Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark one)

 

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2010

 

OR

 

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                      to                     

 

Commission File Number 1-15839

 

GRAPHIC

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

95-4803544

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

3100 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA

 

90405

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(310) 255-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant:  (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer x

 

Accelerated Filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o No x

 

The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding at April 30, 2010 was 1,243,905,768.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Table of Contents

 

 

Cautionary Statement

 

3

 

 

 

 

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2010

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

8

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

20

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

29

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

30

 

 

 

 

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

30

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

30

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

 

30

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

31

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

31

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

 

32

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

33

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

 

 

 

2



Table of Contents

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains, or incorporates by reference, certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements consist of any statement other than a recitation of historical fact and include, but are not limited to: (1) projections of revenues, expenses, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, cash flow or other financial items; (2) statements of our plans and objectives, including those relating to product releases; (3) statements of future economic performance; and (4) statements of assumptions underlying such statements. We generally use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “project,” “remain,” “scheduled,” “set to,” “subject to,” “to be,” “upcoming,” “will,” and other similar expressions to help identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risk, reflect management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about our business, and are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Our actual results could differ materially. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only at the date on which this Form 10-Q was first filed. Risks and uncertainties that may affect our future results include, but are not limited to, sales levels of Activision Blizzard’s titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the impact of the current macroeconomic environment, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, any further difficulties related to World of Warcraft in China, Activision Blizzard’s ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms, declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision Blizzard’s products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware (including peripherals) and related software, industry competition, including from used games, and from other forms of entertainment, litigation risks and associated costs, rapid changes in technology, industry standards, business models, including online and used games and consumer preferences including interest in specific genres such as music, first-person action and massively multiplayer online games, protection of proprietary rights,  maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, licensees, licensors, vendors, and third-party developers, including the ability to attract, retain and develop key personnel and developers that can create high quality “hit” titles, counterparty risks relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions and policies, foreign exchange rates and tax rates, and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, and potential challenges associated with geographic expansion, and the other factors identified in “Risk Factors” included in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon information available to us as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of our future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

 

Activision Blizzard’s names, abbreviations thereof, logos, and product and service designators are all either the registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names of Activision Blizzard.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

Part I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in millions, except share data)

 

 

 

At March 31,
2010

 

At December 31,
2009

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

2,695

 

$

2,768

 

Short-term investments

 

647

 

477

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $225 million and $317 million at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively

 

134

 

739

 

Inventories

 

194

 

241

 

Software development

 

217

 

224

 

Intellectual property licenses

 

40

 

55

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

395

 

498

 

Other current assets

 

164

 

327

 

Total current assets

 

4,486

 

5,329

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term investments

 

23

 

23

 

Software development

 

4

 

10

 

Intellectual property licenses

 

29

 

28

 

Property and equipment, net

 

131

 

138

 

Other assets

 

11

 

9

 

Intangible assets, net

 

599

 

618

 

Trademark and trade names

 

433

 

433

 

Goodwill

 

7,150

 

7,154

 

Total assets

 

$

12,866

 

$

13,742

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

147

 

$

302

 

Deferred revenues

 

772

 

1,426

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

623

 

779

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,542

 

2,507

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

254

 

270

 

Other liabilities

 

202

 

209

 

Total liabilities

 

1,998

 

2,986

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $.000001 par value, 2,400,000,000 shares authorized, 1,366,914,039 and 1,364,117,675 shares issued at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively

 

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

12,234

 

12,376

 

Less: Treasury stock, at cost, 123,506,345 and 113,686,498 at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively

 

(1,342

)

(1,235

)

Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)

 

20

 

(361

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(44

)

(24

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

10,868

 

10,756

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

12,866

 

$

13,742

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

 

 

 

For the three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

 

 

 

 

Product sales

 

$

986

 

$

690

 

Subscription, licensing, and other revenues

 

322

 

291

 

Total net revenues

 

1,308

 

981

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales — product costs

 

337

 

296

 

Cost of sales — software royalties and amortization

 

99

 

72

 

Cost of sales — intellectual property licenses

 

43

 

64

 

Cost of sales — massively multi-player online role-playing game (“MMORPG”)

 

54

 

52

 

Product development

 

143

 

117

 

Sales and marketing

 

56

 

83

 

General and administrative

 

65

 

103

 

Restructuring

 

 

15

 

Total costs and expenses

 

797

 

802

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

511

 

179

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment and other income, net

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income tax expense

 

511

 

189

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

381

 

$

189

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.14

 

Diluted

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

1,248

 

1,308

 

Diluted

 

1,264

 

1,359

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared per common share

 

$

0.15

 

$

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)
(Amounts in millions)

 

 

 

For the three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

381

 

$

189

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

90

 

56

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

33

 

69

 

Unrealized gain on auction rate securities classified as trading securities

 

 

(3

)

Unrealized loss on ARS rights from UBS

 

 

3

 

Amortization and write-off of capitalized software development costs and intellectual property licenses (1)

 

88

 

68

 

Stock-based compensation expense (2)

 

44

 

30

 

Excess tax benefits from stock option exercises

 

(4

)

(17

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

593

 

794

 

Inventories

 

40

 

32

 

Software development and intellectual property licenses

 

(80

)

(75

)

Other assets

 

162

 

(5

)

Deferred revenues

 

(637

)

(276

)

Accounts payable

 

(146

)

(160

)

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

(337

)

(378

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

227

 

327

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(12

)

(10

)

Proceeds from maturities of investments

 

17

 

1

 

Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments

 

 

2

 

Payment of contingent consideration

 

(2

)

 

Purchases of short-term investments

 

(187

)

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(184

)

(7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock to employees

 

16

 

7

 

Repurchase of common stock

 

(107

)

(313

)

Excess tax benefits from stock option exercises

 

4

 

17

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(87

)

(289

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

(29

)

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(73

)

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

2,768

 

2,958

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

2,695

 

$

2,988

 

 


(1)   Excludes deferral and amortization of stock-based compensation expense.

(2)   Includes the net effects of capitalization, deferral, and amortization of stock-based compensation expense.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

6



Table of Contents

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

For the Three Months ended March 31, 2010

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retained

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings

 

Other

 

Total

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Paid-In

 

Treasury Stock

 

(Accumulated

 

Comprehensive

 

Shareholders’

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Deficit)

 

Loss

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2009

 

1,364

 

$

 

$

12,376

 

(114

)

$

(1,235

)

$

(361

)

$

(24

)

$

10,756

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Components of comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

381

 

 

381

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(20

)

(20

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

361

 

Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock options and restricted stock rights

 

3

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

16

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options and restricted stock rights

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

31

 

Dividends declared ($0.15 per common share)

 

 

 

(189

)

 

 

 

 

(189

)

Shares repurchased

 

 

 

 

(10

)

(107

)

 

 

(107

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2010

 

1,367

 

$

 

$

12,234

 

(124

)

$

(1,342

)

$

20

 

$

(44

)

$

10,868

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

7



Table of Contents

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1.     Description of Business and Business Combination

 

Description of Business

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc. is a worldwide online, personal computer (“PC”), console and handheld game publisher. The terms “Activision Blizzard,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” are used to refer collectively to Activision Blizzard, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

In 2008, a business combination (the “Business Combination”) by and among Activision, Inc., Sego Merger Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Activision, Inc., Vivendi S.A. (“Vivendi”), VGAC LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vivendi, and Vivendi Games, Inc. (“Vivendi Games”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of VGAC LLC was consummated.  As a result of the consummation of the Business Combination, Activision, Inc. was renamed Activision Blizzard, Inc. (“Activision Blizzard”).

 

The common stock of Activision Blizzard is traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “ATVI.” Vivendi owned approximately 58% of Activision Blizzard’s outstanding common stock at March 31, 2010.

 

We maintain significant operations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Sweden, South Korea, Norway, Denmark, China, and the Netherlands.

 

Basis of Consolidation and Presentation

 

Activision Blizzard prepared the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim reporting. As permitted under those rules and regulations, certain notes or other information that are normally required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted if they substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in the annual audited consolidated financial statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair presentation of our financial position and results of operations in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been included.

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of Activision Blizzard. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions.

 

The prior year condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the period ended March 31, 2009 has been adjusted to correct immaterial errors related to the elimination of intercompany receivables and payables in the consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (not included herein). The corrections reduced the accounts receivable and accounts payable line items in the March 31, 2009 consolidated balance sheet by $4 million and reduced the accounts receivable and accounts payable line items in the December 31, 2008 consolidated balance sheet by $236 million. These corrections correspondingly impacted the change in accounts receivable and accounts payable in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the period ended March 31, 2009 by $232 million. These corrections had no impact on net income, earnings (loss) per share or net cash provided by operating, investing and financing activities.

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current period presentation.

 

The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date, but before the financial statements are issued to provide additional evidence relative to certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosures.

 

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Table of Contents

 

2.     Inventories

 

Our inventories consist of the following (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

At March 31, 2010

 

At December 31, 2009

 

Finished goods

 

$

161

 

$

201

 

Purchased parts and components

 

33

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

194

 

$

241

 

 

3.     Intangible assets, net

 

Intangible assets, net consist of the following (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

At March 31, 2010

 

 

 

Estimated
useful
lives

 

Gross
carrying
amount

 

Accumulated
amortization

 

Net carrying
amount

 

Acquired definite-lived intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

License agreements

 

3 - 10 years

 

$

173

 

$

(68

)

$

105

 

Game engines

 

2 - 5 years

 

61

 

(37

)

24

 

Internally developed franchises

 

11 - 12 years

 

574

 

(111

)

463

 

Favorable leases

 

1 - 4 years

 

5

 

(4

)

1

 

Distribution agreements

 

4 years

 

18

 

(12

)

6

 

Acquired indefinite-lived intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activision trademark

 

Indefinite

 

386

 

 

386

 

Acquired trade names

 

Indefinite

 

47

 

 

47

 

Total

 

 

 

$

1,264

 

$

(232

)

$

1,032

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2009

 

 

 

Estimated
useful
lives

 

Gross
carrying
amount

 

Accumulated
amortization

 

Net carrying
amount

 

Acquired definite-lived intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

License agreements

 

3 - 10 years

 

$

173

 

$

(65

)

$

108

 

Developed software

 

1 - 2 years

 

288

 

(288

)

 

Game engines

 

2 - 5 years

 

61

 

(33

)

28

 

Internally developed franchises

 

11 - 12 years

 

574

 

(101

)

473

 

Favorable leases

 

1 - 4 years

 

5

 

(4

)

1

 

Distribution agreements

 

4 years

 

18

 

(10

)

8

 

Other intangibles

 

0 - 2 years

 

5

 

(5

)

 

Acquired indefinite-lived intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activision trademark

 

Indefinite

 

386

 

 

386

 

Acquired trade names

 

Indefinite

 

47

 

 

47

 

Total

 

 

 

$

1,557

 

$

(506

)

$

1,051

 

 

Amortization expense of intangible assets was $18 million and $49 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

The gross carrying amount as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 in the tables above reflect a new cost basis for license agreements, game engines and internally developed franchises due to impairment charges taken for the year ended December 31, 2009.  The new cost basis includes the original gross carrying amount, less accumulated amortization and impairment charges of the impaired assets as of December 31, 2009.

 

At March 31, 2010, future amortization of definite-lived intangible assets is estimated as follows (amounts in millions):

 

2010 (remaining nine months)

 

$

101

 

2011

 

96

 

2012

 

87

 

2013

 

62

 

2014

 

54

 

Thereafter

 

199

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

599

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

4.     Income taxes

 

The income tax expense of $130 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 reflects an effective tax rate of 25%. The effective tax rate of 25% for the three months ended March 31, 2010 differs from the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to foreign income taxes provided at lower rates, geographic mix in profitability, recognition of California research and development credits and IRC 199 domestic production deductions. We did not record a tax benefit for federal research credits during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 since as of March 31, 2010, unlike in past years, the federal research credit extension had not yet been signed into law.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the tax rate is based on our projected annual effective tax rate for 2010, and also includes certain discrete tax items recorded during the period. Our tax expense of $130 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 reflects an effective tax rate of 25% which differs from the effective tax rate of 0% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 primarily due to tax benefits recorded during the prior period related to the release of valuation allowances on foreign net operating losses and the impact of changes to California tax laws.

 

5.     Software development and intellectual property licenses

 

The following table summarizes the components of our software development and intellectual property licenses (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

At
March 31,

 

At
December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Internally developed software costs

 

$

160

 

$

182

 

Payments made to third-party software developers

 

61

 

52

 

Total software development costs

 

$

221

 

$

234

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intellectual property licenses

 

$

69

 

$

83

 

 

Amortization, write-offs and impairments are comprised of the following (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Amortization of capitalized software development costs and intellectual property licenses

 

$

101

 

$

72

 

Write-offs and impairments

 

15

 

 

 

6.     Comprehensive income and accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

Comprehensive Income

 

The components of comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 were as follows (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

381

 

$

189

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

(20

)

(2

)

Unrealized depreciation on investments, net of taxes

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

(20

)

(3

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

361

 

$

186

 

 

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The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

At March 31,

 

At December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

$

(42

)

$

(22

)

Unrealized depreciation on investments, net of deferred income taxes of $(2) for March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009

 

(2

)

(2

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

$

(44

)

$

(24

)

 

Income taxes were not provided for foreign currency translation items as these are considered indefinite investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries.

 

7.     Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of deposits held at major banks and money market funds with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase.

 

The following table summarizes the components of our cash and cash equivalents (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

At March 31,

 

At December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Cash and time deposits

 

$

294

 

$

464

 

Securities with original maturities of three months or less

 

40

 

 

Money market funds

 

2,361

 

2,304

 

Total cash and cash equivalents

 

$

2,695

 

$

2,768

 

 

8.     Fair value measurements

 

Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis

 

FASB literature regarding fair value measurements for financial and non-financial assets and liabilities establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of “observable inputs” and minimize the use of “unobservable inputs.” The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:

 

·     Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

·     Level 2—Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

 

·     Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

 

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The table below segregates all assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (which means they are so measured at least annually) into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements at
Reporting Date Using

 

 

 

 

 

As of
March 31,

 

Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Financial
Instruments

 

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

 

Balance Sheet

 

 

 

2010

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

Classification

 

Financial assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds

 

$

2,361

 

$

2,361

 

$

 

$

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

Securities with original maturities of three months or less

 

40

 

40

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

Mortgage backed securities

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

Short-term investments

 

Auction rate securities held through UBS

 

54

 

 

 

54

 

Short-term investments

 

U.S. government agency securities

 

560

 

560

 

 

 

Short-term investments

 

Auction rate securities held through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

 

23

 

 

 

23

 

Long-term investments

 

ARS rights from UBS(a)

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

Other assets—current

 

Total financial assets at fair value

 

$

3,046

 

$

2,961

 

$

1

 

$

84

 

 

 

Financial liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other financial liability

 

$

(23

)

$

 

$

 

$

(23

)

Other liabilities—current

 

Total financial liabilities at fair value

 

$

(23

)

$

 

$

 

$

(23

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements at
Reporting Date Using

 

 

 

 

 

As of
December 31,

 

Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Financial
Instruments

 

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

 

Balance Sheet

 

 

 

2009

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

Classification

 

Financial assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds

 

$

2,304

 

$

2,304

 

$

 

$

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

Mortgage backed securities

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

Short-term investments

 

Auction rate securities held through UBS

 

54

 

 

 

54

 

Short-term investments

 

U.S. government agency securities

 

389

 

389

 

 

 

Short-term investments

 

Auction rate securities held through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

 

23

 

 

 

23

 

Long-term investments

 

ARS rights from UBS(a)

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

Other assets—current

 

Total financial assets at fair value

 

$

2,779

 

$

2,693

 

$

2

 

$

84

 

 

 

Financial liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other financial liability

 

$

(23

)

$

 

$

 

$

(23

)

Other liabilities—current

 

Total financial liabilities at fair value

 

$

(23

)

$

 

$

 

$

(23

)

 

 

 


(a)           ARS rights from UBS represent an offer from UBS providing us with the right to require UBS to purchase our ARS held through UBS at par value. To value the ARS rights, we considered the intrinsic value, time value of money, and our assessment of the credit worthiness of UBS.

