Activision Blizzard's SEC Filings on Microsoft Acquisition 'Misleading', So CWA Requests New SEC Investigation

When companies agree to an acquisition deal or a merger, certain procedures that need to be followed include  filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Now the Communication Workers of America (CWA), which has been assisting Raven Software employees who decided to unionize recently, is requesting the SEC investigate the filings from the company for the Microsoft acquisition for being misleading.

As reported by GamesIndustry.biz  the CWA is asking for an investigation because during the filings that followed the Microsoft deal announcement, Activision Blizzard filed papers saying, “ to the knowledge of the company, there are no pending activities or proceedings of any labor union, trade union, works council  or any similar labor organization to organize any employees of the company or any of its subsidiaries".  Of course, Raven Software employees had been striking since December. Additionally, the company's filing to the SEC also stated that, "there are no legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the company, threatened against the company or any of its subsidiaries or against any present or former officer or director of the company or any of its subsidiaries in such individuals capacity as such that would have a company material adverse effect”. 

These statements, since Activision Blizzard faced a weeks-long Raven strike, and not just employee walkouts and dissatisfaction, including strike action, and potential unionization at one of the company’s subsidiaries, but multiple investigations and legal actions that are still ongoing, have led the CWA to request a new investigation.

This is not the first SEC investigation that could happen for Activision Blizzard. Investigation by the department was revealed back in September with regard to the multiple investigations the company was facing. Of course, Activision Blizzard has been embroiled in  lawsuits and investigations for some time, with 2021 also seeing the filing of a huge lawsuit in California by the Department of Fair Employment and housing over accusations of rampant sexual harassment, gender discrimination, pay disparities, and a hostile workplace.

The Game Workers Alliance working with the CWA, has filed with the National Labor Rights Board for a union vote after Activision Blizzard did not voluntarily recognize the effort by the Raven QA employees who decided to unionize.