Microsoft, Simpson Thacher Bartlett lead advisers on $68.7 billion Activision deal

The Microsoft store sign is pictured in Manhattan borough of New York City, New York City, U.S. January 18, 2022. REUTERS Carlo Allegri REUTERS

Microsoft Corp. turned to Simpson Thacher Bartlett as the lead adviser on its $68.7 billion deal to acquire Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard Inc., which is working with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher Flom on the deal.

The biggest deal ever made in the video gaming sector is Microsoft's biggest deal. Microsoft will compete with Sony and Tencent in the gaming sphere.

The Simpson Thacher attorneys advising Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft include M&A partners Alan Klein, Anthony Vernace and William Allen.

The trio also worked with Microsoft on the $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn, the $7.5 billion purchase of software development platform Github and Fallout videogame maker ZeniMax Media Inc, and more recently the $19.7 billion buy of healthcare artificial intelligence platform Nuance, according to Simpson Thacher statements.

Gotshal Manges, Gotshal Manges, said it served as an antitrust counsel for Microsoft on the deal.

The firm said a team led by M&A partners Kenton King and Sonia Nijjar is guiding Santa Monica, California-based Activision.

Activision has fired or disciplined dozens of employees since July due to allegations of sexual harassment and other misconduct at the company.

Microsoft to gobble up Activision in $69 billion metaverse bet.