Microsoft’s Smith meets UK finance minister after Activision block

LONDON: Microsoft’s president met Britain’s finance minister for talks on Tuesday and said he would try to work with regulators to seek UK approval for its $69 billion purchase of “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard.

British competition authorities blocked the takeover in April in a shock decision which jeopardises gaming’s biggest-ever deal, drawing a furious response from the two groups who questioned whether the country remained open to tech firms.

Microsoft has since appealed and its president, Brad Smith, met British finance minister Jeremy Hunt for talks in London on Tuesday, a government source said, without giving details.