidson &, PlayStation, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S, British, Britain, San Francisco, New, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ Activision Blizzard jumps 11% after judge rules Microsoft can buy the video game publisher in a win over FTC
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Max Adams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Activision Blizzard stock popped 11% after a judge paved the way for Microsoft to complete its takeover of the game publisher. She said the deal would in fact enhance access to popular game franchises like "Call of Duty" and other titles published by Activision. The company has said it is concerned that Microsoft will make popular franchises like "Call of Duty" exclusive to its consoles. Microsoft has said it doesn't intent to do this, but critics point to the firm's $11 billion takeover of Zenimax in 2021. The deal can now proceed before a hearing that the FTC had scheduled for August, in which it was set to challenge the merger.

Persons: Microsoft's, Jaqueline Scott Corley, Biden, Bobby Kotick Organizations: Activision Blizzard, Microsoft, Federal Trade Commission, Service, Privacy, US, FTC, Activision, That's, Sony, Xbox Locations: Wall, Silicon, Zenimax

☆ Microsoft CFO Amy Hood warned employees not to 'build a gold toilet'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

From left, Tim Stuart, chief financial officer of Xbox at Microsoft; Phil Spencer, Microsoft's CEO of gaming; and Microsoft finance chief Amy Hood arrive to court in San Francisco on June 29, 2023. Microsoft's finance chief advised employees not to "build a gold toilet" during a 2018 meeting, according to emails that came up during federal court hearings last month over the software maker's planned Activision Blizzard acquisition. The quip might invoke a 2016 social-media claim (proven false by Snopes) that former President Donald Trump owned a solid gold toilet. "I've made that mistake on too many products, and I'm sure everyone else has too, when we've built features before we answered the core questions," Gluckstein wrote. Read the emails from Spencer and Gluckstein regarding Hood's "gold toilet" comments below.

Persons: Tim Stuart, Phil Spencer, Amy Hood, Donald Trump, MC Hammer, Catherine Gluckstein, Gluckstein, Xbox's, I've, we've, Spencer, xCloud, it's Organizations: Xbox, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Bluetooth, TAM, Cloud, Google, Federal Trade Commission Locations: San Francisco

☆ Franchising industry holds its breath as FTC takes a closer look at regulations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Kate Rogers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The FTC told CNBC it received more than 5,500 comments on the inquiry, indicating "broad interest in ensuring fairness in franchising." The agency sought input from stakeholders, including franchise operators, workers and parent corporations, as it scrutinizes franchising practices. Industry watchers say an initial proposal from the FTC on franchise rule amendments could come as soon as the end of year. The NOA's public submission said, "The McDonald's system was, and could again be, the gold standard for the franchise business model. "Since McDonald's founding in 1955, our franchising model has successfully served the brand, franchisees, employees and the local communities we operate in."

Persons: Lina, Matt Haller, they're, Haller, franchisors, McDonald's, NOA, Danielle Marasco, Marasco Organizations: FTC, CNBC, Federal Trade Commission, Franchise Association, Microsoft, Activision, Twitter, Industry, IFA, Service Employees International Union, Strategic, Marriott, Hilton, Brands, National Owners Association, National Locations: U.S, McDonald's, Marriott, California

☆ Biden names two Republican nominees for FTC commissioner, White House says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 3 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden has nominated Virginia Solicitor General Andrew Ferguson and Utah Solicitor General Melissa Holyoak to fill Republican slots at the Federal Trade Commission, the White House said Monday. The FTC "operates best at full strength, and I will look forward to working with them," she said. A native of Virginia, Ferguson has an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Holyoak is the Utah Solicitor General with the Utah Attorney General's Office. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Utah, as is her law degree.

Persons: Joe Biden, Andrew Ferguson, Melissa Holyoak, Lina Khan, Khan, Ferguson, Holyoak, Biden, Donald Trump's, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Myers, Amgen's, Black Knight, Diane Bartz, Kanishka Singh, Eric Beech, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, U.S, Senate, FTC, Democratic, Facebook, Amazon.com, Albertsons, Senate Republican, University of Virginia, University of Virginia School of Law, Utah Attorney General's, Myers LLP, Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Center for, University of Utah, Activision, Horizon Therapeutics, Black, Thomson Locations: Utah, Virginia

☆ Microsoft-Activision Hearing Set to Wrap Up as FTC Tries to Stop $75 Billion Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-activision-hearing-set-to-wrap-up-as-ftc-tries-to-stop-75-billion-deal-a0540b8f

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: microsoft, activision, ftc

☆ Leaked court documents show Microsoft's Azure revenue half of Amazon's AWS
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailLeaked court documents show Microsoft's Azure revenue half of Amazon's AWSCNBC's Deirdre Bosa reports on the latest from the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard trial.

