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Bobby Kotick considered buying game sites Kotaku and PC Gamer, it’s claimed and could make over $350 million from Xbox’s Activision Blizzard deal

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman

A new report by the Wall Street Journal details the reasons why Microsoft‘s acquisition of Activision Blizzard was likely made easier due to ongoing problems at the company.

However, a section near the end of the report makes the claim that prior to the acquisition, Kotick was considering the possibility of buying certain video game publications.

According to the report, Kotick wanted to own these publications in an attempt to paint Activision Blizzard in a positive light again.

“Mr Kotick has been eager to change the public narrative about the company, and in recent weeks has suggested Activision Blizzard make some kind of acquisition, including of gaming-trade publications like Kotaku and PC Gamer, according to people familiar with him,” the report reads.

It also states that an Activision spokeswoman disputed this, that G/O Media (the parent company of Kotaku) declined to comment, and PC Gamer didn’t respond to a request for comment.

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The Xbox maker announced on Tuesday that it intends to acquire Activision Blizzard for $95 per share, in an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion.

The deal, which will give Microsoft exclusive ownership of Call of Duty, Warcraft, Overwatch, Crash Bandicoot, Guitar Hero and more, is expected to close during Microsoft’s fiscal year ending on June 30, 2023.

According to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Bobby Kotick held 3,908,698 Activision Blizzard shares as of August 7, 2021.

Activision Blizzard is due to file an updated proxy statement with the SEC in connection with the Microsoft transaction in due course, but based on Kotick’s previously disclosed ownership, at $95 per share his stock would be valued at $371,326,310.

However, Kotick potentially stands to make millions more from the deal, should Microsoft decide to part ways with the controversial exec.

It was confirmed on Tuesday that Kotick will continue to serve as the CEO of Activision Blizzard throughout the acquisition process.

Once the deal closes, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. However, today’s announcement didn’t specify whether Kotick will leave Activision Blizzard once the deal is complete.

According to a proxy statement filing with the SEC last year, 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.

“Upon a termination of employment by us without cause or for good reason during the 12-month period following a change of control, Mr. Kotick would have received” payments and benefits totalling $292,970,341, had the event occurred in December 2020.
 

Nautilus

Banned
On top of whatever much he earned during his time as CEO, and how much more he made in the financial market with his money invested in stocks and whatnot, it wouldn't surprise me if he had over a billion dollars.

With that kind of money he could easily buy both of them.
 
Wait, I thought he owned 25% of Activision shares?? that would be worth much more then 350 million
Correct. I suppose it’s a question of when his interest vests and when he is able to liquidate. His shares may be restricted post-close for a time, but his net worth is going to be in the $10-$15 billion range, at least.

But the figure quoted above may be with respect to the stock’s performance and as an award on top of his own holdings as the CEO.
 
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GHG

Gold Member
It only makes sense to buy projects that gets revenue.

This isn't about revenue.

Animated GIF
 

jakinov

Member
Wait, I thought he owned 25% of Activision shares?? that would be worth much more then 350 million
Correct. I suppose it’s a question of when his interest vests and when he is able to liquidate. His shares may be restricted post-close for a time, but his net worth is going to be in the $10-$15 billion range, at least.

But the figure quoted above may be with respect to the stock’s performance and as an award on top of his own holdings as the CEO.
He owns less than 1%. There are 778.89M shares and he owns < 4M

On top of whatever much he earned during his time as CEO, and how much more he made in the financial market with his money invested in stocks and whatnot, it wouldn't surprise me if he had over a billion dollars.

With that kind of money he could easily buy both of them.
the $350M number in reality is just how much cash he would get but his net worth is not really changed apart from yesterday jump to match sale price. Unless Kotick sold his stock every year that he was awarded 90-95% of his paycheques are represented in this $350 million.
 
I knew this guy was getting a golden parachute.
Thats not a golden parachute. Thats just his shares. Microsoft has to give him that.

If anything he took a fat L. Company was worth way more before the WSJ article. He could have sold his shares and would have been better off.

Unless he is promised a role for the long term. He took a fat L. He didn’t want to sell.
 
