Witnesses for FTC’s Opposition to Microsoft-Activision Merger to Include Company CEOs
According to a court filing on Tuesday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick are scheduled to testify during a five-day evidentiary hearing this week regarding the Federal Trade Commission’s attempt to prevent the deal from going through.
The FTC is seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent Microsoft from completing its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Microsoft has argued that if the court grants the injunction, it would kill the deal, which has a termination date of July 18 and includes a $3 billion termination fee that Microsoft would have to pay.
The consultation starts on June 22 and continues until June 29.
The FTC has argued that the deal would give Microsoft’s Xbox video game console exclusive access to Activision games, leaving Nintendo consoles and Sony Group Corporation’s PlayStation out in the cold.
Microsoft’s bid for the “Call of Duty” video game maker received EU approval in May, but British competition authorities blocked the takeover in April.
The FTC subpoenas Nadella to testify about the video game industry, Microsoft Gaming’s strategy and business, and the planned Activision purchase, while Microsoft subpoenas him to testify on similar topics.
Kotick talks about Activision’s game business, future plans and strategies. Other witnesses on the list include Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO James Ryan and Dov Zimring, the former head of product management for the now-defunct gaming service Stadia at Alphabet’s Google LLC.
Two Nvidia Corp. executives will also testify.
Microsoft CFO Amy Hood, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and Microsoft Gaming CFO Tim Stuart and several expert witnesses will testify.
