More and more scandals continue to arise around the deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. As Bloomberg Law reports today, the Swedish state pension fund has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. The foundation claims the merger was rigged “to exploit the beleaguered gaming giant’s sexual harassment crisis [Activision Blizzard] and protect his CEO [Бобби Котика]».
The Swedish State Pension Fund has filed a 205-page complaint against Activision CEO Bobby Kotick and current and former board members. He accuses them of planning to make a cut-price deal with Microsoft in exchange for terms that allow Kotick to remain in charge, at least until the deal closes. It is alleged that Microsoft “used leverage” knowing that Activision and Bobby Kotick were currently “weak and injured” (due to the scandal) to acquire Activision “at a bargain price”
The lawsuit states: “Microsoft deliberately used the harassment scandal and its commercial influence with Activision precisely to offer Kotick a way to save his own skin. […] They colluded with Kotick and the board to help them avoid the personal and professional consequences of this scandal.”
A Microsoft spokesperson responded to Bloomberg Law that “the proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been legally and fairly negotiated.”