Persons: Deirdre Bosa Organizations: Microsoft, Activision

☆ Microsoft is developing cutting-edge AI chips to 'close the gap' with AWS, internal documents show
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Ellen Thomas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft is betting on making its own AI chips for long-term growth, new internal documents show. Cloud market leader AWS is lagging behind Microsoft in AI efforts. Microsoft is betting on developing its own silicon chips to drive long-term growth for its cloud business, newly-released internal strategy documents confirm. It hopes the chip will outperform the ones it buys from vendors to save money on its high-cost AI efforts. Wall Street was less impressed by the AI efforts AWS touted on its earnings call a few days later.

Persons: We're, Satya Nadella, Bernstein, Ellen Thomas Organizations: Microsoft, FTC, Activision Blizzard, AWS, Federal Trade Commission, Companies, Apple, Google, Amazon Web Services

☆ UK regulator may refer Adobe's $20 bln Figma deal to deeper probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 30 (Reuters) - Britain's competition regulator on Friday said Photoshop owner Adobe Inc's (ADBE.O) $20 billion buyout of cloud-based designer platform Figma may be referred to a deeper investigation as it could "reduce innovation". The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said unless the parties offer acceptable undertakings to address competition concerns, the deal would be referred to a Phase 2 investigation. CMA had said in May it was looking into the deal, announced in September last year. "Adobe has no meaningful plans to compete in the product design space," Adobe said in a statement. "We remain confident in the merits of the case as Figma's product design is an adjacency to Adobe’s core creative products."

Persons: We're, Sorcha O'Carroll, Adobe, Eva Mathews, Radhika Anilkumar, Chavi Mehta, Janane Venkatraman, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Adobe, Markets Authority, CMA, Regulators, Big Tech, Activision, Thomson Locations: U.S, Bengaluru

☆ The biggest takeaways from Microsoft's courtroom showdown with the FTC over Activision Blizzard
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +21 min

The impulse to expand Microsoft's gaming business on mobile devices at least in part inspired the Activision acquisition. The impulse to expand Microsoft's gaming business on mobile devices at least in part inspired the Activision acquisition. Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, wasn't happy with a Microsoft-generated list of Activision Blizzard games that would remain accessible on the PlayStation after the acquisition closes. Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, wasn't happy with a Microsoft-generated list of Activision Blizzard games that would remain accessible on the PlayStation after the acquisition closes. Activision Blizzard and Microsoft have agreed to terminate the deal if it's not done by July 18.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Phil Spencer, Spencer, James Weingarten, Weingarten, Jim Ryan, Sony, Ryan, Amy Hood, Bobby Kotick, Sarah Bond, Kotick, Amazon Weingarten, Bond, Tim Stuart, Nadella, Bernstein, Mark Moerdler, Hood, Stuart, it's, Jacqueline Scott Corley, she'll Organizations: Northern, Northern District of, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Sony, PlayStation, Mobile, Activision, Xbox, Zynga, Sega Sammy, Nintendo, Enix, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Management, Sony Group, Amazon, Microsoft's Xbox, Bernstein Research, Symantec, Sony PlayStation Locations: U.S, Northern District, Northern District of California, San Francisco, cybersecurity, United Kingdom, FarmVille, Asia, Japan, Tokyo

☆ Microsoft knows its out of touch with Gen Z. The software giant plans to lure them with AI, an internal memo shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Ellen Thomas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella plans to use AI to attract Gen Z users, a new internal memo shows. A "relatively low share" of Gen Z users compared to competitors, could be a "long-term risk". The confidential internal memo was briefly published online this week by federal antitrust regulators. Last year, the company's research division released a study on the preferences of Gen Z and Millennial office workers. "Something interesting I've noticed teaching is, Gen Z just does not use Microsoft Word, period.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Nadella, Gen Z, Gen Z's Organizations: Activision Blizzard, Microsoft, Excel, Federal Trade Commission, Google