 

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Other financial liability represents the earn-out liability from a previous acquisition. The earn-out liability was recorded at fair value at the date of the Business Combination as it will be settled by a variable number of shares of our common stock based on the average closing price for the five business days immediately preceding issuance of the shares. When estimating the fair value, we considered our projection of revenues from the related titles under the earn-out provisions.

 

There were no changes in the Level 3 table balances as of March 31, 2010 and as a result, no updated Level 3 table is required.  The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of our financial assets and financial liabilities classified as Level 3 by major categories (amounts in millions) at March 31, 2009:

 

 

 

Level 3

 

 

 

Auction rate
securities
(a)

 

ARS rights
from UBS
(b)

 

Total
financial
assets at
fair
value

 

Other financial
liabilities

 

Balance at January 1, 2009

 

$

78

 

$

10

 

$

88

 

$

(31

)

Total gains or (losses) (realized/unrealized)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in earnings

 

2

 

(3

)

(1

)

 

Included in other comprehensive loss

 

(1

)

 

(1

)

 

Balance at March 31, 2009

 

$

79

 

$

7

 

$

86

 

$

(31

)

The amount of total gains or (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at March 31, 2009

 

$

2

 

$

(3

)

$

(1

)

$

 

 


(a)           Liquidity for these auction rate securities is typically provided by an auction process which allows holders to sell their notes and resets the applicable interest rate at pre-determined intervals, usually every 7 to 35 days. On an industry-wide basis, many auctions have failed, and there is, as yet, no meaningful secondary market for these instruments. Each of the auction rate securities in our investment portfolio at March 31, 2010 has experienced a failed auction and there is no assurance that future auctions for these securities will succeed. An auction failure means that the parties wishing to sell their securities could not be matched with an adequate volume of buyers. In the event that there is a failed auction, the indenture governing the security requires the issuer to pay interest at a contractually defined rate that is generally above market rates for other types of similar instruments. The securities for which auctions have failed will continue to earn interest at the contractual rate and be auctioned every 7 to 35 days until the auction succeeds, the issuer calls the securities or they mature. As a result, our ability to liquidate and fully recover the carrying value of our auction rate securities in the near term may be limited or non-existent.

 

Consequently, fair value measurements have been estimated using an income-approach model (discounted cash-flow analysis). When estimating the fair value, we consider both observable market data and non-observable factors, including credit quality, duration, insurance wraps, collateral composition, maximum rate formulas, comparable trading instruments, and likelihood of redemption. Significant assumptions used in the analysis include estimates for interest rates, spreads, cash flow timing and amounts, and holding periods of the securities. Assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) represent 3% of our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

(b)           ARS rights from UBS represent an offer from UBS providing us with the right to require UBS to purchase our ARS held through UBS at par value. To value the ARS rights, we considered the intrinsic value, time value of money, and our assessment of the credit worthiness of UBS.

 

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses is reasonable approximation of fair value due to their short-term nature. Our U.S. government agency securities and mortgage-backed securities are carried at fair value with fair values estimated based on quoted market prices or estimated based on quoted market prices of financial instruments with similar characteristics. Both short-term and long-term ARS are carried at fair value with fair values estimated using an income-approach model (specifically, a discounted cash-flow analysis). We carry derivative instruments, including foreign exchange contracts, on the balance sheet as other assets or liabilities at their fair value. The fair value of foreign currency contracts is estimated based on the prevailing exchange rates of the various hedged currencies as of the end of the period.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Fair Value Measurements on a Non-Recurring Basis

 

We measure the fair value of certain assets on a non-recurring basis, generally annually or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. For the three month period ended March 31, 2010, there were no impairment charges related to assets that are measured on a non-recurring basis.

 

The table below presents an intangible asset that is not subject to recurring fair value measurement at December 31, 2009 (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements at
Reporting Date Using

 

 

 

 

 

As of
December 31,

 

Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Financial
Instruments

 

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

 

 

 

 

 

2009

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

Total Losses

 

Non-financial assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets, net

 

$

278

 

$

 

$

 

$

278

 

$

409

 

Total non-financial assets at fair value

 

$

278

 

$

 

$

 

$

278

 

$

409

 

 

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year ending 2009, with the franchise and industry results of the holiday season, our outlook for the console platforms was significantly revised. With the continued economic downturn within our industry in 2009 and the change in the buying habits of casual consumers, we reassessed our overall expectations as of December 31, 2009. We considered these economic changes during our 2010 planning process conducted during the months of November and December, which resulted in a strategy change to focus on fewer title releases in the casual and music genres. As we consider this a triggering event, we updated our future projected revenues streams for certain franchises in the casual games and music genres. We performed recoverability and, where applicable, impairment tests on the related intangible assets in accordance with ASC Subtopic 360-10.

 

Determining whether impairment has occurred requires various estimates and assumptions, including determining which cash flows are directly related to the potentially impaired asset, the estimated remaining useful life over which cash flows will occur, the amount of these cash flows and the asset’s residual value, if any. For intangible assets that did not pass the recoverability test, measurement of an impairment loss requires a determination of fair value, which is based on the best information available. Considering the characteristics of the assets being valued and the availability of information, the Company used the income approach, which presumes that the value of an asset can be estimated by the net economic benefit to be received over the estimated remaining useful life of the asset, discounted to present value. We derived the required cash flow estimates from our historical experience and our internal business plans and applied an appropriate discount rate. Based on this analysis, we recorded impairment charges of $24 million, $12 million and $373 million to license agreements, game engines and internally developed franchises intangible assets, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2009 within our Activision operating segment.

 

9.     Operating segments and geographic region

 

Our operating segments are consistent with our internal organizational structure, the manner in which our operations are reviewed and managed by our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), the manner in which operating performance is assessed and resources are allocated, and the availability of separate financial information. We do not aggregate operating segments.

 

Currently, we operate under three operating segments:

 

Activision Publishing, Inc.

 

Activision Publishing, Inc. (“Activision”) is a leading international publisher of interactive software products and peripherals. Activision develops and publishes video games on various consoles, handheld platforms and the PC platform through internally developed franchises and license agreements. Activision currently offers games that operate on the Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (“Sony”) PlayStation 2 (“PS2”), Sony PlayStation 3 (“PS3”), Nintendo Co. Ltd. (“Nintendo”) Wii (“Wii”), and Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”) Xbox 360 (“Xbox 360”) console systems; the Sony PlayStation Portable (“PSP”)

 

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Table of Contents

 

and Nintendo Dual Screen (“NDS”) handheld devices; the PC; the Apple iPhone; and the handheld game system Nintendo DSi. Our Activision business involves the development, marketing, and sale of products directly, by license, or through our affiliate label program with certain third-party publishers. Activision’s products cover diverse game categories including action/adventure, action sports, racing, role-playing, simulation, first-person action, music, and strategy. Activision’s target customer base ranges from casual players to core gamers, and children to adults.

 

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

 

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (“Blizzard”) is a leader in terms of subscriber base and revenues generated in the subscription-based massively multi-player online role-playing game (“MMORPG”) category. Blizzard internally develops and publishes PC-based computer games and maintains its proprietary online-game related service, Battle.net. Our Blizzard business involves the development, marketing, sales and support of role playing action and strategy games. Blizzard also develops, hosts, and supports its online subscription-based games in the MMORPG category. Blizzard is the development studio and publisher best known as the creator of World of Warcraft and the multiple award winning Diablo, StarCraft, and World of Warcraft franchises. Blizzard distributes its products and generates revenues worldwide through various means, including: subscription revenues (which consist of fees from individuals playing World of Warcraft, prepaid cards and other value added service revenues); retail sales of physical “boxed” products; electronic download sales of PC products; and licensing of software to third-party, or related party companies that distribute World of Warcraft in Russia, China, and Taiwan.

 

Activision Blizzard Distribution

 

Activision Blizzard Distribution (“Distribution”) consists of operations in Europe that provide warehousing, logistical, and sales distribution services to third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software, our own publishing operations, and manufacturers of interactive entertainment hardware.

 

The CODM reviews segment performance exclusive of the impact of the deferred net revenues and related cost of sales, stock-based compensation expense, restructuring expense, amortization of intangible assets and purchase price accounting related adjustments, and integration and transaction costs. Information on the operating segments and reconciliations of total net revenues and total segment income (loss) from operations to consolidated net revenues and operating income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 are presented below (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

Income (loss) from
operations

 

Activision

 

$

337

 

$

348

 

$

7

 

$

(27

)

Blizzard

 

306

 

291

 

158

 

143

 

Distribution

 

71

 

85

 

 

3

 

Operating segments total

 

714

 

724

 

165

 

119

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to consolidated net revenues / operating income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net effect from deferral of net revenues and related cost of sales

 

594

 

256

 

410

 

167

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

(44

)

(28

)

Restructuring

 

 

 

(3

)

(15

)

Amortization of intangible assets and purchase price accounting related adjustments

 

 

 

(17

)

(46

)

Integration and transaction costs

 

 

 

 

(14

)

Other*

 

 

1

 

 

(4

)

Consolidated net revenues / operating income

 

$

1,308

 

$

981

 

$

511

 

$

179

 

 

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Geographic information for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is based on the location of the selling entity.  Net revenues from external customers by geographic region were as follows (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Net revenues by geographic region:

 

 

 

 

 

North America

 

$

703

 

$

524

 

Europe

 

524

 

392

 

Asia Pacific

 

81

 

64

 

Total geographic region net revenues

 

1,308

 

980

 

Other*

 

 

1

 

Total consolidated net revenues

 

$

1,308

 

$

981

 

 

Net revenues by platform were as follows (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Net revenues by platform:

 

 

 

 

 

MMORPG

 

$

306

 

$

314

 

Console

 

839

 

503

 

Hand-held

 

39

 

32

 

PC and other

 

53

 

46

 

Total platform net revenues

 

1,237

 

895

 

Distribution

 

71

 

85

 

Other*

 

 

1

 

Total consolidated net revenues

 

$

1,308

 

$

981

 

 


*Represents Non-Core activities, which are legacy Vivendi Games’ divisions or business units that we have exited, divested or wound down as part of our restructuring and integration efforts as a result of the Business Combination. Prior to July 1, 2009, Non-Core activities were managed as a stand-alone operating segment; however, in light of the minimal activities and insignificance of Non-Core activities, as of that date we ceased their management as a separate operating segment and consequently, we are no longer providing separate operating segment disclosure and have reclassified our prior periods’ segment presentation so that it conforms to the current period’s presentation.

 

We did not have any single external customer that accounted for 10% or more of consolidated net revenues for the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 or 2009.

 

10.  Goodwill

 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by operating segment for the three months ended March 31, 2010 are as follows (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

Activision

 

Blizzard

 

Distribution

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2009

 

$

6,964

 

$

178

 

$

12

 

$

7,154

 

Tax benefit credited to goodwill

 

(4

)

 

 

(4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2010

 

$

6,960

 

$

178

 

$

12

 

$

7,150

 

 

The tax benefit credited to goodwill represents the tax deduction resulting from the exercise of stock options that were outstanding and vested at the consummation of the Business Combination and included in the purchase price of Activision, Inc. to the extent that the tax deduction did not exceed the fair value of those options. Conversely, to the extent that the tax deduction did exceed the fair value of those options, the tax benefit is credited to additional paid in capital.

 

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Table of Contents

 

11.  Computation of basic/diluted earnings per common share

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share (amounts in millions, except per share data):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

 

$

381

 

$

189

 

Less: Distributed earnings to common shareholders

 

(187

)

 

Less: Distributed earnings to unvested share-based awards that participate in earnings

 

(2

)

 

Undistributed earnings

 

192

 

189

 

Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to unvested share-based awards that participate in earnings

 

(1

)

(1

)

Undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders

 

191

 

188

 

Add back: Distributed earnings to common shareholders

 

187

 

 

Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per common share - income available to common shareholders

 

378

 

188

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator for basic earnings per common share - weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

1,248

 

1,308

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of potential dilutive common shares under the treasury stock method:

 

 

 

 

 

Employee stock options

 

16

 

51

 

Denominator for diluted earnings per common share - weighted-average common shares outstanding plus dilutive effect of employee stock options

 

1,264

 

1,359

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.14

 

 

Our unvested restricted stock rights (including restricted stock units, restricted stock awards, and performance shares) are considered participating securities since these securities have non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents during the contractual period of the award. Since the unvested restricted stock rights are considered participating securities, we are required to use the two-class method in our computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share. For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, we had outstanding unvested restricted stock rights of 11 million and 10 million shares of common stock on a weighted-average basis, respectively.

 

Potential common shares are not included in the denominator of the diluted earnings per common share calculation when inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive. Therefore, options to acquire 23 million shares of common stock were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, as the effect of their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

 

12.  Capital transactions

 

Repurchase Program

 

On November 5, 2008, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program under which we were able to repurchase up to $1 billion of our common stock. On July 31, 2009, our Board of Directors authorized an increase of $250 million to the stock repurchase program bringing the total authorization to $1.25 billion.  On February 10, 2010, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program under which we may repurchase up to $1 billion of our common stock until the earlier of December 31, 2010 or our Board of Directors determines to discontinue the repurchase program.

 

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In January 2010, we settled a $15 million purchase of 1.3 million shares of our common stock that we had agreed to repurchase in December 2009 pursuant to the $1.25 billion stock repurchase program, completing that program. The remaining purchases of 8.5 million shares of our common stock for $92 million were made pursuant to the new $1 billion stock repurchase program.

 

On February 10, 2010 Activision Blizzard’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per common share payable on April 2, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 22, 2010.

 

13.  Commitments and contingencies

 

At March 31, 2010, we did not have any significant changes to our commitments since December 31, 2009.  See Note 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for more information regarding our commitments.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

On February 8, 2008, the Wayne County Employees’ Retirement System filed a lawsuit challenging the Business Combination in the Delaware Court of Chancery. The suit is a putative class action filed against the parties to the Business Combination Agreement as well as certain current and former members of our Board of Directors. The plaintiff alleged, among other things, that our current and former directors named therein failed to fulfill their fiduciary duties with regard to the Business Combination by “surrendering” the negotiating process to “conflicted management,” that those breaches were aided and abetted by Vivendi and those of its subsidiaries named in the complaint, and that the preliminary proxy statement filed by the Company on January 31, 2008 contains certain statements that the plaintiff alleges are false and misleading. The plaintiff sought an order from the court that, among other things, certifies the case as a class action, enjoins the Business Combination, requires the defendants to disclose all material information, declares that the Business Combination is in breach of the directors’ fiduciary duties and therefore unlawful and unenforceable, awards the plaintiff and the putative class damages for all profits and special benefits obtained by the defendant in connection with the Business Combination and tender offer, and awards the plaintiff its cost and expense, including attorney’s fees.

 

After various initial motions were filed and ruled upon, on May 8, 2008, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint that, among other things, added allegations relating to a revised preliminary proxy statement filed by the Company on April 30, 2008. Additional motions were then filed, including a motion for preliminary injunction filed by the plaintiff and a motion to dismiss filed by Vivendi and its subsidiaries. On June 14, 2008, the plaintiff filed a motion for leave to file a second amended complaint. On June 30, 2008, the court granted Vivendi and its subsidiaries’ motion to dismiss, pursuant to a stipulation with the plaintiff, and on July 1, 2008, denied the plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction.

