Simpson Thacher’s client, Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT), successfully completed its $75 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard on October 13, 2023 following an extended and well-publicized global regulatory review. A related transaction involving the divestment of the cloud streaming rights to Activision’s games outside the EEA to Ubisoft Entertainment SA also closed on October 13, 2023 following approval by the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority of Microsoft’s restructured transaction.
The Simpson Thacher team includes Alan Klein, Anthony Vernace, William Allen, Beth DiSciullo, Quinn Cronan, Jacob Kornman, Helene Marie Snyder and Alicia Faison (M&A); Greg Grogan, Meredith Brenton and Jesslyn Nunez (Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits); Lori Lesser and Bobbie Burrows (IP/Privacy); Jonathan Goldstein, Eli Shalam and Emma Wang (Tax); William Brentani, Daniel Webb, William Perrone, Paul Clatterbuck and Margaret Whalen (Capital Markets); Chris Brown and Mark Haddox (Credit); and Krista McManus and Dennis Loiacono (Real Estate). Laura Twomey and Beatrice Caplan also provided valuable assistance.