Thats not a golden parachute. Thats just his shares. Microsoft has to give him that.

If anything he took a fat L. Company was worth way more before the WSJ article. He could have sold his shares and would have been better off.

Unless he is promised a role for the long term. He took a fat L. He didn’t want to sell.
Microsoft kept LinkedIn and GitHub’s CEOs onboard because those are types of companies that Microsoft had no experience running. They are historically bad with acquiring companies and fucking things up and their new CEO is aware of this.

On the other hand Kotick is probably assisting on a integration plan and will be done the millasecond the acquisition is complete. 0% chance Microsoft keeps a guy like that around. Activision will get a role akin to GM and that will be that.

Also, there’s no way Microsoft’s acquisition due diligence wasn’t happening when the scandals broke. As part of due diligence all of the books are opened. Every cob web explored. They interview old employees, dig through complaints, look through lawsuits. There’s NO WAY they didn’t know about these issues earlier. Possibly before the article.

I’m surprised we’re not getting more “Microsoft leaked this info to get a better deal or force a deal” conspiracy theorists around.
 
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He owns less than 1%. There are 778.89M shares and he owns < 4M


the $350M number in reality is just how much cash he would get but his net worth is not really changed apart from yesterday jump to match sale price. Unless Kotick sold his stock every year that he was awarded 90-95% of his paycheques are represented in this $350 million.
Thanks for setting the facts straight, so many misinformed posters on Gaf.
 

jakinov

Member
Microsoft kept LinkedIn and GitHub’s CEOs onboard because those are types of companies that Microsoft had no experience running. They are historically bad with acquiring companies and fucking things up and their new CEO is aware of this.

On the other hand Kotick is probably assisting on a integration plan and will be done the millasecond the acquisition is complete. 0% chance Microsoft keeps a guy like that around. Activision will get a role akin to GM and that will be that.

Also, there’s no way Microsoft’s acquisition due diligence wasn’t happening when the scandals broke. As part of due diligence all of the books are opened. Every cob web explored. They interview old employees, dig through complaints, look through lawsuits. There’s NO WAY they didn’t know about these issues earlier. Possibly before the article.

I’m surprised we’re not getting more “Microsoft leaked this info to get a better deal or force a deal” conspiracy theorists around.
Microsoft kept Linkedin and Github as is because they are major organizations with a certain culturue that attracts the talent and they need a boss of that division anyways and no reason to replace them with an existing Microsoft employee. Microsoft has kept the CEO of all the major acquistions it's not unique toi the two. Skype one left years later because he wanted to replace Balmer. New CEO fired the Nokia CEO. It's nothing to do with them having no experience running those types of companies. Infact they do. They are just software companies like Microsoft.
 
I’m surprised we’re not getting more “Microsoft leaked this info to get a better deal or force a deal” conspiracy theorists around.
Im surprised as hell myself.

WSJ broke both stories. And the first one immediately the moment Microsoft was interested in buying Activision? Following articles describe microsoft executives telling Phil to go talk to Activision immediately after the story breaks. Brilliant to be honest.
 

iHaunter

Member
Isn't that kind of an enormous conflict of interest? Not like it matters anyway, those shitty sites, especially IGN, were bought long ago.
 

jaysius

Banned
Insane, but why not, it'd be hilarious we could use some oddball journalism in gaming again.

Does anyone remember PC Accelerator?
 

EDMIX

Member
lol not shocked.

Why worry about bad press when you can just make the news?

Be like "rape, you mean surprise sex?" and or "ok, but we didn't see the whoooole tape before that, what it right before that attack she was like "lets role play and you beat the crap out of me", ya'll didn't see da whole thing doe" lol

This reminds me of The Godfather 1 where Michael wanted to kill the Police Captain and ask Sonny if he could do the hit, he tells Tom Hagen that they have newspaper men on the payroll and it wasn't a good cop, but a corrupt cop. So it simply sounds like Bobby wanted to buy them to control the narrative of how those stories were done regarding the company.

