Four years later, Microsoft finally finishes fighting over the Activision acquisition
Microsoft has reached a $250 million settlement to resolve a four-year legal dispute with Swedish pension fund Sjunde AP-Fonden (AP7) over its 2022 acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. The lawsuit alleged that the deal was rushed by then-Activision CEO Bobby Kotick to shield himself from fallout related to emerging sexual misconduct allegations. AP7 contended that the hasty sale undervalued the company and harmed shareholders, who could have benefited from a more deliberate sale process or competitive bidding.
The settlement concludes a protracted legal battle that represented a significant complication to Microsoft’s landmark acquisition. Beyond shareholder concerns, the deal had already faced broader scrutiny due to long-standing workplace culture issues at Activision. The resolution marks a significant milestone in closing out the legal challenges surrounding one of gaming’s most consequential and controversial corporate transactions, ultimately reshaping the competitive landscape of the industry.