 

On December 23, 2008, the plaintiff filed an amended motion for leave to file a second amended complaint. The court granted the motion on January 14, 2009 and the second amended complaint was deemed filed on the same date. The second amended complaint asserts claims similar to the ones made in the original complaint, challenging Activision’s Board of Directors’ actions in connection with the negotiation and approval of the Business Combination, as well as disclosures made to our stockholders and certain amendments made to our certificate of incorporation in connection therewith. In addition, the second amended complaint asserts that Activision’s Board of Directors breached its fiduciary duties in approving and recommending those amendments to the certificate of incorporation. Among other things, the plaintiff seeks certification of the action as a class action, a declaration that amendments made to the certificate of incorporation are invalid and unenforceable, a declaration that our directors breached their fiduciary duties, rescission of the Business Combination and related transactions, and damages, interest, fees and costs. On July 24, 2009, the court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim.

 

On August 21, 2009, the plaintiff filed a notice of appeal of the court’s dismissal. Appellate briefing has been completed and a hearing on the appeal occurred before a panel of the Delaware Supreme Court on January 13, 2010. The court then scheduled an additional hearing before the entire court, which occurred on March 31, 2010. We are awaiting the ruling.  No amounts have been recorded in the statements of operations for this matter as losses are not probable.

 

After concluding an internal human resources inquiry into breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward, the Company terminated its employment of Jason West and Vince Zampella on March 1, 2010. On March 3, 2010, West and Zampella filed a complaint against the Company in Los Angeles Superior Court for breach of contract and wrongful termination, among other claims.   West and Zampella are seeking damages, including punitive damages, in excess

 

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of $36 million and declaratory relief.  On April 9, 2010, the Company filed a cross complaint against West and Zampella, asserting claims for breach of contract and fiduciary duty, among other claims.  The Company is seeking damages and declaratory relief.  The Company has accrued and will continue to accrue appropriate amounts related to bonuses and other monies allegedly owed in connection with this matter.  At present, the Company does not expect this lawsuit to have a material impact on the Company.

 

In addition, 38 current and former employees of Infinity Ward filed a complaint against the Company in Los Angeles Superior Court on April 27, 2010.  The plaintiffs have asserted claims for breach of contract, violation of the Labor Code of the State of California, conversion and other claims.  The plaintiffs claim that the Company failed to pay them bonuses and other compensation allegedly owed to them in an amount at least between $75 and $125 million, plus punitive damages.  The Company has not yet responded to the complaint.  The Company has accrued and will continue to accrue appropriate amounts related to bonuses and other monies allegedly owed in connection with this matter.  The Company does not expect this lawsuit to have a material impact on the Company.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and during the period through May 5, 2010, approximately 35 employees of Infinity Ward resigned from the Company. Additional resignations are likely to occur.

 

In addition, we are party to other routine claims and suits brought by us and against us in the ordinary course of business, including disputes arising over the ownership of intellectual property rights, contractual claims, employment laws, regulations and relationships, and collection matters. In the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, the outcome of such routine claims and lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

 

14.  Related party transactions

 

Treasury

 

Our foreign currency risk management program seeks to reduce risks arising from foreign currency fluctuations. We use derivative financial instruments, primarily currency forward contracts and swaps, with Vivendi as our principal counterparty. The gross notional amount of outstanding foreign exchange swaps was $321 million at March 31, 2010. The gross notional amount of outstanding foreign exchange swaps was $120 million at December 31, 2009. A pre-tax net unrealized loss of less than a million and loss of $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, resulted from the foreign exchange contracts and swaps with Vivendi and were recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Other

 

Activision Blizzard has entered into various transactions and agreements, including cash management services, investor agreement, credit facilities arrangement and music royalty agreements with Vivendi and its subsidiaries and affiliates. None of these services, transactions and agreements with Vivendi and its subsidiaries and affiliates are material either individually or in the aggregate to the condensed consolidated financial statements as a whole.

 

15.  Recently issued accounting pronouncements

 

In October 2009, the FASB issued an update to Revenue Recognition—Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements. This update establishes the accounting and reporting guidance for arrangements including multiple revenue-generating activities. This update provides amendments to the criteria for separating deliverables, measuring and allocating arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. The amendments in this update also establish a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. Significantly enhanced disclosures are also required to provide information about a vendor’s multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements, including information about the nature and terms, significant deliverables, and its performance within arrangements. The amendments also require providing information about the significant judgments made and changes to those judgments and about how the application of the relative selling-price method affects the timing or amount of revenue recognition. The amendments in this update are effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in the fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, of this new accounting update on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In October 2009, the FASB issued an update to Software—Certain Revenue Arrangements That Include Software Elements. This update changes the accounting model for revenue arrangements that include both tangible products and software elements that are “essential to the functionality,” and excludes these products from the scope of current software revenue guidance. The

 

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new guidance will include factors to help companies determine which software elements are considered “essential to the functionality.” The amendments will now subject software-enabled products to other revenue guidance and disclosure requirements, such as guidance surrounding revenue arrangements with multiple- deliverables. The amendments in this update are effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in the fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010 although early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, of this new accounting update on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Business Overview

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc. is a worldwide online, personal computer (“PC”), console, and handheld game publisher. The terms “Activision Blizzard,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” are used to refer collectively to Activision Blizzard, Inc. and its subsidiaries. We conduct our business through three operating segments: Activision, Blizzard, and Distribution. The current status of significant factors impacting our business environment in 2010 is discussed below. For additional discussion refer to the “Business Overview” section in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Business Highlights

 

According to The NPD Group with respect to the U.S. market, Charttrack and Gfk, for the European market, during the three months ended March 31, 2010:

 

·      Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was the #1 best selling title in the U.S. and Europe;

 

·      Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 became the #1 best selling third party video game of all time in the U.S. and Europe;

 

·      Call of Duty was the #1 best selling third-party franchise in the U.S. and Europe;

 

·      Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package  (the first map pack to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2) broke Microsoft Xbox LIVE records as more than one million gamers worldwide downloaded the new digital map pack in the first 24 hours alone;

 

·      Activision Blizzard was the #1 third-party publisher for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS in the U.S.;

 

·      Activision’s Band Hero and Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2010 were top-10 titles on the Nintendo Wii in the U.S.; and

 

·      Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Blizzard’s, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King continue to be in the top-10 best selling PC titles in the U.S.

 

Additional Highlights

 

The Company announced on February 10, 2010 a new stock repurchase program under which the Company can repurchase up to $1 billion of the Company’s common stock. The Board of Directors also declared on February 10, 2010 a cash dividend of $0.15 per common share payable on April 2, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 22, 2010.

 

In addition to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package, we released How to Train Your Dragon, and a selection of casual titles including Cabela’s Monster Buck Hunter during the first quarter of 2010.

 

Blizzard Entertainment announced that its highly anticipated real-time strategy game, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, will arrive in stores starting on July 27, 2010.

 

On April 29, 2010 Bungie, the developer of blockbuster game franchises, and Activision announced an exclusive 10-year alliance to bring Bungie’s next big action game universe to market.

 

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Activision Publishing Second Quarter 2010 Scheduled Product Releases

 

For the second quarter of 2010, Activision Publishing expects to release its new racing title Blur, Shrek Forever After, Transformers: War For Cybertron, and Singularity.

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data

 

The following table sets forth consolidated statements of operations data for the periods indicated in dollars and as a percentage of total net revenues (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product sales

 

$

986

 

75

%

$

690

 

70

%

Subscription, licensing, and other revenues

 

322

 

25

 

291

 

30

 

Total net revenues

 

1,308

 

100

 

981

 

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales — product costs

 

337

 

26

 

296

 

30

 

Cost of sales — software royalties and amortization

 

99

 

8

 

72

 

7

 

Cost of sales — intellectual property licenses

 

43

 

3

 

64

 

7

 

Cost of sales — MMORPG

 

54

 

4

 

52

 

5

 

Product development

 

143

 

11

 

117

 

12

 

Sales and marketing

 

56

 

4

 

83

 

8

 

General and administrative

 

65

 

5

 

103

 

11

 

Restructuring costs

 

 

 

15

 

2

 

Total costs and expenses

 

797

 

61

 

802

 

82

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

511

 

39

 

179

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income, net

 

 

 

10

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income tax expense

 

511

 

39

 

189

 

19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

130

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

381

 

29

%

$

189

 

19

%

 

Operating Segment Results

 

Our operating segments have been determined in accordance with our internal organizational structure, the manner in which our operations are reviewed and managed by our Chief Executive Officer, who is our Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), the manner in which operating performance is assessed and resources are allocated, and the availability of separate financial information. We do not aggregate operating segments.

 

The CODM reviews segment performance exclusive of the impact of the change in deferred net revenues and related cost of sales with respect to certain of the Company’s online-enabled games, stock-based compensation expense, restructuring expense, amortization of intangible assets and purchase price accounting related adjustments, integration and transaction costs, and other. Information on the operating segments and reconciliations of total net revenues and total segment income (loss) from operations to consolidated net revenues and operating income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 are presented below (amounts in millions):

 

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Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

(Decrease)

 

Segment net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activision

 

$

337

 

$

348

 

$

(11

)

Blizzard

 

306

 

291

 

15

 

Distribution

 

71

 

85

 

(14

)

Operating segment net revenue total

 

714

 

724

 

(10

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to consolidated net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net effect from deferral of net revenues

 

594

 

256

 

 

 

Other*

 

 

1

 

 

 

Consolidated net revenues

 

$

1,308

 

$

981

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment income (loss) from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activision

 

$

7

 

$

(27

)

$

34

 

Blizzard

 

158

 

143

 

15

 

Distribution

 

 

3

 

(3

)

Operating segment income from operations total

 

165

 

119

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to consolidated operating income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net effect from deferral of net revenues and related cost of sales

 

410

 

167

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

(44

)

(28

)

 

 

Restructuring

 

(3

)

(15

)

 

 

Amortization of intangible assets and purchase price accounting related adjustments

 

(17

)

(46

)

 

 

Integration and transaction costs

 

 

(14

)

 

 

Other*

 

 

(4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total consolidated operating income

 

$

511

 

$

179

 

 

 

 


* Represents Non-Core activities, which are legacy Vivendi Games’ divisions or business units that we have exited, divested or wound down as part of our restructuring and integration efforts as a result of the Business Combination. Prior to July 1, 2009, Non-Core activities were managed as a stand-alone operating segment; however, in light of the minimal activities and insignificance of Non-Core activities, as of that date we ceased their management as a separate operating segment and consequently, we are no longer providing separate operating segment disclosure and have reclassified our prior periods’ segment presentation so that it conforms to the current period’s presentation.

 

Segment Net Revenues

 

Activision

 

Activision’s net revenues decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to the stronger performance of the Guitar Hero franchise and intellectual property franchise titles in 2009 versus 2010, partially offset by the continued exceptional performance from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package on Microsoft Xbox LIVE (the first map pack to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2).

 

Blizzard

 

Blizzard’s net revenues increased for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to value added services related to World of Warcraft. Value added services consist of transactions such as realm transfers, faction changes, and other character customizations within the World of Warcraft game play.

 

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Distribution

 

Distribution’s net revenues decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to lower sales as a result of current market conditions and a smaller slate of titles released by the supported third-party publishers.

 

Segment Income (Loss) from Operations Highlights

 

Activision

 

Activision’s operating income increased for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to the strong performance of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package on Microsoft Xbox LIVE (the first map pack to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2), a change in business mix with lower cost of sales resulting from proportionately more software sales versus hardware peripheral sales, lower professional fees, and a decrease in sales and marketing based on timing of product releases. The increase in operating income was partially offset by higher product development costs on our future titles.

 

Blizzard

 

Blizzard’s operating income increased for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily as a result of the increase in value added service revenues.

 

Consolidated Results

 

Net Revenues by Geographic Region

 

The following table details our consolidated net revenues by geographic region for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

Increase

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

(Decrease)

 

Geographic region net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North America

 

$

703

 

$

524

 

$

179

 

Europe

 

524

 

392

 

132

 

Asia Pacific

 

81

 

64

 

17

 

Total geographic region net revenues

 

1,308

 

980

 

328

 

Other

 

 

1

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated net revenues

 

$

1,308

 

$

981

 

$

327

 

 

The change in deferred revenues by geographic region for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 was as follows (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

Increase

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

(Decrease)

 

Change in deferred revenues by geographic region:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North America

 

$

312

 

$

150

 

$

162

 

Europe

 

254

 

99

 

155

 

Asia Pacific

 

28

 

7

 

21

 

Total change in deferred revenues by geographic region

 

594

 

256

 

338

 

Other

 

 

1

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total impact on consolidated net revenues

 

$

594

 

$

257

 

$

337

 

 

Consolidated net revenues increased in all regions for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to the continued success of the Call of Duty franchise, in particular Call of Duty: Modern

 

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Warfare 2, which was released in the fourth quarter of 2009. This is also the primary reason that we recognized more deferred revenue from prior quarters during the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase was partially offset by the impact of the weaker sales of games in the music and casual game genres.

 

Foreign Exchange Impact

 

We estimate that changes in foreign exchange rates had a positive impact of approximately $19 million on Activision Blizzard’s net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009.  The change is due to the weakening of the U.S. dollar in the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009 relative to the British pound, euro, Australian dollar, Korean won, and Swedish krona.

 

Net Revenues by Platform

 

The following table details our net revenues by platform and as a percentage of total consolidated net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months
Ended

 

% of
total
consolidated

 

Three months
ended

 

% of
total
consolidated

 

Increase

 

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

net revenues

 

March 31, 2009

 

net revenues

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Platform net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MMORPG

 

$

306

 

24

%

$

314

 

32

%

$

(8

)

PC and other

 

53

 

4

 

46

 

5

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Console

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sony PlayStation 3

 

304

 

23

 

131

 

13

 

173

 

Sony PlayStation 2

 

15

 

1

 

40

 

4

 

(25

)

Microsoft Xbox 360

 

384

 

29

 

198

 

20

 

186

 

Nintendo Wii

 

136

 

11

 

134

 

14

 

2

 

Total console

 

839

 

64

 

503

 

51

 

336

 

Handheld

 

39

 

3

 

32

 

3

 

7

 

Total platform net revenues

 

1,237

 

95

 

895

 

91

 

342

 

Distribution

 

71

 

5

 

85

 

9

 

(14

)

Other

 

 

 

1

 

 

(1

)

Total consolidated net revenues

 

$

1,308

 

100

%

$

981

 

100

%

$

327

 

 

The change in deferred revenues by platform for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 was as follows (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Increase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in deferred revenues by platform:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MMORPG

 

$

9

 

$

33

 

$

(24

)

 

 

 

 

PC and other

 

23

 

17

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Console

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sony PlayStation 3

 

222

 

71

 

151

 

 

 

 

 

Microsoft Xbox 360

 

280

 

92

 

188

 

 

 

 

 

Nintendo Wii

 

60

 

43

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

Total console

 

562

 

206

 

356

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

1

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

Total impact on consolidated net revenues

 

$

594

 

$

257

 

$

337

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Net revenues from various consoles increased, except for PS2, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily as a result of the success of our Call of Duty franchise, in particular, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, in the Xbox360 and PS3 platforms. This is also the primary reason that we recognized more deferred revenue from prior quarters during the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009.  PS2 platform revenues continue to decline due to the aging lifecycle of the PS2 platform as consumers transition to the current generation platforms.

 

Costs and Expenses

 

Cost of Sales

 

The following table details the components of cost of sales in dollars and as a percentage of total consolidated net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

Three months

 

 

 

Three months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ended
March 31,

 

% of
consolidated

 

ended
March 31,

 

% of
consolidated

 

Increase

 

 

 

2010

 

net revenues

 

2009

 

net revenues

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product costs

 

$

337

 

26

%

$

296

 

30

%

$

41

 

Software royalties and amortization

 

99

 

8

 

72

 

7

 

27

 

Intellectual property licenses

 

43

 

3

 

64

 

7

 

(21

)

MMORPG

 

54

 

4

 

52

 

5

 

2

 

 

Total cost of sales increased for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to:

 

·      The stronger performance of the Call of Duty franchise;

 

·      Higher sales in the lower margin casual titles, and

 

·      Consistent with higher recognized deferred revenues, recognition of more deferred cost of sales from the prior quarters during the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009.