☆ Canada tells Microsoft that Activision deal is likely to lessen competition, court filing shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, June 29 (Reuters) - Canada's Department of Justice told lawyers for Microsoft that it had concluded that the deal to buy Activision "is likely to" lead to less competition in some aspects of gaming, according to a court filing on Thursday. In a letter dated Wednesday, the bureau said that it had communicated to Microsoft and Activision that the deal would likely lead to less competition in "gaming consoles and multigame subscription services (as well ascloud gaming)." Reporting by Diane BartzOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Diane Bartz Organizations: Canada's Department of Justice, Microsoft, Activision, Thomson

☆ Microsoft's appeal of UK Activision veto to go ahead as planned
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) - Microsoft's appeal against Britain's veto of its $69 billion deal to buy Activision Blizzard will go ahead as planned at the end of July after the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) rejected the antitrust regulator's request for a delay. The Competition and Markets Authority, which blocked the takeover in April, wanted the hearing delayed from July 28 to October to give it more time to prepare and present its case. But the CAT said: "We consider that the CMA has not paid sufficient heed to the true public interest in this case – which is the swift resolution of Microsoft's Notice." Reporting by Muvija M and Paul Sandle; Editing by Kate HoltonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Britain's, Muvija M, Paul Sandle, Kate Holton Organizations: Activision Blizzard, Markets Authority, CMA, Thomson

That would leave Nintendo (7974.T) and Sony Group (6758.T) out in the cold, the FTC has said. Asked if Microsoft would have any incentive to shut out Sony's PlayStation in order to sell more Microsoft Xbox consoles, Nadella responded: "It makes no economic sense and no strategic sense." To address the FTC concerns, Microsoft has agreed to license "Call of Duty" to rivals. The FTC has asked Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco to temporarily stop the deal from closing in order to allow the agency's in-house judge to decide the case. Resolving the U.S. lawsuit is one of several key antitrust battles Microsoft and Activision have fought around the world.

Persons: Microsoft Corporation Satya Nadella, Read, Satya Nadella, Nadella, Jacqueline Scott Corley, Biden, Bobby Kotick, Diane Bartz, Lincoln Organizations: Microsoft Corporation, . Federal Trade Commission, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Federal Trade Commission, Activision, Nintendo, Sony Group, FTC, PlayStation, European Union, Thomson Locations: California, Downtown San Francisco , California, U.S, WASHINGTON, San Francisco

☆ Microsoft-Activision Hearing Wraps Up as FTC Tries to Stop $75 Billion Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: microsoft, activision, ftc

☆ Canada says Microsoft deal to buy Activision likely to lessen competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, June 29 (Reuters) - Canada's Department of Justice has concluded that Microsoft's (MSFT.O) deal to buy "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) "is likely to" lead to less competition in some aspects of gaming, according to a court filing on Thursday. Microsoft has pressed for a decision in the court fight before the July 18 termination date for the deal. "We received notice from the Canada Competition Bureau that it would continue to monitor our acquisition of Activision Blizzard after the formal waiting period preventing the deal to close expired," a Microsoft spokesperson said. Microsoft's bid to acquire the "Call of Duty" videogame maker also faces opposition from British competition authorities. Microsoft's appeal to Britain's Competition Appeal Tribunal is scheduled for July 28.

Persons: Microsoft's, Diane Bartz, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Canada's Department of Justice, Activision, Microsoft's, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Microsoft, Canada Competition Bureau, Activision Blizzard, Thomson Locations: Canada, U.S, British, Washington

☆ Leaked messages show angry employees roasting Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella after he thanked the troops for a 'landmark' fiscal year
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Ashley Stewart | Julie Bort | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella posted a thank-you note to the troops on Wednesday. In light of all of this, CEO Satya Nadella took to Microsoft's internal message boards on Wednesday to thank the troops, in a message viewed by Insider. But a number of employees reacted to Nadella's thank-you note with salty messages, according to internal posts seen by Insider. Another message, also upvoted by over 100 people, wrote, "Here employees take pay cuts as our company and leadership make record profits. As we previously reported, a recent internal Microsoft poll showed that more Microsoft employees say they would leave if they got another comparable offer.

