Activision believes the deal will be approved – even though British authorities see concerns.
Bobby Kotick could stay on as CEO of Activision Blizzard if Microsoft does not go through with its plans to buy the company for just over $68 billion.
Anonymous sources states to Fox Business that the long-time Activision CEO is hopeful that the deal will go through, but that he may stay on as chief if the various competition authorities currently scrutinizing the deal say no.
Kotick has led Activision since 1991.
When Microsoft’s purchase plans became public last January, there were reports that Kotick would leave his position once the deal was completed and that Activision Blizzard would bring Xbox boss Phil Spencer over. Neither that nor the new information about Kotick’s possible future has been officially confirmed.
Fox Business sources say that Activision sees the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority as “the only review body that really matters”, and that it is expected to give the green light to the deal. But CMA recently left an interim report which specifically said the deal could harm competition and result in higher prices, fewer choices and less innovation.
It has previously been said that the tours around the purchase will be completed in 2023. But new submissions in the debate about how the deal can affect competition are coming in a stream, so don’t be surprised if it becomes a protracted story. In the meantime, Kotick continues to run Activision, which he has done since 1991.