your a bit late
Vivendi was until Activision Blizzard bought back enough of its stock to become an independent company in 2013. This was because Vivendi was thinking about forcing a $3,000,000,000 (that’s Billion) dividend on Activision Blizzard’s stock to shore itself up (Vivendi, not ActivisionBlizzard). This would have put ActivisionBlizzard into massive debt in order to pay it… and Vivendi could have done it on its own without any input or sanction from the other Directors. $2 Billion would have gone to Vivendi.
Most of the money on ActivisionBlizzard’s balance sheets was overseas which would have triggered taxes when they repatriated it, henbce why they would have had to take on debt.
3 Likes
The article I read said he is still going to be there until April 7th.
3 Likes
/puts on tinfoil hat
He’s leaving to secure funding and other business partners to buy Blizzard from Activision.
1 Like
Oh look a drama video not like we need another of those…
1 Like
So it’s often needlessly sensationalist and full to the brim with click bait?
1 Like
Because that’s…what it is? 
He stepped down last year and entered into an advisory role to ease the transition to the new head. That role was to formally end in April, but if there’s not much left for him to do, then there’s nothing wrong with moving on a few months early.
I know some people have a compulsion to look for layers of conspiracy behind everything these days, but really, it is rather silly.
4 Likes
You realise you’re essentially saying that Marvel needs to get away from Star Wars to be successful.
https://investor.activision.com/node/32181/html
As previously disclosed, on October 3, 2018 Michael Morhaime entered into an agreement with Activision Blizzard, Inc. (the “Company”) pursuant to which he would provide strategic advice to the Company in an advisory capacity. Mr. Morhaime’s employment with the Company as a strategic advisor will conclude on April 7, 2019
You were saying ?
3 Likes
Jumping ship, to me, is leaving a company to join another.
Mike’s retiring. Dang, people–this is a guy that helped give us countless hours of fun. Wish him well.
6 Likes
Everything just hasn’t been the same since he was abducted by aliens and the government tried to cover it up.
1 Like
I at one point heard there was some shady stuff about Morhaime being essentially forced out of the company instead of voluntarily leaving. Kind of similar to how the CFO was forced out. (the difference is the CFO was leaving anyway)
Seeing him give the blizzcon trophy to the starcraft 2 winner each year was always heartwarming because you could see his passion and love for the game, with him gone i hope they don’t just kill SC 2.
I’m just really really sad. If I created a super big company or a video game (like I was the founder of Amazon or Blizz) I would be there with my baby until the day I died, even if I semi retired. I know, I’m not Mike, but it truly feels scary and a little like the world is ending if I was completely honest.
Of course I do wish him the best. He deserves it.
Jumping off ship before he got burned down with it is better wording IMO.
Yeah, leaving entirely. He was originally stepping down as CEO to take an advisory role, but now he’s just bailing entirely.
He’s leaving entirely. On the same date he said he was going to leave when he originally released that he was… leaving entirely.
8 Likes
I know. It’s Metzen all over again. They said the same crap when he left, completely ignoring the fact he had just had his third child born and wanted to step away and just be a father and husband after spending 23 years at Blizzard.
4 Likes
The growth angle of ATVI was already dinged. It was a known ‘known’ but an announcement like this today drives it home. It seems like more than just a lot is riding on stuff like Diablo Immortal.
Well another one gone, the old school folk are fading away, and the new ones can’t seem to fill their shoes.
I’ll miss him as a symbol of what once was, and should still be but seems lacking.
1 Like