Bobby Kotick Alleges Swedish Pension Fund Lawsuit Over Microsoft and Activision Merger Benefited Embracer
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick claimed in court filings that a 2022 lawsuit opposing Microsoft's acquisition of the company was secretly meant to help Embracer Group, a claim firmly denied by Embracer as the legal battle concludes in a settlement.
Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has claimed that a 2022 lawsuit challenging Microsoft's massive $67.8 billion acquisition of the company was secretly designed to benefit The Embracer Group. According to court filings first reported by Game File and covered by Eurogamer, Kotick alleged that the legal action, brought forward by Swedish pension fund Sjunde AP-Fonden (AP7), was aimed at helping Embracer expand its footprint in California by targeting Activision's talent acquisition and market growth.
The original lawsuit argued that the buyout was rushed to sidestep the severe legal and reputational fallout from workplace misconduct allegations during Kotick's tenure. In his legal response submitted to Delaware's Court of Chancery, Kotick pushed back hard against those claims, suggesting a hidden collaboration between the plaintiffs and Embracer. Embracer has since strongly denied any involvement, telling Game File that it hardly required assistance from a Swedish pension fund to compete in the industry.
The legal saga surrounding the historic merger has finally reached a conclusion following a recent settlement where no parties admitted fault. As part of the agreement, AP7 acknowledged compelling information that undermined claims of bad faith by the board and Kotick, though the fund maintained it did wrong nothing in filing the suit. For players watching the industry business landscape, the revelation adds another layer of behind-the-scenes drama to one of the biggest corporate acquisitions in gaming history.
Source: Eurogamer
Tags: Industry News, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Embracer Group, Business
Original article: Eurogamer