Very Citizen Kane of him lol
 

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman

There are big potential payouts ahead for controversial Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, according to an extensive SEC filing about Microsoft’s planned $69 billion acquisition of the company.

Why it matters: Kotick has faced scrutiny and calls for his resignation over widespread sexual misconduct allegations at Activision Blizzard but appears set to profit.

Details: Microsoft and Activision propose that Kotick could receive as much as $22 million in stock in July or later, if Activision’s board sees improvement in company culture.

  • Measured improvements would include the implementation of a zero-tolerance harassment plan and an increase in hiring women and non-binary people.
  • Kotick took a pay cut in October in response to the company’s scandals and said he was forgoing bonuses until the board saw improvement.
  • The filing also indicates that the board may extend Kotick’s contract by 12 months beyond its current March 2023 expiration. Kotick has not been expected to remain at the company long after the merger, a source told Axios’ Ina Fried earlier this year.
  • Should Kotick be fired without cause by Microsoft, he’ll get a $15 million “golden parachute,” according to the filing's compensation proposal.
 

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman

In February, it was revealed that Bobby Kotick could receive a payout of around $15 million once Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition is approved. This payout could, however, be upgraded to around $22 million if the company's board members can agree that there has been an improvement regarding the treatment of both female and non-binary employees at Activision Blizzard. Interestingly, Kotick will still own around $619 million worth of shares even if he is removed as the CEO of Activision Blizzard.

The possibility of Kotick's huge payout prompted multiple US Senators, including Bernie Sanders, to sign a letter addressed to the Federal Trade Commission. The letter states that the acquisition could diminish the current push by employees for accountability if Kotick is allowed to retain his position as CEO and receive an eye-watering payout if he leaves on amicable terms.

The letter of concern also noted that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft may exacerbate the large number of sexual abuse, harassment, and retaliation allegations at Activision Blizzard, as the senators noted that the deal may sweep away many of the accusations leveled at the company. An Activision spokesperson responded and noted that the acquisition would not affect any of the changes made during the onslaught of allegations made against the company last year and that no special terms were made for Kotick in the deal.
 
Wait, I thought he owned 25% of Activision shares?? that would be worth much more then 350 million
You are correct, if Bobby Boy owned 25% of ActivisionBlizz shares... it would be well above $350 Million. He would become an instant Billionaire.

It's reported that Bobby has about 4 Million shares of ActivitisionBlizz. At last check AcitivisionBlizz has a Shares Outstanding count of about 779 Million. The Vanguard Group holds the most at about 61 Million shares.
 
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A new report by the Wall Street Journal details the reasons why Microsoft‘s acquisition of Activision Blizzard was likely made easier due to ongoing problems at the company.

However, a section near the end of the report makes the claim that prior to the acquisition, Kotick was considering the possibility of buying certain video game publications.

According to the report, Kotick wanted to own these publications in an attempt to paint Activision Blizzard in a positive light again.

“Mr Kotick has been eager to change the public narrative about the company, and in recent weeks has suggested Activision Blizzard make some kind of acquisition, including of gaming-trade publications like Kotaku and PC Gamer, according to people familiar with him,” the report reads.

It also states that an Activision spokeswoman disputed this, that G/O Media (the parent company of Kotaku) declined to comment, and PC Gamer didn’t respond to a request for comment.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Xbox maker announced on Tuesday that it intends to acquire Activision Blizzard for $95 per share, in an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion.

The deal, which will give Microsoft exclusive ownership of Call of Duty, Warcraft, Overwatch, Crash Bandicoot, Guitar Hero and more, is expected to close during Microsoft’s fiscal year ending on June 30, 2023.

According to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Bobby Kotick held 3,908,698 Activision Blizzard shares as of August 7, 2021.

Activision Blizzard is due to file an updated proxy statement with the SEC in connection with the Microsoft transaction in due course, but based on Kotick’s previously disclosed ownership, at $95 per share his stock would be valued at $371,326,310.

However, Kotick potentially stands to make millions more from the deal, should Microsoft decide to part ways with the controversial exec.

