January 27, 2022 | Editor: Martin Wennerström
Microsoft to buy Activision Blizzard for nearly USD 70 billion
Microsoft has announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard in a USD 68.7 billion all-cash transaction. The deal, which is pending approval from regulators and Activision Blizzard shareholders, is expected to be completed in FY2023. The deal will turn Microsoft, which has recently acquired a string of increasingly sizeable video game producers, into the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue. Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick will continue to head the game developer for the time being, but is expected to leave the company with a potential USD 292.9 million golden parachute once the acquisition is finalized. Both employees and shareholders have recently called for Kotick to resign following his alleged failure to prevent and later address a toxic workplace culture hallmarked by sexual harassment and gender discrimination complaints from female employees. Analysts have highlighted the challenge of Microsoft, a company with an “extraordinary high” employee satisfaction rating, successfully tackling these lingering cultural issues as it assimilates Activision Blizzard’s workforce.
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