Microsoft ‘hasn’t discussed’ Bobby Kotick’s post-acquisition employment status, it’s claimed
Previous reports suggested Kotick planned to leave following the deal
Activision Blizzard claims its CEO Bobby Kotick hasn’t discussed with Microsoft whether he will remain at the company after the proposed acquisition deal.
According to a new line added to a filing by Activision Blizzard’s 8-K filing (as spotted by Axios’ Stephen Totilo), the company claims that Kotick and Microsoft didn’t discuss his plans before the acquisition announcement, and still hasn’t.
“No discussions or negotiations regarding post-closing employment arrangements with Microsoft occurred between Microsoft and Mr Kotick prior to the approval and the execution of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, or have occurred subsequent to such approval and execution, through the date hereof,” it claims.
In January the Wall Street Journal reported that sources said to be familiar with Kotick’s plans told the outlet they expected the controversial CEO to leave.
A proxy statement filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission last year confirms that Kotick is the sole Activision Blizzard executive to hold change-of-control protection that would reward him financially in the event that he’s replaced following a takeover.
Should he be terminated following Microsoft’s acquisition, Kotick could be in line to receive hundreds of millions of dollars.
Kotick has come under fire in recent months for allegedly enabling a toxic workplace culture at Activision Blizzard.
In November, a Wall Street Journal report alleged that Kotick was aware of multiple sexual misconduct allegations at Activision Blizzard.
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Bobby Kotick could make over $350 million from Xbox’s Activision Blizzard deal
Before Microsoft announced that it planned to buy Activision Blizzard, around 1900 of its approximately 10,000 employees signed a petition calling for Kotick to resign – something he reportedly told senior managers he would be willing to do if he couldn’t “quickly fix” the culture problems at the company.
According to regulatory filings from February, Xbox‘s Phil Spencer began discussions for the platform holder to acquire the Call of Duty publisher just days after the Wall Street Journal report.