It was confirmed on Tuesday that Kotick will continue to serve as the CEO of Activision Blizzard throughout the acquisition process.

Once the deal closes, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. However, today’s announcement didn’t specify whether Kotick will leave Activision Blizzard once the deal is complete.

According to a proxy statement filing with the SEC last year, 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.

“Upon a termination of employment by us without cause or for good reason during the 12-month period following a change of control, Mr. Kotick would have received” payments and benefits totalling $292,970,341, had the event occurred in December 2020.
Bob Kotick:

A new report by the Wall Street Journal details the reasons why Microsoft‘s acquisition of Activision Blizzard was likely made easier due to ongoing problems at the company.

However, a section near the end of the report makes the claim that prior to the acquisition, Kotick was considering the possibility of buying certain video game publications.

According to the report, Kotick wanted to own these publications in an attempt to paint Activision Blizzard in a positive light again.

“Mr Kotick has been eager to change the public narrative about the company, and in recent weeks has suggested Activision Blizzard make some kind of acquisition, including of gaming-trade publications like Kotaku and PC Gamer, according to people familiar with him,” the report reads.

It also states that an Activision spokeswoman disputed this, that G/O Media (the parent company of Kotaku) declined to comment, and PC Gamer didn’t respond to a request for comment.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Xbox maker announced on Tuesday that it intends to acquire Activision Blizzard for $95 per share, in an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion.

The deal, which will give Microsoft exclusive ownership of Call of Duty, Warcraft, Overwatch, Crash Bandicoot, Guitar Hero and more, is expected to close during Microsoft’s fiscal year ending on June 30, 2023.

According to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Bobby Kotick held 3,908,698 Activision Blizzard shares as of August 7, 2021.

Activision Blizzard is due to file an updated proxy statement with the SEC in connection with the Microsoft transaction in due course, but based on Kotick’s previously disclosed ownership, at $95 per share his stock would be valued at $371,326,310.

However, Kotick potentially stands to make millions more from the deal, should Microsoft decide to part ways with the controversial exec.

It was confirmed on Tuesday that Kotick will continue to serve as the CEO of Activision Blizzard throughout the acquisition process.

Once the deal closes, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. However, today’s announcement didn’t specify whether Kotick will leave Activision Blizzard once the deal is complete.

According to a proxy statement filing with the SEC last year, 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.

“Upon a termination of employment by us without cause or for good reason during the 12-month period following a change of control, Mr. Kotick would have received” payments and benefits totalling $292,970,341, had the event occurred in December 2020.
Meanwhile in Bobby's Kotich office: 🎶Schould i stay ore schould i go....i stay...i go...i stay....ore goooo🎶.

O, fuck it dont give a damm, i'am gonna be fucking richer than Richie Rich😉
 
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Northeastmonk

Gold Member
I don’t know what he had in mind, but the amount of eSports news out there is not exactly enjoyable to read. That’s mainly cause MLG CoD or Overwatch/Hearthstone news only interests a certain minority of gamers out there. He probably wanted to pre-approve all the articles calling out their problems.

I check the gaming news on MSN and a lot of it is skippable. I rarely get the gaming news I’m looking for.
 
There is no world where Kotick doesn't fuck off into the sunset surrounded by whores riding horses literally made of cash.

The sooner you come to your happy place about that fact the sooner you can move onto the next story designed to make you miserable.
 

laynelane

Member
That's one way to get them to stop writing mean things about him. Whatever payout he gets, it would be good to see him gone from the games industry. Probably not happening, but I can hope.
 
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MrA

Banned
So after running Activision into the ground, he gets off scot free? I guess it's just business as usual in the gaming industry, no one cares.
I don't like the way the guy does things now but he literally built activision into what it is today from the smoldering remains of the original activision when he bought 25% the company in 1991

His actual running of activision has been phenomenally profitable , his conduct with employee sexual harassment claims and potential insider trading are where he's a problem

That's one way to get them to stop writing mean things about him. Whatever payout he gets, it would be good to see him gone from the games industry. Probably not happening, but I can hope.
If he does it will be where there is the most money to be made so expect mobile stuff
 
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