Aurich Lawson
According to a Wall Street Journal report, four US senators have sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission chairman Lina Khan expressing concern over Microsoft’s proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
In the letter, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) expressed concern that the merger could hinder attempts to hold Activision could harm. management responsible for widespread allegations of abuse, sexual harassment and discrimination at Activision Blizzard. The letter also specifically addresses reports that Activision CEO Bobby Kotick may stay until the merger is completed, and that the embattled executive may have negotiated a “graceful exit” as part of the merger talks.
“This lack of accountability, despite calls from shareholders, employees and the public to hold Kotick accountable for the culture he has created, would be an unacceptable result of the proposed acquisition of Microsoft,” the letter reads in part. the report. The senators also expressed general concern about “consolidation in the tech industry and its impact on workers”.
“Workplace culture is a critical priority for Microsoft,” Microsoft Corporate VP and General Counsel Lisa Tanzi told Ars Technica in response to a request for comment. “We believe Activision Blizzard will continue to make progress, and we are committed to making further progress after the deal is closed. We will constructively address union issues and discuss all of this further with the FTC.”
The senators’ offices did not respond to a request for comment.
look in it
Bloomberg reported in late January that the FTC would handle its usual antitrust review of the Microsoft/Activivision deal. The agency has since sent numerous requests for documents to both companies, according to official records.
Speaking to the Financial Times in February, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said he believed the FTC would not block the proposed merger on antitrust grounds, as the combined company would still not have a market-controlling position in the fragmented games market. “Even after this acquisition, we will be number three with a low teen (market) share, where even the highest player is also in the teens (for market share),” Nadella said at the time.
A group of 15 public policy organizations, including Public Citizen and the Communication Workers of America, sent an open letter to the FTC earlier in March urging the agency to investigate a merger. In recent years.”
“By acquiring another major gaming studio and publisher, Microsoft will gain greater control over content and its own preferences at the expense of market competitors,” the letter said.