Persons: Satya Nadella, he's, It's, Ashley Stewart Organizations: Microsoft, Activision

The deal had been announced in January 2022 and the FTC sued to stop it in December last year. Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco pressed FTC lawyers on where their economist got the data to show the deal would harm consumers. The FTC has said that if Microsoft bought Activision, Microsoft would have the incentive and the ability to harm competition in markets related to consoles, subscription game services and cloud gaming. "The harm here is we think is substantial in locking up Activision content," said FTC lawyer James Weingarten. To address the FTC concerns, Microsoft has agreed to license "Call of Duty" to rivals.

Persons: Microsoft Corporation Satya Nadella, Read, Microsoft's, Jacqueline Scott Corley, James Weingarten, Corley, Microsoft's Beth Wilkinson, it's, Satya Nadella, Nadella, Biden, Diane Bartz, Lincoln Organizations: Microsoft Corporation, . Federal Trade Commission, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, U.S . Federal Trade, Activision, Federal Trade Commission, Nintendo, Sony Group, FTC, PlayStation, Thomson Locations: California, Downtown San Francisco , California, U.S, WASHINGTON, San Francisco, British, Canada

☆ Salesforce to invest $4 billion in UK on AI innovation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) - Salesforce (CRM.N) will invest $4 billion in its UK business in the next five years, the U.S. software company said on Thursday, thanks to strong demand for digital transformations and artificial intelligence. The company said the plan builds on a previous five-year injection of $2.5 billion it set out in 2018. Salesforce said it would work with the government to drive the next wave of digital transformation "in this new AI era." "A clear pro-innovation regulatory framework that compels safe and responsible use of AI is vital, and Salesforce is fully focused on bringing secure, trusted, enterprise ready generative AI to UK businesses," Salesforce UKI boss Zahra Bahrololoumi said. Earlier in June Salesforce blamed an uncertain U.S. economy and weaker demand from financial services and tech companies for its disappointing quarterly results.

Persons: Brad Smith, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Salesforce, Zahra Bahrololoumi, Muvija, Sarah Young Organizations: U.S ., Activision Blizzard, NYSE, Thomson Locations: U.S, Britain, British

☆ Activision Won’t Withhold Call of Duty From Sony if Microsoft Deal Closes, Chief Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Tom Dotan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/activision-wont-withhold-call-of-duty-from-sony-if-microsoft-deal-closes-chief-says-3cf2a359

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: activision, sony, microsoft

"You would have a revolt if you were to remove the game from one platform," said Kotick. He said that removing "Call of Duty" from PlayStation, which is made by Sony Group (6758.T), would be "very detrimental" to Activision's business. The Federal Trade Commission has asked a judge to stop the Microsoft acquisition temporarily in order to allow the agency's in-house judge to decide the case. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is scheduled to testify on Wednesday afternoon before Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in federal court. The agency says the transaction would give Microsoft, which makes the Xbox console, exclusive access to Activision games, leaving Nintendo (7974.T) and Sony Group out in the cold.

Persons: Bobby Kotick, Kotick, Satya Nadella, Jacqueline Scott Corley, Biden, Diane Bartz, Greg Bensinger, Matthew Lewis Organizations: FRANCISCO, Activision, Microsoft, PlayStation, Sony Group, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Nintendo, Britain's, Markets Authority, Thomson Locations: United States, Washington, San Francisco

☆ 'Call of Duty' maker to invest in Barcelona after EU approves Microsoft deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 28 (Reuters) - Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) said its studio that developed "Call of Duty" would set up shop in Barcelona, putting into action its pledge to invest in Europe after Brussels approved Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of the company in May. In contrast, it said it would "meaningfully expand" its investment and workforce in the European Union after the deal received the green light there. Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are battling antitrust regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to clinch the deal, the biggest ever in video gaming. Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick and his Microsoft counterpart Satya Nadella are due to testify in a court in San Francisco on Wednesday to urge a judge to allow the merger. Microsoft is appealing the British veto with the "aggressive" support of Activision.

Persons: Bobby Kotick, Satya Nadella, Kate Holton, Alexander Smith Organizations: Activision, Digital Legends, Microsoft, European Union, Activision Blizzard, Atlantic, Federal Trade Commission, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Europe, Brussels, U.S, Spanish, Guildford, Warrington, England, European, San Francisco, Britain

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