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Federal securities regulators have launched a wide-ranging investigation into Activision Blizzard Inc., including how the videogame-publishing giant handled employees’ allegations of sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination, according to people familiar with the investigation and documents viewed by The Wall Street Journal.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has subpoenaed Activision
ATVI,
known for its “Call of Duty,” “World of Warcraft” and “Candy Crush” franchises, and several of its senior executives, including longtime Chief Executive Bobby Kotick, according to the people and documents.
The agency is asking for documents including minutes from Activision board meetings since 2019, personnel files of six former employees, and separation agreements the company has reached this year with staffers, records show. The SEC is asking for Kotick’s communications with other senior executives regarding complaints of sexual harassment or discrimination by Activision employees or contractors, the documents show.
An Activision spokeswoman, Helaine Klasky, on Monday confirmed that the SEC’s investigation concerns “the company’s disclosures regarding employment matters and related issues,” adding that the agency has subpoenaed several current and former employees. “The company is cooperating with the SEC,” the spokeswoman said.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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