Former Activision Blizzard executives are set to face shareholder claims in court after a Delaware judge allowed core allegations tied to Microsoft’s $75.4 billion acquisition to proceed. The case, led by Sweden’s Sjunde AP-Fonden, accuses CEO Bobby Kotick and Activision directors of breaching their fiduciary duties by rushing into a low-value deal for personal benefit.
The 83-page ruling found sufficient grounds to suggest Kotick may have steered the sale toward Microsoft to secure his position and protect himself from misconduct-related scrutiny. While claims against Microsoft were dismissed, the court concluded that Activision’s board may have prioritized Kotick’s interests over those of investors.
The lawsuit will now move forward, with Microsoft maintaining that the acquisition “delivered great value” to shareholders. The case marks a significant moment in post-merger accountability, testing how executives’ personal incentives can influence multibillion-dollar corporate sales.
