Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
The Israeli occupation authorities release Al Mayadeen Palestine bureau chief Nasser al-Lahham.
Local Syrian sources: An Israeli airstrike targeted a tank and artillery battalion in the city of Izraa in the Daraa countryside
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in eastern Lebanon: 12 martyrs and 5 wounded in Israeli raids targeting the outskirts of Wadi Fa'ra in the northern Bekaa Valley
Local Syrian sources: More than 10 Israeli raids targeted Sweida, with information about more than five casualties from the Internal Security Forces
Local Syrian sources: Initial reports indicate that approximately 15 people were killed or wounded at the al-Radwan family's guest house in Sweida following a direct exchange of gunfire
Israeli media, citing Israeli political sources, reported that the Shas movement is expected to withdraw from the government within less than 24 hours
Qatari Foreign Ministry: Negotiations to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are still in the first stage. We are continuing our efforts around the clock
Channel 14, citing a senior Israeli political source, reported: The attacks in Syria and Tel Aviv's offensive policy are coordinated with the Americans
Lebanese Ministry of Health's Emergency Operations Center: Six injured as a result of Israeli airstrikes on the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon
Israeli media: The Israeli Air Force has launched a wave of large-scale attacks on southern Syria

Activision Blizzard CEO could walk away with $520m post-Microsoft deal

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 30 Apr 2022 11:13
4 Min Read

The longtime videogame executive's stake in the Call of Duty publisher, as well as potential severance pay, was disclosed in a securities filing on Friday.

  • x
  • CEO of Activision Blizzard Bobby Kotick
    CEO of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick.

Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard Inc. could walk away with as much as $520 million if Microsoft Corp. completes its planned acquisition of the videogame company.

Activision said in a securities filing, on Friday, that Kotick would receive $14.4 million in severance pay if he is terminated or quits under a variety of circumstances within a year of the company's change of control. It also stated that Kotick owns 4.3 million shares and has the option to purchase another 2.2 million, for a total value of just over $500 million at the $95-per-share deal price. According to the filing, Kotick received $826,549 in compensation in 2021.

Activision's annual proxy statement, released on Friday, reflects the company's definitive accounting for Kotick's stake in the company and potential severance under existing agreements.

It gives investors their best look to date at the potential windfall Kotick could receive as a result of the acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval. Activision and Microsoft have stated that they will close in the spring of 2023.

On Thursday, Activision announced that its shareholders had approved the merger.

Kotick, 59, was among those who purchased the assets of the company that would become Activision Blizzard in 1991. He has been the company's CEO ever since, making him one of the most tenured executives in the history of a publicly-traded technology company. Kotick is expected to leave Activision once the deal is completed, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Activision also stated in its regulatory filings that Kotick will not receive any additional equity or have his rights to any equity awards accelerated as a result of the acquisition, or whether he should leave as a result of the transaction.

Related News

New York City sues Activision, targeting CEO Bobby Kotick

Activision Blizzard sued for employee's suicide

It is worth mentioning that Kotick was paid $155 million by Activision in 2020, mostly in stock options, making him the second-highest-paid CEO in The Wall Street Journal's annual analysis of compensation for S&P 500 CEOs. At the time, Activision's lead independent director, Robert Morgado, stated that the CEO's pay was earned over four years and reflected more than three decades of creating value for shareholders.

Activision, headquartered in Santa Monica, California, employs approximately 10,000 people and is best known for its Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush franchises.

Kotick has been embroiled in controversy, with state and federal regulators accusing Activision of mishandling employee sexual harassment cases and gender pay disparities. He stated in October that he had asked Activision's board of directors to reduce his salary to the minimum allowed by California law for salaried workers—$62,500—and that he would forego bonuses and equity grants. 

A California judge approved an $18 million settlement between Activision and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which had been investigating the company for allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation, in late March.

Separately, Activision was sued in July by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing for allegedly ignoring complaints of blatant harassment, discrimination, and retaliation by female employees. According to the company, the lawsuit contains distorted and, in many cases, false descriptions of its past, as it strives to pay all employees fairly.

In November, Activision was subject to criticism over desecrating and disrespectfully using Quranic text.

The game developers included pages of the Quran on the floor of a Call of Duty Vanguard Zombies map, so Activision Blizzard doesn't necessarily have the best reputation.

Activision is also being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission for allegations of sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination made by employees. On its part, Activision has claimed that it is cooperating with the agency.

  • Microsoft Deal
  • Bobby Kotick
  • Call of Duty
  • Candy Crunch
  • Activision Blizzard

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Syrian government forces deploy at the Mazraa village on the outskirts of city of Sweida, where clashes erupted between Bedouin clans and Druze factions, southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Gulf-backed negotiations underway in Syria's Sweida to end clashes

UN: 798 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid in Gaza
Palestine

UN: 798 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid in Gaza

A damaged car is seen at a field that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Nabi Sheet village, in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley, Wednesday, August 21, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah condemns Israeli Bekaa massacre, urges action from Lebanon

Palestinians walk next to the closed humanitarian aid distribution center of UNRWA, the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime cuts electricity, water supplies to UNRWA Gaza offices

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS