Bobby Kotick Will Reportedly Remain the Head of Activision If Microsoft Deal Falls Through
Sources also claim that Activision views the CMA as the "only real potential roadblock" to the merger.
Bobby Kotick will reportedly remain Activision Blizzard's CEO should its acquisition by Microsoft be blocked by regulators.
According to a report from Fox Business (spotted by GamesIndustry.biz) which cites sources familiar with the matter, Kotick "will absolutely remain at the gaming giant to run the company," if the $69 billion deal will not go through.
Microsoft has not yet confirmed whether Kotick will continue to hold his position at Activision Blizzard if the deal is closed. Around the time of the acquisition's announcement, some reports suggested that the tech giant had confirmed its intention to keep Kotick, however, other sources anticipated his departure, along with a $15 million severance package if he was terminated.
The Xbox firm's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard has faced strong opposition from global regulators – the deal is currently being scrutinized by the European Commission, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which are concerned that if the merger is finalized, it could reduce competition in the market as well as harm gamers.
However, according to Fox Business's sources, Activision believes that the "only real potential roadblock" to the deal is the CMA as it would not offer legal recourse for companies if it decides to block the merger. However, they state that the Call of Duty maker is confident that it and Microsoft will be able to convince the UK watchdog that the merger will not have any adverse effects on competition.
Don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform, our Reddit page, and our Telegram channel, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.