 

The increases were partially offset by:

 

·      The change in business mix with lower cost of sales resulting from our shift to selling more software versus hardware in the music genre, and

 

·      The decrease in amortization of intangible assets.

 

Product Development (amounts in millions)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

% of
consolidated

 

March 31,

 

% of
consolidated

 

Increase

 

 

 

2010

 

net revenues

 

2009

 

net revenues

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

$

143

 

11

%

$

117

 

12

%

$

26

 

 

Product development costs increased for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009. The increase was primarily attributable to the following:

 

·      Increased product development investment costs for our slate of future titles; and

 

·      Additional costs related to headcount reductions at certain studios to align the Company’s resources with its upcoming product slate.

 

Sales and Marketing (amounts in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

% of

 

 

 

% of

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

consolidated

 

March 31,

 

consolidated

 

Increase

 

 

 

2010

 

net revenues

 

2009

 

net revenues

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

$

56

 

4

%

$

83

 

8

%

$

(27

)

 

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Sales and marketing decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 as a result of the timing of our releases of titles in 2010 and 2009.

 

General and Administrative (amounts in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

% of

 

 

 

% of

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

consolidated

 

March 31,

 

consolidated

 

Increase

 

 

 

2010

 

net revenues

 

2009

 

net revenues

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

$

65

 

5

%

$

103

 

11

%

$

(38

)

 

General and administrative expenses decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was principally the result of integration costs incurred in the prior year due to the business combination with Vivendi Games, lower professional legal fees and favorable foreign exchange effects.

 

Income Tax Expense (amounts in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

% of

 

 

 

% of

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

Pretax

 

March 31,

 

Pretax

 

Increase

 

 

 

2010

 

income

 

2009

 

income

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

$

130

 

25

%

$

 

%

$

NM

 

 

The income tax expense of $130 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 reflects an effective tax rate of 25%. The effective tax rate of 25% for the three months ended March 31, 2010 differs from the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to foreign income taxes provided at lower rates, geographic mix in profitability, recognition of research and development credits and IRC 199 domestic production deductions.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the tax rate is based on our projected annual effective tax rate for 2010, and also includes certain discrete tax items recorded during the period. The effective tax rate of 25% for the three months ended March 31, 2010 differs from the effective tax rate of 0% for the three months ended March 31, 2009 primarily due to tax benefits recorded during the prior period related to the release of valuation allowances on foreign net operating losses and the impact of changes to California tax laws.

 

The overall effective income tax rate for the year could be different from the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and will be dependent on our profitability for the remainder of the year. In addition, our effective income tax rates for the remainder of 2010 and future periods will depend on a variety of factors, such as changes in the mix of income by tax jurisdiction, applicable accounting rules, applicable tax laws and regulations, rulings and interpretations thereof, developments in tax audit and other matters, and variations in the estimated and actual level of annual pre-tax income or loss. In particular, we did not record a tax benefit during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 for federal research credits that may be reinstated and extended retroactively.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Sources of Liquidity (amounts in millions)

 

 

 

At March 31, 2010

 

At December 31, 2009

 

Increase
(Decrease)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

2,695

 

$

2,768

 

$

(73

)

Short-term investments

 

647

 

477

 

170

 

 

 

$

3,342

 

$

3,245

 

$

97

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage of total assets

 

26

%

24

%

 

 

 

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For the three months ended March 31,

 

Increase

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities

 

$

227

 

$

327

 

$

(100

)

Cash flows used in investing activities

 

(184

)

(7

)

(177

)

Cash flows used in financing activities

 

(87

)

(289

)

202

 

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

 

(29

)

(1

)

(28

)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

$

(73

)

$

30

 

$

(103

)

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the primary drivers of cash flows provided by operating activities included the collection of customer receivables generated by the sale of our products and our subscription revenues, partially offset by payments to vendors for the manufacturing, distribution and marketing of our products, payments to third-party developers and intellectual property holders, tax liability, and payments to our workforce.

 

A significant operating use of our cash relates to our continued investment in software development and intellectual property licenses.  We expect that we will continue to make significant expenditures relating to our investment in software development and intellectual property licenses.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

Cash flows used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2010 reflect that we purchased short-term investments totaling $187 million, made capital expenditures of $12 million primarily for property and equipment, and received $17 million upon the maturity of investments, the majority of which consisted of our U.S. government agency securities.

 

The primary drivers of cash flows used in investing activities have typically included capital expenditures, acquisitions and the net effect of purchases and sales/maturities of short-term investments.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Cash flows used in financing activities primarily reflect our repurchase of 9.8 million shares of our common stock for $107 million under our stock repurchase programs, partially offset by $16 million of proceeds from issuance of shares of common stock to employees pursuant to stock option exercises.

 

Since the inception of our common stock repurchase programs on November 5, 2008 and February 10, 2010, we have repurchased $1,342 million of our common stock under these programs.

 

The primary drivers of cash flows provided by financing activities have historically related to transactions involving our common stock, including the issuance of shares of common stock to employees and the public and the purchase of treasury shares.  We have not utilized debt financing as a source of cash flows.  However, if needed, we may access and utilize the credit facilities that are described in “Credit Facilities” in Note 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Other Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

In addition to cash flows provided by operating activities, our primary source of liquidity was $2.7 billion of cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2010. With our cash and cash equivalents and expected cash flows provided by operating activities, we believe that we have sufficient liquidity to meet daily operations in the foreseeable future. We also believe that we have sufficient working capital (approximately $2.9 billion at March 31, 2010), as well as availability under our credit facilities, to finance our operational requirements for at least the next twelve months, including purchases of inventory and equipment, the funding of the development, production, marketing and sale of new products, to finance the acquisition of intellectual property rights for future products from third parties, and to fund our new $1 billion stock repurchase program described above.

 

Additionally, on February 10, 2010, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per common share payable on April 2, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 22, 2010.

 

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Capital Requirements

 

For the year ending December 31, 2010, we anticipate total capital expenditures of approximately $140 million. Capital expenditures will be primarily for computer hardware and software purchases and various corporate projects.

 

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

 

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, Activision Blizzard had no significant relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial parties, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes, that have or are reasonably likely to have a material future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operation, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources.

 

Financial Disclosure

 

We maintain internal control over financial reporting, which generally includes those controls relating to the preparation of our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). We also are focused on our “disclosure controls and procedures,” which as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) are generally those controls and procedures designed to ensure that financial and non-financial information required to be disclosed in our reports filed with the SEC is reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is communicated to management, including our principal executive and financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Our Disclosure Committee, which operates under the Board-approved Disclosure Committee Charter and Disclosure Controls & Procedures Policy, includes senior management representatives and assists executive management in its oversight of the accuracy and timeliness of our disclosures, as well as in implementing and evaluating our overall disclosure process. As part of our disclosure process, senior finance and operational representatives from all of our corporate divisions and business units prepare quarterly reports regarding their current quarter operational performance, future trends, subsequent events, internal controls, changes in internal controls and other accounting and disclosure relevant information. These quarterly reports are reviewed by certain key corporate finance executives. These corporate finance representatives also conduct quarterly interviews on a rotating basis with the preparers of selected quarterly reports. The results of the quarterly reports and related interviews are reviewed by the Disclosure Committee. Finance representatives also conduct reviews with our senior management team, our internal and external counsel and other appropriate personnel involved in the disclosure process, as appropriate. Additionally, senior finance and operational representatives provide internal certifications regarding the accuracy of information they provide that is utilized in the preparation of our periodic public reports filed with the SEC. Financial results and other financial information also are reviewed with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis. As required by applicable regulatory requirements, the principal executive and financial officers review and make various certifications regarding the accuracy of our periodic public reports filed with the SEC, our disclosure controls and procedures, and our internal control over financial reporting. With the assistance of the Disclosure Committee, we will continue to assess and monitor, and make refinements to, our disclosure controls and procedures, and our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). These accounting principles require us to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions. We believe that the estimates, judgments and assumptions upon which we rely are reasonable based upon information available to us at the time that these estimates, judgments and assumptions are made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. To the extent there are material differences between these estimates, judgments or assumptions and actual results, our financial statements will be affected. The accounting policies that reflect our more significant estimates, judgments and assumptions and which we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results include the following:

 

·      Revenue Recognition

·      Allowances for Returns, Price Protection, Doubtful Accounts, and Inventory Obsolescence

·      Software Development Costs and Intellectual Property Licenses

·      Accounting for Income Taxes

·      Fair Value Estimates

·      Goodwill and Intangible Assets — Impairment Assessments

·      Stock-Based Compensation

 

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During the three months ended March 31, 2010, there were no significant changes in our critical accounting policies and estimates. You should refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for a more complete discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In October 2009, the FASB issued an update to Revenue Recognition—Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements. This update establishes the accounting and reporting guidance for arrangements including multiple revenue-generating activities. This update provides amendments to the criteria for separating deliverables, measuring and allocating arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. The amendments in this update also establish a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. Significantly enhanced disclosures are also required to provide information about a vendor’s multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements, including information about the nature and terms, significant deliverables, and its performance within arrangements. The amendments also require providing information about the significant judgments made and changes to those judgments and about how the application of the relative selling-price method affects the timing or amount of revenue recognition. The amendments in this update are effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in the fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, of this new accounting update on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In October 2009, the FASB issued an update to Software—Certain Revenue Arrangements That Include Software Elements. This update changes the accounting model for revenue arrangements that include both tangible products and software elements that are “essential to the functionality,” and excludes these products from the scope of current software revenue guidance. The new guidance will include factors to help companies determine which software elements are considered “essential to the functionality.” The amendments will now subject software-enabled products to other revenue guidance and disclosure requirements, such as guidance surrounding revenue arrangements with multiple-deliverables. The amendments in this update are effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in the fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, of this new accounting update on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Market risk is the potential loss arising from fluctuations in market rates and prices.  Our market risk exposures primarily include fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and market prices.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Our exposure to market rate risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our investment portfolio. We do not use derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk in our investment portfolio. Our investment portfolio consists primarily of debt instruments with high credit quality and relatively short average maturities and money market funds that invest in such securities. Because short-term securities mature relatively quickly and must be reinvested at the then current market rates, interest income on a portfolio consisting of cash, cash equivalents, or short-term securities is more subject to market fluctuations than a portfolio of longer term securities. Conversely, the fair value of such a portfolio is less sensitive to market fluctuations than a portfolio of longer term securities. At March 31, 2010, our $2,695 million of cash and cash equivalents were comprised primarily of money market funds. At March 31, 2010, our $647 million of short-term investments included $560 million of U.S. government agency securities, $1 million of mortgage-backed securities, $54 million of auction rate securities classified as trading, and $32 million of restricted cash. We had $23 million in auction rate securities at fair value classified as long-term investments at March 31, 2010. Most of our investment portfolio is invested in short-term or variable rate securities. Accordingly, we believe that a sharp change in interest rates would not have a material effect on our short-term investment portfolio.

 

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

 

We transact business in many different foreign currencies and may be exposed to financial market risk resulting from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Currency volatility is monitored throughout the year. We enter into currency forward contracts and swaps with Vivendi, generally with maturities of twelve months or less, to mitigate our risk associated with our foreign currency exchange rate exposure resulting from our foreign currency denominated monetary assets, liabilities and earnings. We

 

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expect to continue to use economic hedge programs in the future to reduce foreign exchange-related volatility if it is determined that such hedging activities are appropriate to reduce risk. We do not hold or purchase any foreign currency contracts for trading or speculative purposes. All foreign currency economic hedging transactions are backed, in amount and by maturity, by an identified economic underlying item.

 

The gross notional amount of outstanding foreign exchange swaps was $321 million at March 31, 2010. The gross notional amount of outstanding foreign exchange swaps was $120 million at December 31, 2009, and we did not have any forward foreign exchange contracts at that date. A pre-tax net unrealized loss of less than a million and a pre-tax net unrealized loss of $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, and 2009, respectively, resulted from the foreign exchange contracts and swaps with Vivendi and were recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Definition and Limitations of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

 

Our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) are designed to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance that it will detect or uncover failures within the Company to disclose material information otherwise required to be set forth in our periodic reports. Inherent limitations to any system of disclosure controls and procedures include, but are not limited to, the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of such controls by one or more persons. In addition, we have designed our system of controls based on certain assumptions, which we believe are reasonable, about the likelihood of future events, and our system of controls may therefore not achieve its desired objectives under all possible future events.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

 

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures at March 31, 2010, the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on this evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, at March 31, 2010, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported on a timely basis, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

 

There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

 

The discussion in Note 13 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements regarding legal proceedings is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

 

Various risk factors associated with our business are included in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

 

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Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

Issuer Repurchase of Equity Securities

 

The following table provides the number of shares repurchased and average price paid per share during the quarter ended March 31, 2010, and the approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under our stock repurchase program at March 31, 2010 (amounts in millions, except number of shares and per share data).

 

Period

 

Total number
of shares
repurchased (1)

 

Average
price paid
per share

 

Total number of
shares purchased as part
of publicly announced
plans or programs

 

Approximate dollar value
of shares that may
yet be purchased
under the plan

 

January 1, 2010—January 31, 2010

 

1,343,350

 

$

11.32

 

1,343,350

 

$

1,000

 

February 1, 2010—February 28, 2010

 

1,697,000

 

10.67

 

1,697,000

 

982

 

March 1, 2010—March 31, 2010

 

6,779,497

 

10.89

 

6,779,497

 

908

 

Total

 

9,819,847

 

 

10.91

 

9,819,847

 

 

 

 


(1)  Purchases in February and March were made pursuant to the new stock repurchase program authorized by our Board of Directors and announced on February 10, 2010, pursuant to which we may repurchase up to $1 billion of our common stock from time to time on the open market or in private transactions, including structured or accelerated transactions.  We will determine the timing and amount of repurchases based on our evaluation of market conditions and other factors. We may suspend or discontinue the stock repurchase program at any time.  In January, we settled the purchase of 1.3 million shares of our common stock at an average price per share of $11.32 for $15 million that we had agreed to repurchase in December 2009 pursuant to the previous $1.25 billion stock repurchase program announced on November 5, 2008.  This completed the $1.25 billion stock repurchase program.

 

Item 6.  Exhibits

 

The exhibits listed on the accompanying index to exhibits are hereby incorporated by reference into this Form 10-Q.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Date:  May 7, 2010

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

/s/ Thomas Tippl

 

Thomas Tippl

 

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer,

 

Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number

 

Exhibit

3.

1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Activision Blizzard, Inc., dated July 9, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed July 15, 2008).

 

 

 

 

3.

2

 

Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Activision Blizzard, Inc., dated August 15, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed August 15, 2008).

 

 

 

 

3.

3

 

Amended and Restated By-Laws of Activision Blizzard, Inc., as amended and restated as of February 2, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed February 5, 2010).

 

 

 

 

10.

1*

 

Amendment, dated as of February 2, 2010, to Employment Agreement between Ann Weiser and Activision Blizzard, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.74 of the Company’s Form 10-K, filed March 1, 2010)

 

 

 

 

10.

2*

 

Notice of Stock Option Award, dated as of March 4, 2010, to George Rose.

 

 

 

 

10.

3*

 

Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award, dated as of March 4, 2010, to George Rose.

 

 

 

 

10.

4*

 

Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award, dated as of March 4, 2010, to Ann Weiser.

 

 

 

 

10.

5*

 

Amendment, dated as of March 23, 2010, to Employment Agreement between Thomas Tippl and Activision Blizzard, Inc.

 

 

 

 

31.

1

 

Certification of Robert A. Kotick pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

31.

2

 

Certification of Thomas Tippl pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

32.

1

 

Certification of Robert A. Kotick pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

32.

2

 

Certification of Thomas Tippl pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

101.

INS

 

XBRL Instance Document.

 

 

 

 

101.

SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

 

 

 

 

101.

CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

 

101.

LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

 

101.

PRE

 

XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

 

101.

DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Document.

 


*Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement in which a director or executive officer of the Company participates.

