Activision Blizzard | |
---|---|
Video game holding company | |
Type | Public |
Traded as | NASDAQ: ATVI |
Industry | Video games |
Founded | July 9, 2008 |
Headquarters | Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Rob Kostich (president)[1] |
Products |
Activision: Call of Duty series Blizzard Entertainment: Diablo series Hearthstone Heroes of the Storm Overwatch StarCraft series Warcraft series King: Candy Crush Saga |
Divisions |
Activision Blizzard Entertainment Activision Blizzard Studios Major League Gaming King Digital Entertainment |
Website | activisionblizzard.com |
Activision Blizzard (often abbreviated as ABK, K standing for King) is the holding company formed from the merger of Blizzard Entertainment's then-owner Vivendi Games and Activision, the video game producer behind Call of Duty. The merger was finalized on 9 July 2008.[2][3] Vivendi became the majority shareholder of Activision Blizzard[4] with 54% of the stock.[2]
Almost no changes occurred at Blizzard Entertainment, and it and Activision continue to exist as separate entities under the Activision Blizzard umbrella.[5] The holding company does not publish games under its central name and instead uses its subsidiaries to publish games, similar to how Vivendi Games operated before the merger.[6] Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. remains as Blizzard's brand.[7]
On 18 January 2022, Microsoft announced its intent to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion.[8]
Split from Vivendi[]
On 25 July 2013, Activision Blizzard announced that it would purchase 429 million shares from Vivendi for $5.8 billion. This purchase was financed with $1.2 billion of cash that was on hand and $4.6 billion of debt proceeds, leaving them with a $1.4 billion of net debt at the end of the deal in September 2013. An investment group that includes Bobby Kotick and Brian Kelly (who put up $100 million together), as well as Tencent and other partners, purchased 172 million shares for $2.3 billion. This group owned 24.9% of the company, and Vivendi retained ownership of 83 million shares (12%) of the company.[9][10] By 15 January 2016, Vivendi had sold the remainder of its shares.[11]
References[]
- ^ Brian Crecente 2019-01-09. Activision Blizzard Exec Shuffle Appoints New Heads of Activision, King, Emerging Business. Variety. Retrieved on 2019-06-09.
- ^ a b Activision/Vivendi Games Merger Approved: Stockholders support Activision Blizzard venture. Accessed 2010-01-23.
- ^ Karune. 2008-07-10. Activision Blizzard Announcement. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2008-07-19.
- ^ Brendan Sinclair. 2007-12-03. Activision, Vivendi merger reaps positive reactions. Gamespot. Accessed 2008-11-28.
- ^ Activision Blizzard FAQ
- ^ Businessweek. 2010-01-23. Activision Blizzard Inc details.
- ^ Ordinn. 2007-12-02. 0. Activision Blizzard FAQ. WoW General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2007-12-02
- ^ Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone, across every device. Microsoft (2022-01-18).
- ^ Activision Blizzard Announces Transformative Purchase of Shares from Vivendi and New Capital Structure
- ^ Activision Blizzard Purchases Vivendi's Shares
- ^ Vivendi Sells Its Stake in Activision Blizzard
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