 

Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2010; and (v) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

33


Exhibit 10.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

2008 INCENTIVE PLAN

 

NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION AWARD

 

You have been awarded an option to purchase Common Shares of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (the “Company”), as follows:

 

·                  Your name:  George Rose

 

·                  Total number of Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Stock Option awarded:  460,000

 

·                  Exercise Price:  US$11.03 per Share

 

·                  Date of Grant:  March 4, 2010

 

·                  Expiration Date:  March 4, 2020

 

·                  Grant ID:  08003616

 

·                  Your Award of the Stock Option is governed by the terms and conditions set forth in:

 

·                  this Notice of Stock Option Award;

 

·                  the Stock Option Award Terms attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Award Terms”); and

 

·                  the Company’s Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Plan, the receipt of a copy of which you hereby acknowledge.

 

·                  Your Stock Option Award has been made in connection with your employment agreement with the Company or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates as a material inducement to your entering into or renewing employment with such entity pursuant to such agreement, and is also governed by any applicable terms and conditions set forth in such agreement.

 

·                  Schedule for Vesting:  Except as otherwise provided under the Award Terms, the Stock Option awarded to you will vest and become exercisable as follows, provided you remain continuously employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates through each such date:

 

Schedule for Vesting

 

Date of Vesting

 

No. of Shares
Vesting at Vesting
Date

 

Cumulative No. of
Shares Vested at
Vesting Date

 

December 30, 2010

 

153,334

 

153,334

 

December 30, 2011

 

153,333

 

306,667

 

December 30, 2012

 

153,333

 

460,000

 

 

·                  The Stock Option is not intended to be an “incentive stock option,” as such term is defined in Section 422 of the Code.

 



 

·                  Please sign and return to the Company this Notice of Stock Option Award, which bears an original signature on behalf of the Company.  You are urged to do so promptly.

 

·                  Please return the signed Notice of Stock Option Award to the Company at:

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

3100 Ocean Park Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA 90405

Attn:  Stock Plan Administration

 

You should retain the enclosed duplicate copy of this Notice of Stock Option Award for your records.

 

Any capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Award Terms.

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ann E. Weiser

 

Ann E. Weiser

 

Chief Human Resources Officer

 

 

 

Date:

April 6, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ George Rose

 

 

George Rose

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

March 22, 2010

 

 

 

2



 

EXHIBIT A

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

2008 INCENTIVE PLAN

 

STOCK OPTION AWARD TERMS

 

1.                                       Definitions.

 

(a)                                  For purposes of these Award Terms, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Award” means the award described on the Grant Notice.

 

“Cause” (i) shall have the meaning given to such term in any employment agreement or offer letter between the Holder and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates in effect from time to time or (ii) if the Holder is not party to any agreement or offer letter with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or any such agreement or offer letter does not contain a definition of “cause,” shall mean that the Holder (A) engaged in misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of his or her duties or willfully and continuously failed or refused to perform any duties reasonably requested in the course of his or her employment; (B) engaged in fraud, dishonesty, or any other improper conduct that causes, or in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company has the potential to cause, harm to the Company Group, including the business reputation or financial condition of any member of the Company Group; (C) violated any lawful directives or policies of the Company Group or any applicable laws, rules or regulations; (D) materially breached his or her employment agreement, proprietary information agreement or any other agreement with the Company Group; (E) committed, was indicted on charges related to, convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, a felony or crime involving dishonesty, moral turpitude or which could reflect negatively upon the Company Group of otherwise impede its operations; or (F) breached his or her fiduciary duties to the Company Group.

 

“Common Shares” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of the Company or any security into which such Common Shares may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 8 hereof.

 

“Company” means Activision Blizzard, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

“Company Group” means the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates.

 

“Company-Sponsored Equity Account” means an account that is created with the Equity Account Administrator in connection with the administration of the Company’s equity plans and programs, including the Plan.

 

“Date of Grant” means the Date of Grant of the Award set forth on the Grant Notice.

 



 

“Disability” (A) shall have the meaning given to such term in, or otherwise be determined in accordance with, any employment agreement or offer letter between the Holder and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates in effect from time to time or (B) if the Holder is not party to any agreement or offer letter with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or any such agreement or offer letter does not contain a definition of “disability” or otherwise provide a method for determining whether the Holder is disabled, shall have the meaning ascribed thereto under the Company’s long-term disability plan in effect from time to time, as interpreted under such plan (with such interpretation to be final, conclusive and binding for purposes of these Award Terms).

 

“Employment Violation means any material breach by the Holder of his or her employment agreement with the Company or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates for so long as the terms of such employment agreement shall apply to the Holder (with any breach of the post-termination obligations contained therein deemed to be material for purposes of these Award Terms).

 

“Equity Account Administrator” means the brokerage firm utilized by the Company from time to time to create and administer accounts for participants in the Company’s equity plans and programs, including the Plan.

 

“Exercise Price” means the Exercise Price set forth on the Grant Notice.

 

“Expiration Date” means the Expiration Date set forth on the Grant Notice.

 

“Grant Notice” means the Notice of Stock Option Award to which these Award Terms are attached as Exhibit A.

 

“Holder” means the recipient of the Award named on the Grant Notice.

 

“Look-back Period” means, with respect to any Employment Violation by the Holder, the period beginning on the date which is 12 months prior to the date of such Employment Violation by the Holder and ending on the date of computation of the Recapture Amount with respect to such Employment Violation.

 

“Option” means the Stock Option to purchase Common Shares awarded to the Holder on the terms and conditions described in the Grant Notice and these Award Terms.

 

“Plan” means the Amended and Restated Activision Blizzard, Inc. 2008 Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

“Recapture Amount” means, with respect to any Employment Violation by the Holder, the gross gain realized or unrealized by the Holder upon all exercises of the Stock Option during the Look-back Period with respect to such Employment Violation, which gain shall be calculated as the sum of:

 

(i)                                     if the Holder has exercised any portion of the Stock Option during such Look-back Period and sold any of the Shares acquired on exercise thereafter, an amount equal to the product of (A) the sales price per Share sold minus the Exercise Price times (B) the number of Shares as to which the Stock Option was exercised and which were sold at such sales price; plus

 

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(ii)                                  if the Holder has exercised any portion of the Stock Option during such Look-back Period and not sold any of the Shares acquired on exercise thereafter, an amount equal to the product of (A) the greatest of the following: (1) the Market Value per Share of Common Shares on the date of exercise, (2) the arithmetic average of the per share closing sales prices of Common Shares as reported on NASDAQ for the 30 trading day period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the Company’s written notice of its exercise of its rights under Section 11 hereof, or (3) the arithmetic average of the per share closing sales prices of Common Shares as reported on NASDAQ for the 30 trading day period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date of computation, minus the Exercise Price, times (B) the number of Shares as to which the Stock Option was exercised and which were not sold.

 

“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Shares means the Common Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Stock Option.

 

“Term Sheet” means the Corporate Governance Term Sheet approved by the Delaware Court of Chancery in connection with the settlement of In re Activision, Inc. Shareholder Derivative Litigation, C.D. Cal. Case No. CV06-4771 MRP (JTLx); In re Activision Shareholder Derivative Litigation, L.A.S.C. Case No. SC090343.

 

“Withholding Taxes” means any taxes, including, but not limited to, social security and Medicare taxes and federal, state and local income taxes, required to be withheld under any applicable law.

 

(b)                                 Any capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Plan.

 

2.                                       Expiration.  The Stock Option shall expire on the Expiration Date and, after such expiration, shall no longer be exercisable.

 

3.                                       Vesting and Exercise.

 

(a)                                  Vesting Schedule.  Except as otherwise set forth in these Award Terms, the Stock Option shall vest, and thereupon become exercisable, in accordance with the “Schedule for Vesting” set forth on the Grant Notice.

 

(b)                                 Exercisable Only by the Holder.  Except as otherwise permitted under the Plan or Section 10 hereof, the Stock Option may be exercised during the Holder’s lifetime only by the Holder or, in the event of the Holder’s legal incapacity to do so, by the Holder’s guardian or legal representative acting on behalf of the Holder in a fiduciary capacity under state law and/or court supervision.

 

(c)                                  Procedure for Exercise.  The Stock Option may be exercised by the Holder as to all or any of the Shares as to which the Stock Option has vested (i) by following the procedures for exercise established by the Equity Account Administrator and posted on the Equity Account Administrator’s website from time to time or (ii) with the Company’s consent,

 

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by giving the Company written notice of exercise, in such form as may be prescribed by the Company from time to time, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased.

 

(d)                                 Payment of Exercise Price.  To be valid, any exercise of the Stock Option must be accompanied by full payment of the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares being purchased.  The Company shall determine the method or methods the Holder may use to make such payment, which may include any of the following:  (i) by bank check or certified check or wire transfer of immediately available funds, (ii) if securities of the Company of the same class as the Shares are then traded or quoted on a national securities exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or a national quotation system sponsored by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., through the delivery of irrevocable written instructions, in a form acceptable to the Company, to the Equity Account Administrator (or, with the Company’s consent, such other brokerage firm as may be requested by the person exercising the Stock Option) to sell some or all of the Shares being purchased upon such exercise and to thereafter deliver promptly to the Company from the proceeds of such sale an amount in cash equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares being purchased, (iii) by tendering previously owned shares (valued at their Market Value per Share as of the date of tender), (iv) through the withholding of Shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise, or (v) any combination of (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above or any other manner permitted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(e)                                  No Fractional Shares.  In no event may the Stock Option be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

 

(f)                                    No Adjustment for Dividends or Other Rights.  No adjustment shall be made for cash dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date as of which the issuance or transfer of Shares to the person entitled thereto has been evidenced on the books and records of the Company pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 3(g) hereof following exercise of the Stock Option.

 

(g)                                 Issuance and Delivery of Shares.  As soon as practicable (and, in any event, within 30 days) after the valid exercise of the Stock Option, the Company shall (i) effect the issuance or transfer of the Shares purchased upon such exercise, (ii) cause the issuance or transfer of such Shares to be evidenced on the books and records of the Company, and (iii) cause such Shares to be delivered to a Company-Sponsored Equity Account in the name of the person entitled to such Shares (or, with the Company’s consent, such other brokerage account as may be requested by such person); provided, however, that, in the event such Shares are subject to a legend as set forth in Section 14 hereof, the Company shall instead cause a certificate evidencing such Shares and bearing such legend to be delivered to the person entitled thereto.

 

(h)                                 Partial Exercise.  If the Stock Option shall have been exercised with respect to less than all of the Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Stock Option, the Company shall make a notation in its books and records to reflect the partial exercise of the Stock Option and the number of Shares that thereafter remain available for purchase upon exercise of the Stock Option.

 

4.                                       Termination of Employment.

 

(a)                                  Cause.  In the event that the Holder’s employment is terminated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates for Cause, as of the date of such termination of

 

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employment the Stock Option shall (i) cease to vest, if not then fully vested, (ii) no longer be exercisable, whether or not vested, and (iii) be immediately cancelled.

 

(b)                                 Death or Disability. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, in the event that the Holder dies while employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or the Holder’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is terminated due to the Holder’s Disability, the Stock Option shall (i) cease to vest as of the date of the Holder’s death or the first date of the Holder’s Disability (as determined by the Committee), as the case may be, and (ii) to the extent vested as of the date of the Holder’s death or the first date of the Holder’s Disability, as the case may be, remain exercisable in accordance with these Award Terms until the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of the date of the Holder’s death or termination of employment, as the case may be, and (B) the Expiration Date, after which the Stock Option shall no longer be exercisable and shall be immediately cancelled.  To the extent not vested as of the date of the Holder’s death or the first date of the Holder’s Disability, as the case may be, the Stock Option shall be immediately cancelled and shall no longer be exercisable.

 

(c)                                  Other.  Unless the Committee determines otherwise, in the event that the Holder’s employment is terminated for any reason not addressed by Section 4(a) or 4(b) hereof, the Stock Option shall (i) cease to vest as of the date of such termination of employment and (ii) to the extent vested as of the date of such termination of employment, be exercisable in accordance with these Award Terms until the earlier of (A) the 30th day after the date of such termination of employment and (B) the Expiration Date, after which the Stock Option shall no longer be exercisable and shall be immediately cancelled.  To the extent not vested as of the date of such termination of service, the Stock Option shall be immediately cancelled and shall no longer be exercisable.

 

5.                                       Tax Withholding.  The Company shall have the right to require the Holder to satisfy any Withholding Taxes resulting from the exercise (in whole or in part) of the Stock Option, the issuance or transfer of any Shares upon exercise of the Stock Option or otherwise in connection with the Award at the time such Withholding Taxes become due.  The Company shall determine the method or methods the Holder may use to satisfy any Withholding Taxes contemplated by this Section 5, which may include any of the following:  (a) by delivery to the Company of a bank check or certified check or wire transfer of immediately available funds; (b) if securities of the Company of the same class as the Shares are then traded or quoted on a national securities exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or a national quotation system sponsored by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., through the delivery of irrevocable written instructions, in a form acceptable to the Company, to the Equity Account Administrator (or, with the Company’s consent, such other brokerage firm as may be requested by the person exercising the Stock Option) to sell some or all of the Shares being purchased upon such exercise and to thereafter deliver promptly to the Company from the proceeds of such sale an amount in cash equal to the aggregate amount of such Withholding Taxes; (c) by tendering previously owned shares (valued at their Market Value per Share as of the date of tender); (d) through the withholding of Shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise; or (e) by any combination of (a), (b), (c) or (d) above.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates shall have the right to withhold from the Holder’s compensation any Withholding Taxes contemplated by this Section 5 and (ii) the Company shall have no obligation to deliver any Shares upon exercise of the Stock Option unless and until all Withholding Taxes contemplated by this Section 5 have been satisfied.

 

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6.                                       Reservation of Shares.  The Company shall at all times reserve for issuance or delivery upon exercise of the Stock Option such number of Common Shares as shall be required for issuance or delivery upon exercise thereof.

 

7.                                       Committee Discretion.  Except as may otherwise be provided in the Plan, the Committee shall have sole discretion to (a) interpret any provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms, (b) make any determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and the Award, and (c) waive any conditions or rights of the Company under the Award, the Grant Notice or these Award Terms.  Without intending to limit the generality or effect of the foregoing, any decision or determination to be made by the Committee pursuant to these Award Terms, including whether to grant or withhold any consent, shall be made by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, subject only to the terms of the Plan.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee may amend the terms of the Award prospectively or retroactively; however, no such amendment may materially and adversely affect the rights of the Holder taken as a whole without the Holder’s consent.  Without intending to limit the generality or effect of the foregoing, the Committee may amend the terms of the Award (i) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, events described in Section 8 hereof) affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or the financial statements of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, (ii) in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles and interpretations thereof, or (iii) to prevent the Award from becoming subject to Section 409A.

 

8.                                       Adjustments.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan, the Committee will make or provide for such adjustments to the Award as are equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of the Holder that would otherwise result from (a) any stock dividend, extraordinary dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company, (b) any change of control, merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, or issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing.  Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in substitution for the Award such alternative consideration (including, without limitation, cash or other equity awards), if any, as it may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the surrender of the Award.

 

9.                                       Registration and Listing.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Stock Option may not be exercised, and the Stock Option and Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Stock Option may not be purchased, sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of or encumbered in any way, unless such transaction is in compliance with (a) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any comparable federal securities law, and all applicable state securities laws, (b) the requirements of any securities exchange, securities association, market system or quotation system on which securities of the Company of the same class as the Shares are then traded or quoted, (c) any restrictions on transfer imposed by the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, and (d) any policy or procedure the Company has adopted with respect to the trading of its securities, in each case as in effect on the date of the intended transaction.  The Company is under no obligation to register, qualify or list, or maintain the registration, qualification or listing of, the Stock Option or Shares with the SEC, any state securities commission or any securities exchange, securities association, market system

 

A-6



 

or quotation system to effect such compliance.  The Holder shall make such representations and furnish such information as may be appropriate to permit the Company, in light of the then existence or non-existence of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the Stock Option or Shares, to issue or transfer the Stock Option or Shares in compliance with the provisions of that or any comparable federal securities law and all applicable state securities laws.  The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to register the issuance or resale of the Stock Option or Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any comparable federal securities law or applicable state securities law.

 

10.                                 Transferability.  Except as otherwise permitted under the Plan or this Section 10, the Stock Option shall not be transferable by the Holder other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, with the Company’s consent, the Holder may transfer all or part of the Stock Option for estate planning purposes or pursuant to a domestic relations order; provided, however, that any transferee shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms and shall execute an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Company in connection with such transfer; and provided further that the Holder will remain bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms.

 

11.                                 Employment Violation.  The terms of this Section 11 shall apply to the Stock Option if the Holder is or becomes subject to an employment agreement with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.  In the event of an Employment Violation, the Company shall have the right to require (i) the termination and cancellation of the Stock Option, whether vested or unvested, and (ii) payment by the Holder to the Company of the Recapture Amount with respect to such Employment Violation; provided, however, that, in lieu of payment by the Holder to the Company of the Recapture Amount, the Holder, in his or her discretion, may tender to the Company the Shares acquired upon exercise of the Stock Option during the Look-back Period with respect to such Employment Violation and the Holder shall not be entitled to receive any consideration from the Company in exchange therefor.  Any such termination of the Stock Option and payment of the Recapture Amount, as the case may be, shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other right or remedy available to the Company arising out of or in connection with such Employment Violation, including, without limitation, the right to terminate the Holder’s employment if not already terminated and to seek injunctive relief and additional monetary damages.

 

12.                                 Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations and Company Policies and Procedures.

 

(a)                                  The Holder is responsible for complying with (a) any federal, state and local taxation laws applicable to the Holder in connection with the Award, (b) any federal and state securities laws applicable to the Holder in connection with the Award, (c) the requirements of any securities exchange, securities association, market system or quotation system on which securities of the Company of the same class as the Shares are then traded or quoted, (d) any restrictions on transfer imposed by the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, and (e) any policy or procedure the Company maintains or may adopt with respect to the trading of its securities.

 

(b)                                 The Award is subject to the terms and conditions of the Term Sheet, and any Company policies or procedures adopted in connection with the Company’s implementation

 

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of the Term Sheet, including, without limitation, any policy requiring or permitting the Company to recover any gains realized by the Holder in connection with the Award.

 

13.                                 Section 409A.  As the Exercise Price is equal to the fair market value of a Share on the Date of Grant, payments contemplated with respect to the Award are intended to be exempt from Section 409A, and all provisions of the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) nothing in the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms shall guarantee that the Award is not subject to taxes or penalties under Section 409A and (ii) if any provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice or these Award Terms would, in the reasonable, good faith judgment of the Company, result or likely result in the imposition on the Holder or any other person of taxes, interest or penalties under Section 409A, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, modify the terms of the Plan, the Grant Notice or these Award Terms, without the consent of the Holder, in the manner that the Committee may reasonably and in good faith determine to be necessary or advisable to avoid the imposition of such taxes, interest or penalties; provided, however, that this Section 13 does not create an obligation on the part of the Committee or the Company to make any such modification.

 

14.                                 Legend.  The Company may, if determined by it based on the advice of counsel to be appropriate, cause any certificate evidencing Shares to bear a legend substantially as follows:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT.”

 

15.                                 No Right to Continued Employment.  Nothing contained in the Grant Notice or these Award Terms shall be construed to confer upon the Holder any right to be continued in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or derogate from any right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to retire, request the resignation of, or discharge the Holder at any time, with or without Cause.

 

16.                                 No Rights as Stockholder.  No holder of the Stock Option shall, by virtue of the Grant Notice or these Award Terms, be entitled to any right of a stockholder of the Company, either at law or in equity, and the rights of any such holder are limited to those expressed, and are not enforceable against the Company except to the extent set forth, in the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms.

 

17.                                 Severability.  In the event that one or more of the provisions of these Award Terms shall be invalidated for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, any provision so invalidated shall be deemed to be separable from the other provisions hereof, and the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be valid and fully enforceable.

 

18.                                 Governing Law.  To the extent that federal law does not otherwise control, the validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of the Grant Notice and these Award Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

 

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19.                                 Successors and Assigns.  The provisions of the Grant Notice and these Award Terms shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns, and the Holder and, to the extent applicable, the Holder’s permitted assigns under Section 3(b) hereof and the Holder’s estate or beneficiary(ies) as determined by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

20.                                 Notices.  Any notice or other document which the Holder or the Company may be required or permitted to deliver to the other pursuant to or in connection with the Grant Notice or these Award Terms shall be in writing, and may be delivered personally or by mail, postage prepaid, or overnight courier, addressed as follows: (a) if to the Company, at its office at 3100 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, California 90405, Attn: Stock Plan Administration, or such other address as the Company by notice to the Holder may designate in writing from time to time; and (b) if to the Holder, at the address shown in any employment agreement or offer letter between the Holder and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates in effect from time to time or such other address as the Holder by notice to the Company may designate in writing from time to time.  Notices shall be effective upon receipt.

 

21.                                 Conflict with Employment Agreement or Plan.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of any employment agreement or offer letter between the Holder and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates in effect from time to time and the terms of the Grant Notice or these Award Terms, the terms of the Grant Notice or these Award Terms, as the case may be, shall control.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of any employment agreement or offer letter between the Holder and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates in effect from time to time, the Grant Notice or these Award Terms and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.

 

22.                                 Deemed Agreement.  By accepting the Award, the Holder is deemed to be bound by the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms.

 

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Exhibit 10.3

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

2008 INCENTIVE PLAN

 

NOTICE OF RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD

 

You have been awarded Restricted Share Units of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (the “Company”), as follows:

 

·                  Your name:  George Rose

 

·                  Total number of Restricted Share Units awarded:  45,000

 

·                  Date of Grant:  March 4, 2010

 

·                  Grant ID:  08003617

 

·                  Your Award of Restricted Share Units is governed by the terms and conditions set forth in:

 

·                  this Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award;

 

·                  the Restricted Share Unit Award Terms attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Award Terms”); and

 

·                  the Company’s Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Plan, the receipt of a copy of which you hereby acknowledge.

 

·                  Your Award of Restricted Share Units has been made in connection with your employment agreement with the Company or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates as a material inducement to your entering into or renewing employment with such entity pursuant to such agreement, and is also governed by any applicable terms and conditions set forth in such agreement.

 

·                  Schedule for Vesting:

 

Except as otherwise provided under the Award Terms, the Restricted Share Units awarded to you will vest as follows, provided you remain continuously employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates through each such date:

 

Schedule for Vesting

 

Date of Vesting

 

No. of Restricted
Share Units Vesting at
Vesting Date

 

Cumulative No. of
Restricted Share Units
Vested at Vesting Date

 

December 30, 2010

 

15,000

 

15,000

 

December 30, 2011

 

15,000

 

30,000

 

December 30, 2012

 

15,000

 

45,000

 

 



 

·                  Please sign and return to the Company this Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award, which bears an original signature on behalf of the Company.  You are urged to do so promptly.

 

·                  Please return the signed Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award to the Company at:

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.
3100 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Attn:  Stock Plan Administration

 

You should retain the enclosed duplicate copy of this Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award for your records.

 

Any capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Award Terms.

 

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ann E. Weiser

 

 

Ann E. Weiser

 

 

Chief Human Resources Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

April 6, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ George Rose

 

 

George Rose

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

March 22, 2010

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

2008 INCENTIVE PLAN

 

RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD TERMS

 

1.                                       Definitions.

 

(a)                                  For purposes of these Award Terms, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Award” means the award described on the Grant Notice.

 

“Cause” (i) shall have the meaning given to such term in any employment agreement or offer letter between Grantee and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates in effect from time to time or (ii) if Grantee is not party to any agreement or offer letter with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or any such agreement or offer letter does not contain a definition of “cause,” shall mean that Grantee (A) engaged in misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of his or her duties or willfully and continuously failed or refused to perform any duties reasonably requested in the course of his or her employment; (B) engaged in fraud, dishonesty, or any other improper conduct that causes, or in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company has the potential to cause, harm to the Company Group, including the business reputation or financial condition of any member of the Company Group; (C) violated any lawful directives or policies of the Company Group or any applicable laws, rules or regulations; (D) materially breached his or her employment agreement, proprietary information agreement or any other agreement with the Company Group; (E) committed, was indicted on charges related to, convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, a felony or crime involving dishonesty, moral turpitude or which could reflect negatively upon the Company Group of otherwise impede its operations; or (F) breached his or her fiduciary duties to the Company Group.

 

“Common Shares” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of the Company or any security into which such Common Shares may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 9 hereof.

 

“Company” means Activision Blizzard, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

“Company Group” means the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates.

 

“Company-Sponsored Equity Account” means an account that is created with the Equity Account Administrator in connection with the administration of the Company’s equity plans and programs, including the Plan.

 



 

“Date of Grant” means the Date of Grant of the Award set forth on the Grant Notice.

 

“Employment Violation” means any material breach by Grantee of his or her employment agreement with the Company or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates for so long as the terms of such employment agreement shall apply to Grantee (with any breach of the post-termination obligations contained therein deemed to be material for purposes of these Award Terms).

 

“Equity Account Administrator” means the brokerage firm utilized by the Company from time to time to create and administer accounts for participants in the Company’s equity plans and programs, including the Plan.

 

“Grantee” means the recipient of the Award named on the Grant Notice.

 

“Grant Notice” means the Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award to which these Award Terms are attached as Exhibit A.

 

“Look-back Period” means, with respect to any Employment Violation by Grantee, the period beginning on the date which is 12 months prior to the date of such Employment Violation by Grantee and ending on the date of computation of the Recapture Amount with respect to such Employment Violation.

 

“Plan” means the Amended and Restated Activision Blizzard, Inc. 2008 Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

“Recapture Amount” means, with respect to any Employment Violation by Grantee, the gross gain realized or unrealized by Grantee upon all vesting of Restricted Share Units or delivery or transfer of Vested Shares during the Look-back Period with respect to such Employment Violation, which gain shall be calculated as the sum of:

 

(i)                                     if Grantee has received any Vested Shares during such Look-back Period and sold such Vested Shares, an amount equal to the product of (A) the sales price per Vested Share times (B) the number of such Vested Shares sold at such sales price; plus

 

(ii)                                  if Grantee has received any Vested Shares during such Look-back Period and not sold such Vested Shares, an amount equal to the product of (A) the greatest of the following: (1) the Market Value per Share of Common Shares on the date such Vested Shares were issued or transferred to Grantee, (2) the arithmetic average of the per share closing sales prices of Common Shares as reported on NASDAQ for the 30 trading day period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the Company’s written notice of its exercise of its rights under Section 12 hereof, or (3) the arithmetic average of the per share closing sales prices of Common Shares as reported on NASDAQ for the 30 trading day period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date of computation, times (B) the number of such Vested Shares which were not sold.

 

“Restricted Share Units” means units subject to the Award, which represent the conditional right to receive Common Shares in accordance with the Grant Notice and these

 

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Award Terms, unless and until such units become vested or are forfeited to the Company in accordance with the Grant Notice and these Award Terms.

 

“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Term Sheet” means the Corporate Governance Term Sheet approved by the Delaware Court of Chancery in connection with the settlement of In re Activision, Inc. Shareholder Derivative Litigation, C.D. Cal. Case No. CV06-4771 MRP (JTLx); In re Activision Shareholder Derivative Litigation, L.A.S.C. Case No. SC090343.

 

“Vested Shares” means Common Shares to which the holder of the Restricted Share Units becomes entitled upon vesting thereof in accordance with Section 2 or 3 hereof.

 

“Withholding Taxes” means any taxes, including, but not limited to, social security and Medicare taxes and federal, state and local income taxes, required to be withheld under any applicable law.

 

(b)                                 Any capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Plan.

 

2.                                       Vesting.  Except as otherwise set forth in these Award Terms, the Restricted Share Units shall vest in accordance with the “Schedule for Vesting” set forth on the Grant Notice.  Each Restricted Share Unit, upon vesting thereof, shall entitle the holder thereof to receive one Common Share (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 9 hereof).

 

3.                                       Termination of Employment.

 

(a)                                  Cause.  In the event that Grantee’s employment is terminated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates for Cause, as of the date of such termination of employment all Restricted Share Units shall cease to vest and any outstanding Restricted Share Units and Vested Shares that have yet to settle pursuant to Section 7 hereof shall immediately be forfeited to the Company without payment of consideration by the Company.

 

(b)                                 Other.  Unless the Committee determines otherwise, in the event that Grantee’s employment is terminated for any reason other than for Cause, as of the date of such termination of employment all Restricted Share Units shall cease to vest and, with the exception of any Vested Shares that have yet to settle pursuant to Section 7 hereof, shall immediately be forfeited to the Company without payment of consideration by the Company.

 

4.                                       Tax Withholding.  The Company shall have the right to require Grantee to satisfy any Withholding Taxes resulting from the vesting of any Restricted Share Units, the issuance or transfer of any Vested Shares or otherwise in connection with the Award at the time such Withholding Taxes become due.  The Company shall determine the method or methods Grantee may use to satisfy any Withholding Taxes contemplated by this Section 4, which may include any of the following:  (a) by delivery to the Company of a bank check or certified check or wire transfer of immediately available funds; (b) through the delivery of irrevocable written instructions, in a form acceptable to the Company, that the Company withhold Vested Shares

 

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otherwise then deliverable having a value equal to the aggregate amount of the Withholding Taxes (valued in the same manner used in computing the amount of such Withholding Taxes); or (c) by any combination of (a) and (b) above.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates shall have the right to withhold from Grantee’s compensation any Withholding Taxes contemplated by this Section 4 and (ii) the Company shall have no obligation to deliver any Vested Shares unless and until all Withholding Taxes contemplated by this Section 4 have been satisfied.

 

5.                                       Reservation of Shares.  The Company shall at all times reserve for issuance or delivery upon vesting of the Restricted Share Units such number of Common Shares as shall be required for issuance or delivery upon vesting thereof.

 

6.                                       Dividend Equivalents.  In the event that any cash dividends are declared and paid on Common Shares to which the holder of the Restricted Share Units would be entitled upon vesting thereof, such holder shall be paid, on the payment date for such dividend, the amount that such holder would have received if the Restricted Share Units had vested, and the Common Shares to which such holder was thereupon entitled had been issued and outstanding and held of record by such holder, as of the record date for such dividend; provided, however, that no such dividend equivalents shall be paid if the Restricted Share Units have been forfeited to the Company in accordance with Section 3 hereof prior to payment thereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any such dividend equivalents be paid later than the 45th day following the year in which the related dividends are paid.  For purposes of the time and form of payment requirements of Section 409A, such dividend equivalents shall be treated separately from the Restricted Share Units.

 

7.                                       Receipt and Delivery.  As soon as administratively practicable (and, in any event, within 30 days) after any Restricted Share Units vest, the Company shall (i) effect the issuance or transfer of the resulting Vested Shares, (ii) cause the issuance or transfer of such Vested Shares to be evidenced on the books and records of the Company, and (iii) cause such Vested Shares to be delivered to a Company-Sponsored Equity Account in the name of the person entitled to such Vested Shares (or, with the Company’s consent, such other brokerage account as may be requested by such person); provided, however, that, in the event such Vested Shares are subject to a legend as set forth in Section 15 hereof, the Company shall instead cause a certificate evidencing such Vested Shares and bearing such legend to be delivered to the person entitled thereto.

 

8.                                       Committee Discretion.  Except as may otherwise be provided in the Plan, the Committee shall have sole discretion to (a) interpret any provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms, (b) make any determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and the Award, and (c) waive any conditions or rights of the Company under the Award, the Grant Notice or these Award Terms.  Without intending to limit the generality or effect of the foregoing, any decision or determination to be made by the Committee pursuant to these Award Terms, including whether to grant or withhold any consent, shall be made by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, subject only to the terms of the Plan.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee may amend the terms of the Award prospectively or retroactively; however, no such amendment may materially and adversely affect the rights of Grantee taken as a whole without Grantee’s consent.  Without intending to limit the generality or

 

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effect of the foregoing, the Committee may amend the terms of the Award (i) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, events described in Section 9 hereof) affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or the financial statements of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, (ii) in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles and interpretations thereof, or (iii) to prevent the Award from becoming subject to any adverse consequences under Section 409A.

 

9.                                       Adjustments.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan, the Committee will make or provide for such adjustments to the Award as are equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Grantee that would otherwise result from (a) any stock dividend, extraordinary dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company, (b) any change of control, merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, or issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing.  Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in substitution for the Award such alternative consideration (including, without limitation, cash or other equity awards), if any, as it may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the surrender of the Award.

 

10.                                 Registration and Listing.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall not be obligated to issue or transfer any Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares, and no Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of or encumbered in any way, unless such transaction is in compliance with (a) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any comparable federal securities law, and all applicable state securities laws, (b) the requirements of any securities exchange, securities association, market system or quotation system on which securities of the Company of the same class as the securities subject to the Award are then traded or quoted, (c) any restrictions on transfer imposed by the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, and (d) any policy or procedure the Company has adopted with respect to the trading of its securities, in each case as in effect on the date of the intended transaction.  The Company is under no obligation to register, qualify or list, or maintain the registration, qualification or listing of, Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares with the SEC, any state securities commission or any securities exchange, securities association, market system or quotation system to effect such compliance.  Grantee shall make such representations and furnish such information as may be appropriate to permit the Company, in light of the then existence or non-existence of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares, to issue or transfer Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares in compliance with the provisions of that or any comparable federal securities law and all applicable state securities laws.  The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to register the issuance or transfer of Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares or resale of Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any comparable federal securities law or applicable state securities law.

 

11.                                 Transferability.  Except as otherwise permitted under the Plan or this Section 11, the Restricted Share Units shall not be transferable by Grantee other than by will or the laws of

 

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descent and distribution.  With the Company’s consent, Grantee may transfer Restricted Share Units for estate planning purposes or pursuant to a domestic relations order; provided, however, that any transferee shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms and shall execute an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Company in connection with such transfer; and provided, further that Grantee will remain bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms.

 

12.                                 Employment Violation.  The terms of this Section 12 shall apply to the Restricted Share Units if Grantee is or becomes subject to an employment agreement with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.  In the event of an Employment Violation, the Company shall have the right to require (i) the forfeiture by Grantee to the Company of any outstanding Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares which have yet to settle pursuant to Section 7 hereof and (ii) payment by Grantee to the Company of the Recapture Amount with respect to such Employment Violation; provided, however, that, in lieu of payment by Grantee to the Company of the Recapture Amount, Grantee, in his or her discretion, may tender to the Company the Vested Shares acquired during the Look-back Period with respect to such Employment Violation and Grantee shall not be entitled to receive any consideration from the Company in exchange therefor.  Any such forfeiture of Restricted Share Units and payment of the Recapture Amount, as the case may be, shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other right or remedy available to the Company arising out of or in connection with such Employment Violation, including, without limitation, the right to terminate Grantee’s employment if not already terminated and to seek injunctive relief and additional monetary damages.

 

13.                                 Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations and Company Policies and Procedures.

 

(a)                                  Grantee is responsible for complying with (a) any federal, state and local taxation laws applicable to Grantee in connection with the Award, (b) any federal and state securities laws applicable to Grantee in connection with the Award, (c) the requirements of any securities exchange, securities association, market system or quotation system on which securities of the Company of the same class as the Shares are then traded or quoted, (d) any restrictions on transfer imposed by the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, and (e) any policy or procedure the Company maintains or may adopt with respect to the trading of its securities.

 

(b)                                 The Award is subject to the terms and conditions of the Term Sheet, and any Company policies or procedures adopted in connection with the Company’s implementation of the Term Sheet, including, without limitation, any policy requiring or permitting the Company to recover any gains realized by Grantee in connection with the Award.

 

14.                                 Section 409A.

 

(a)                                  Payments contemplated with respect to the Award are intended to comply with Section 409A, and all provisions of the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) nothing in the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms shall guarantee that the Award is not subject to taxes or penalties

 

A-6



 

under Section 409A and (ii) if any provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice or these Award Terms would, in the reasonable, good faith judgment of the Company, result or likely result in the imposition on Grantee or any other person of taxes, interest or penalties under Section 409A, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, modify the terms of the Plan, the Grant Notice or these Award Terms, without the consent of Grantee, in the manner that the Committee may reasonably and in good faith determine to be necessary or advisable to avoid the imposition of such taxes, interest or penalties; provided, however, that this Section 14 does not create an obligation on the part of the Committee or the Company to make any such modification.

 

(b)                                 Neither Grantee nor any of Grantee’s creditors or beneficiaries shall have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) payable with respect to the Award to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment.  Except as permitted under Section 409A, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) payable to Grantee or for Grantee’s benefit with respect to the Award may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owing by Grantee to the Company.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if (i) the Committee determines in good faith that the Restricted Share Units do not qualify for the “short-term deferral exception” under Section 409A, (ii) Grantee is a “specified employee” (as defined in Section 409A) and (iii) a delay in the issuance or transfer of Vested Shares to Grantee or his or her estate or beneficiaries hereunder by reason of Grantee’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A) with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is required to avoid tax penalties under Section 409A but is not already provided for by this Award, the Company shall cause the issuance or transfer of such Vested Shares to Grantee or Grantee’s estate or beneficiary upon the earlier of (A) the date that is the first business day following the date that is six months after the date of Grantee’s separation from service or (B) Grantee’s death.

 

15.                                 Legend.  The Company may, if determined by it based on the advice of counsel to be appropriate, cause any certificate evidencing Vested Shares to bear a legend substantially as follows:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT.”

 

16.                                 No Right to Continued Employment.  Nothing contained in the Grant Notice or these Award Terms shall be construed to confer upon Grantee any right to be continued in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or derogate from any right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to retire, request the resignation of, or discharge Grantee at any time, with or without cause.

 

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17.                                 No Rights as Stockholder.  No holder of Restricted Share Units shall, by virtue of the Grant Notice or these Award Terms, be entitled to any right of a stockholder of the Company, either at law or in equity, and the rights of any such holder are limited to those expressed, and are not enforceable against the Company except to the extent set forth in the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms.

 

18.                                 Severability.  In the event that one or more of the provisions of these Award Terms shall be invalidated for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, any provision so invalidated shall be deemed to be separable from the other provisions hereof, and the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be valid and fully enforceable.

 

19.                                 Governing Law.  To the extent that federal law does not otherwise control, the validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of the Grant Notice and these Award Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

 

20.                                 Successors and Assigns.  The provisions of the Grant Notice and these Award Terms shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns, and Grantee and, to the extent applicable, Grantee’s permitted assigns under Section 11 hereof and Grantee’s estate or beneficiary(ies) as determined by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

21.                                 Notices.  Any notice or other document which Grantee or the Company may be required or permitted to deliver to the other pursuant to or in connection with the Grant Notice or these Award Terms shall be in writing, and may be delivered personally or by mail, postage prepaid, or overnight courier, addressed as follows:  (a) if to the Company, at its office at 3100 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, California 90405, Attn: Stock Plan Administration, or such other address as the Company by notice to Grantee may designate in writing from time to time; and (b) if to Grantee, at the address shown in any employment agreement or offer letter between Grantee and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates in effect from time to time, or such other address as Grantee by notice to the Company may designate in writing from time to time.  Notices shall be effective upon receipt.

 

22.                                 Conflict with Employment Agreement or Plan.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of any employment agreement or offer letter between Grantee and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates in effect from time to time and the terms of the Grant Notice or these Award Terms, the terms of the Grant Notice or these Award Terms, as the case may be, shall control.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of any employment agreement or offer letter between Grantee and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates in effect from time to time, the Grant Notice or these Award Terms and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.

 

23.                                 Deemed Agreement.  By accepting the Award, Grantee is deemed to be bound by the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms.

 

A-8


Exhibit 10.4

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

2008 INCENTIVE PLAN

 

NOTICE OF RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD

 

You have been awarded Restricted Share Units of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (the “Company”), as follows:

 

·      Your name:  Ann E. Weiser

 

·      Total number of Restricted Share Units awarded:  100,000

 

·      Date of Grant:  March 4, 2010

 

·      Grant ID:  08003618

 

·      Your Award of Restricted Share Units is governed by the terms and conditions set forth in:

 

·      this Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award;

 

·      the Restricted Share Unit Award Terms attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Award Terms”); and

 

·      the Company’s Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Plan, the receipt of a copy of which you hereby acknowledge.

 

·      Your Award of Restricted Share Units has been made in connection with your Employment Agreement as a material inducement to your entering into or renewing employment with the Company or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates pursuant to such Employment Agreement, and is also governed by any applicable terms and conditions set forth in such Employment Agreement.

 

·      Except as otherwise provided under the Award Terms, the Restricted Share Units awarded to you will vest in full on August 31, 2012, provided you remain continuously employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates through such date.

 

·      Please sign and return to the Company this Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award, which bears an original signature on behalf of the Company.  You are urged to do so promptly.

 

·      Please return the signed Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award to the Company at:

 

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

 

3100 Ocean Park Boulevard

 

Santa Monica, CA 90405

 

Attn: Stock Plan Administration

 



 

You should retain the enclosed duplicate copy of this Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award for your records.

 

Any capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Award Terms.

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Chris B. Walther

 

Chris B. Walther

 

Chief Legal Officer

 

 

 

Date: 

03/19/10

 

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ann E. Weiser

 

 

Ann E. Weiser

 

 

 

Date: 

03/13/10

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

2008 INCENTIVE PLAN

 

RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD TERMS

 

1.             Definitions.

 

(a)           For purposes of these Award Terms, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Award” means the award described on the Grant Notice.

 

“Cause” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Employment Agreement.

 

“Common Shares” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of the Company or any security into which such Common Shares may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 9 hereof.

 

“Company” means Activision Blizzard, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

“Company Group” means the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates.

 

“Company-Sponsored Equity Account” means an account that is created with the Equity Account Administrator in connection with the administration of the Company’s equity plans and programs, including the Plan.

 

“Date of Grant” means the Date of Grant of the Award set forth on the Grant Notice.

 

“Employment Agreement” means the employment agreement between Grantee and the Company Group, date as of September 12, 2007, as amended from time to time.

 

“Employment Violation” means any material breach by Grantee of the Employment Agreement for so long as the terms thereof shall apply to Grantee (with any breach of the post-termination obligations contained therein deemed to be material for purposes of these Award Terms).

 

“Equity Account Administrator” means the brokerage firm utilized by the Company from time to time to create and administer accounts for participants in the Company’s equity plans and programs, including the Plan.

 

“Good Reason” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Employment Agreement.

 



 

“Grantee” means the recipient of the Award named on the Grant Notice.

 

“Grant Notice” means the Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award to which these Award Terms are attached as Exhibit A.

 

“Look-back Period” means, with respect to any Employment Violation by Grantee, the period beginning on the date which is 12 months prior to the date of such Employment Violation by Grantee and ending on the date of computation of the Recapture Amount with respect to such Employment Violation.

 

“Plan” means the Amended and Restated Activision Blizzard, Inc. 2008 Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

“Recapture Amount” means, with respect to any Employment Violation by Grantee, the gross gain realized or unrealized by Grantee upon all vesting of Restricted Share Units or delivery or transfer of Vested Shares during the Look-back Period with respect to such Employment Violation, which gain shall be calculated as the sum of:

 

(i)            if Grantee has received any Vested Shares during such Look-back Period and sold such Vested Shares, an amount equal to the product of (A) the sales price per Vested Share times (B) the number of such Vested Shares sold at such sales price; plus

 

(ii)           if Grantee has received any Vested Shares during such Look-back Period and not sold such Vested Shares, an amount equal to the product of (A) the greatest of the following: (1) the Market Value per Share of Common Shares on the date such Vested Shares were issued or transferred to Grantee, (2) the arithmetic average of the per share closing sales prices of Common Shares as reported on NASDAQ for the 30 trading day period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the Company’s written notice of its exercise of its rights under Section 12 hereof, or (3) the arithmetic average of the per share closing sales prices of Common Shares as reported on NASDAQ for the 30 trading day period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date of computation, times (B) the number of such Vested Shares which were not sold.

 

“Restricted Share Units” means units subject to the Award, which represent the conditional right to receive Common Shares in accordance with the Grant Notice and these Award Terms, unless and until such units become vested or are forfeited to the Company in accordance with the Grant Notice and these Award Terms.

 

“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Term Sheet” means the Corporate Governance Term Sheet approved by the Delaware Court of Chancery in connection with the settlement of In re Activision, Inc. Shareholder Derivative Litigation, C.D. Cal. Case No. CV06-4771 MRP (JTLx); In re Activision Shareholder Derivative Litigation, L.A.S.C. Case No. SC090343.

 

“Vested Shares” means Common Shares to which the holder of the Restricted Share Units becomes entitled upon vesting thereof in accordance with Section 2 or 3 hereof.

 

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“Withholding Taxes” means any taxes, including, but not limited to, social security and Medicare taxes and federal, state and local income taxes, required to be withheld under any applicable law.

 

(b)           Any capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Plan.

 

2.             Vesting.  Except as otherwise set forth in these Award Terms, the Restricted Share Units shall vest in accordance with the “Schedule for Vesting” set forth on the Grant Notice.  Each Restricted Share Unit, upon vesting thereof, shall entitle the holder thereof to receive one Common Share (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 9 hereof).

 

3.             Termination of Employment.

 

(a)           For Cause or Without Good Reason.  In the event that Grantee’s employment is terminated for Cause or by Grantee in breach of Section 10(a) of the Employment Agreement, as of the date of such termination of employment any Restricted Share Units shall cease to vest and any outstanding Restricted Share Units and Vested Shares that have yet to settle pursuant to Section 7 hereof shall immediately be forfeited to the Company without payment of consideration by the Company.

 

(b)           Without Cause or For Good Reason.  In the event that Grantee’s employment is terminated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates without Cause or by Grantee for Good Reason, the Restricted Share Units, if any, that would have ultimately vested in accordance with the “Schedule for Vesting” set forth on the Grant Notice if Grantee’s employment had continued for twelve (12) months after the termination date shall vest as of the 60th day following the termination date; provided, however, that if the waiver and release executed by Grantee in accordance with the Employment Agreement does not become effective and irrevocable in its entirety in accordance with the Employment Agreement, with the exception of any Vested Shares that have yet to settle pursuant to Section 7 hereof, the Restricted Share Units shall cease to vest as of the termination date and shall be forfeited to the Company without payment of consideration by the Company as of the 60th day following the termination date.  To the extent not vested as of the termination date, with the exception of any Vested Shares that have yet to settle pursuant to Section 7 hereof or any Restricted Share Units capable of vesting in accordance with this Section 3(b), the Restricted Share Units shall immediately be forfeited to the Company without payment of consideration by the Company

 

(c)           Death.  In the event that Grantee dies while employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, the Restricted Share Units, if any, that would have ultimately vested in accordance with the “Schedule for Vesting” set forth on the Grant Notice if Grantee’s employment had continued for twelve (12) months after the date of Grantee’s death shall immediately vest.  To the extent not vested as of the date of Grantee’s death (whether in accordance with this Section 3(c) or otherwise), with the exception of any Vested Shares that have yet to settle pursuant to Section 7 hereof, the Restricted Share Units shall immediately be forfeited to the Company without payment of consideration by the Company.

 

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(d)           Other.  Unless the Committee determines otherwise, in the event that Grantee’s employment is terminated for any reason not addressed by Section 3(a), 3(b) or 3(c), as of the date of such termination of employment any Restricted Share Units shall cease to vest and, with the exception of any Vested Shares that have yet to settle pursuant to Section 7 hereof, shall immediately be forfeited to the Company without payment of consideration by the Company.

 

4.             Tax Withholding.  The Company shall have the right to require Grantee to satisfy any Withholding Taxes resulting from the vesting of any Restricted Share Units, the issuance or transfer of any Vested Shares or otherwise in connection with the Award at the time such Withholding Taxes become due.  The Company shall determine the method or methods Grantee may use to satisfy any Withholding Taxes contemplated by this Section 4, which may include any of the following:  (a) by delivery to the Company of a bank check or certified check or wire transfer of immediately available funds; (b) through the delivery of irrevocable written instructions, in a form acceptable to the Company, that the Company withhold Vested Shares otherwise then deliverable having a value equal to the aggregate amount of the Withholding Taxes (valued in the same manner used in computing the amount of such Withholding Taxes); or (c) by any combination of (a) and (b) above.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates shall have the right to withhold from Grantee’s compensation any Withholding Taxes contemplated by this Section 4 and (ii) the Company shall have no obligation to deliver any Vested Shares unless and until all Withholding Taxes contemplated by this Section 4 have been satisfied.

 

5.             Reservation of Shares.  The Company shall at all times reserve for issuance or delivery upon vesting of the Restricted Share Units such number of Common Shares as shall be required for issuance or delivery upon vesting thereof.

 

6.             Dividend Equivalents.  In the event that any cash dividends are declared and paid on Common Shares to which the holder of the Restricted Share Units would be entitled upon vesting thereof, such holder shall be paid, on the payment date for such dividend, the amount that such holder would have received if the Restricted Share Units had vested, and the Common Shares to which such holder was thereupon entitled had been issued and outstanding and held of record by such holder, as of the record date for such dividend; provided, however, that no such dividend equivalents shall be paid if the Restricted Share Units have been forfeited to the Company in accordance with Section 3 hereof prior to payment thereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any such dividend equivalents be paid later than the 45th day following the year in which the related dividends are paid.  For purposes of the time and form of payment requirements of Section 409A, such dividend equivalents shall be treated separately from the Restricted Share Units.

 

7.             Receipt and Delivery.  As soon as administratively practicable (and, in any event, within 30 days) after any Restricted Share Units vest, the Company shall (i) effect the issuance or transfer of the resulting Vested Shares, (ii) cause the issuance or transfer of such Vested Shares to be evidenced on the books and records of the Company, and (iii) cause such Vested Shares to be delivered to a Company-Sponsored Equity Account in the name of the person entitled to such Vested Shares (or, with the Company’s consent, such other brokerage account as may be requested by such person); provided, however, that, in the event such Vested Shares are

 

4



 

subject to a legend as set forth in Section 15 hereof, the Company shall instead cause a certificate evidencing such Vested Shares and bearing such legend to be delivered to the person entitled thereto

 

8.             Committee Discretion.  Except as may otherwise be provided in the Plan, the Committee shall have sole discretion to (a) interpret any provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms, (b) make any determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and the Award, and (c) waive any conditions or rights of the Company under the Award, the Grant Notice or these Award Terms.  Without intending to limit the generality or effect of the foregoing, any decision or determination to be made by the Committee pursuant to these Award Terms, including whether to grant or withhold any consent, shall be made by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, subject only to the terms of the Plan.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee may amend the terms of the Award prospectively or retroactively; however, no such amendment may materially and adversely affect the rights of Grantee taken as a whole without Grantee’s consent.  Without intending to limit the generality or effect of the foregoing, the Committee may amend the terms of the Award (i) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, events described in Section 9 hereof) affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or the financial statements of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, (ii) in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles and interpretations thereof, or (iii) to prevent the Award from becoming subject to any adverse consequences under Section 409A.

 

9.             Adjustments.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan, the Committee will make or provide for such adjustments to the Award as are equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Grantee that would otherwise result from (a) any stock dividend, extraordinary dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company, (b) any change of control, merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, or issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing.  Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in substitution for the Award such alternative consideration (including, without limitation, cash or other equity awards), if any, as it may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the surrender of the Award.

 

10.           Registration and Listing.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall not be obligated to issue or transfer any Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares, and no Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of or encumbered in any way, unless such transaction is in compliance with (a) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any comparable federal securities law, and all applicable state securities laws, (b) the requirements of any securities exchange, securities association, market system or quotation system on which securities of the Company of the same class as the securities subject to the Award are then traded or quoted, (c) any restrictions on transfer imposed by the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, and (d) any policy or procedure the Company has adopted with respect to the trading of its securities, in each case as in effect on the date of the intended transaction.  The Company is

 

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under no obligation to register, qualify or list, or maintain the registration, qualification or listing of, Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares with the SEC, any state securities commission or any securities exchange, securities association, market system or quotation system to effect such compliance.  Grantee shall make such representations and furnish such information as may be appropriate to permit the Company, in light of the then existence or non-existence of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares, to issue or transfer Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares in compliance with the provisions of that or any comparable federal securities law and all applicable state securities laws.  The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to register the issuance or transfer of Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares or resale of Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any comparable federal securities law or applicable state securities law.

 

11.           Transferability.  Except as otherwise permitted under the Plan or this Section 11, the Restricted Share Units shall not be transferable by Grantee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  With the Company’s consent, Grantee may transfer Restricted Share Units for estate planning purposes or pursuant to a domestic relations order; provided, however, that any transferee shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms and shall execute an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Company in connection with such transfer; and provided, further that Grantee will remain bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms.

 

12.           Employment Violation.  In the event of an Employment Violation, the Company shall have the right to require (i) the forfeiture by Grantee to the Company of any outstanding Restricted Share Units or Vested Shares which have yet to settle pursuant to Section 7 hereof and (ii) payment by Grantee to the Company of the Recapture Amount with respect to such Employment Violation; provided, however, that, in lieu of payment by Grantee to the Company of the Recapture Amount, Grantee, in his or her discretion, may tender to the Company the Vested Shares acquired during the Look-back Period with respect to such Employment Violation and Grantee shall not be entitled to receive any consideration from the Company in exchange therefor.  Any such forfeiture of Restricted Share Units and payment of the Recapture Amount, as the case may be, shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other right or remedy available to the Company arising out of or in connection with such Employment Violation, including, without limitation, the right to terminate Grantee’s employment if not already terminated and to seek injunctive relief and additional monetary damages.

 

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13.           Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations and Company Policies and Procedures.

 

(a)           Grantee is responsible for complying with (a) any federal, state and local taxation laws applicable to Grantee in connection with the Award, (b) any federal and state securities laws applicable to Grantee in connection with the Award, (c) the requirements of any securities exchange, securities association, market system or quotation system on which securities of the Company of the same class as the Shares are then traded or quoted, (d) any restrictions on transfer imposed by the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, and (e) any policy or procedure the Company maintains or may adopt with respect to the trading of its securities.

 

(b)           The Award is subject to the terms and conditions of the Term Sheet, and any Company policies or procedures adopted in connection with the Company’s implementation of the Term Sheet, including, without limitation, any policy requiring or permitting the Company to recover any gains realized by Grantee in connection with the Award

 

14.           Section 409A.

 

(a)           Payments contemplated with respect to the Award are intended to comply with Section 409A, and all provisions of the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) nothing in the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms shall guarantee that the Award is not subject to taxes or penalties under Section 409A and (ii) if any provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice or these Award Terms would, in the reasonable, good faith judgment of the Company, result or likely result in the imposition on Grantee or any other person of taxes, interest or penalties under Section 409A, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, modify the terms of the Plan, the Grant Notice or these Award Terms, without the consent of Grantee, in the manner that the Committee may reasonably and in good faith determine to be necessary or advisable to avoid the imposition of such taxes, interest or penalties; provided, however, that this Section 14 does not create an obligation on the part of the Committee or the Company to make any such modification.

 

(b)           Neither Grantee nor any of Grantee’s creditors or beneficiaries shall have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) payable with respect to the Award to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment.  Except as permitted under Section 409A, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) payable to Grantee or for Grantee’s benefit with respect to the Award may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owing by Grantee to the Company.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if (i) the Committee determines in good faith that the Restricted Share Units do not qualify for the “short-term deferral exception” under Section 409A, (ii) Grantee is a “specified employee” (as defined in Section 409A) and (iii) a delay in the issuance or transfer of Vested Shares to Grantee or his or her estate or beneficiaries hereunder by reason of Grantee’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A) with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is required to avoid tax penalties under Section 409A but is not already provided for by this Award, the Company shall cause the issuance or transfer of such Vested Shares to Grantee or Grantee’s

 

7



 

estate or beneficiary upon the earlier of (A) the date that is the first business day following the date that is six months after the date of Grantee’s separation from service or (B) Grantee’s death.

 

15.           Legend.  The Company may, if determined by it based on the advice of counsel to be appropriate, cause any certificate evidencing Vested Shares to bear a legend substantially as follows:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT.”

 

16.           No Right to Continued Employment.  Nothing contained in the Grant Notice or these Award Terms shall be construed to confer upon Grantee any right to be continued in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or derogate from any right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to retire, request the resignation of, or discharge Grantee at any time, with or without Cause.

 

17.           No Rights as Stockholder.  No holder of Restricted Share Units shall, by virtue of the Grant Notice or these Award Terms, be entitled to any right of a stockholder of the Company, either at law or in equity, and the rights of any such holder are limited to those expressed, and are not enforceable against the Company except to the extent set forth in the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms.

 

18.           Severability.  In the event that one or more of the provisions of these Award Terms shall be invalidated for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, any provision so invalidated shall be deemed to be separable from the other provisions hereof, and the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be valid and fully enforceable.

 

19.           Governing Law.  To the extent that federal law does not otherwise control, the validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of the Grant Notice and these Award Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

 

20.           Successors and Assigns.  The provisions of the Grant Notice and these Award Terms shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns, and Grantee and, to the extent applicable, Grantee’s permitted assigns under Section 11 hereof and Grantee’s estate or beneficiary(ies) as determined by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

21.           Notices.  Any notice or other document which Grantee or the Company may be required or permitted to deliver to the other pursuant to or in connection with the Grant Notice or these Award Terms shall be in writing, and may be delivered personally or by mail, postage prepaid, or overnight courier, addressed as follows:  (a) if to the Company, at its office at 3100 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, California 90405, Attn: Stock Plan Administration, or

 

8



 

such other address as the Company by notice to Grantee may designate in writing from time to time; and (b) if to Grantee, at the address shown on the Employment Agreement or such other address as Grantee by notice to the Company may designate in writing from time to time.  Notices shall be effective upon receipt.

 

22.           Conflict with Employment Agreement or Plan.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Employment Agreement and the terms of the Grant Notice or these Award Terms, the terms of the Grant Notice or these Award Terms, as the case may be, shall control.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Employment Agreement, the Grant Notice or these Award Terms and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.

 

23.           Deemed Agreement.  By accepting the Award, Grantee is deemed to be bound by the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, the Grant Notice and these Award Terms

 

9


Exhibit 10.5

 

AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

Thomas Tippl

 

This Amendment No. 3 to Employment Agreement (this “Amendment No. 3”) is entered into by and between Thomas Tippl (“You or Employee”) and Activision Blizzard, Inc. a Delaware corporation (“Activision Blizzard” or “Employer”), and is effective as of as of the day on which this Amendment No. 3 been executed by both parties hereto, as indicated by reference to the dates on the signature lines hereof.

 

RECITALS:

 

Employee and ATVI Publishing, Inc. entered into an Employment Agreement dated as of September 9, 2005, amended that agreement as of December 15, 2008, and further amended and assigned that agreement to Activision Blizzard as of April 15, 2009 (as amended and assigned, the “Agreement”).

 

For consideration described below, the sufficiency and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, Employee and Employer desire to amend the Agreement in certain respects as set forth herein below.

 

AGREEMENT:

 

The parties hereby agree to amend the terms of the Agreement as follows:

 

1.             Appointment; Title. Effective as of a date to be agreed upon by the Employee and the Employer (which date shall be on or prior to June 1, 2010) and subject in any case to the approval by the Board of Directors of the Employer of the Employee’s election to the office of Chief Operating Officer (the “Promotion Effective Date”), Section 3 of the Agreement shall be amended in its entirety to provide as follows:

 

Employee is hereby being employed under this Agreement in the position of Chief Operating Officer of Activision Blizzard.  Until a new Chief Financial Officer is hired, Employee shall also continue to serve as the Chief Financial Officer of Activision Blizzard.  Employee shall report to the President and Chief Executive Officer of Activision Blizzard.

 

2.             Salary.  Effective as the Promotion Effective Date, Section 2(a) of the Agreement shall be amended in its entirety to provide as follows:

 

The Employee’s annual base salary (“Base Salary”) shall be Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($850,000), which shall be paid in accordance with the Employer’s payroll policies. Thereafter, Base Salary shall be reviewed annually and may be increased (but not decreased) by an amount determined by the President and Chief Executive Officer of Activision Blizzard, in his sole absolute discretion; provided that the percentage increase shall be no less than an amount equal to the average percentage increase approved in the base salaries of the members of Activision Blizzard’s executive leadership team (i.e. Section 16 officers) most recently implemented with respect to the

 

1



 

fiscal year in which such anniversary of the New Effective Date (i.e. February 15) occurs excluding for these purposes (i) increases that are required or guaranteed by contract and (ii) increases in base salaries in connection with a promotion or other significant modification in an executives’s duties.

 

3.             Bonus.  Effective as of the Promotion Effective Date, Section 2(e) of the Agreement shall be amended in its entirety to provide as follows:

 

You may be eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus (the “Annual Bonus”).  Your target Annual Bonus for each calendar year will be one hundred and twenty percent 120% of your Base Salary.  In all instances, the actual amount of the Annual Bonus, if any, shall be determined by the Employer, in its sole and absolute discretion, and may be based on, among other things, your base salary and target bonus prior to the Promotion Effective Date, the portion of the year falling after the Promotion Effective Date, your overall performance and the performance of Activision Blizzard and its subsidiaries (the “Activision Blizzard Group”).  The Annual Bonus, if any, will be paid at the same time bonuses for that year are generally paid to other executives, but in no event earlier than the first day of the first month, or later than the 15th day of the third month, of the year following the year to which the Annual Bonus relates.  Except as otherwise set forth herein, you must remain continuously employed by the Activision Blizzard Group through the date on which an Annual Bonus, if any, is paid to be eligible to receive such Annual Bonus.

 

4.             Equity Incentive Awards.

 

(a)           Section 2(f) is hereby amended by adding the following:

 

Subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee of Activision  Blizzard’s Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”), the Employee will be granted a non-qualified stock option (the “Additional Option”) to purchase an aggregate of 525,000 shares of the common stock of Activision Blizzard.  One-fourth of the Additional Option will vest in equal installments on each of February 15, 2011, February 15, 2012, February 15, 2013 and February 15, 2014, subject to your remaining employed by Activision Blizzard through the applicable vesting date.  Employee acknowledges that the grant of the Additional Option is expressly conditioned upon approval by the Compensation Committee, and that the Compensation Committee has discretion to approve or disapprove the grant of the Additional Option and/or to determine and make modifications to the terms of the Additional Option.  The Additional Option shall be subject to all terms of the equity incentive plan pursuant to which it is granted and Activision Blizzard’s standard forms of award agreement.

 

(b)           Section 2(j) is hereby amended by adding the following:

 

The Employee will receive a restricted stock grant of 225,000 shares of Activision Blizzard’s common stock (the “New Performance Shares”).  The New Performance Shares will vest in equal installments on each of February 15, 2011, February 15, 2012, February 15, 2013 and February 15, 2014, if (and only if) non-GAAP earnings per share of Activision Blizzard for the fiscal year ended immediately prior to such vesting date, as reported as such in the press release issued by Activision Blizzard for that period, is greater than or equal to the non-GAAP earnings per share annual operating plan objectives established by the

 

2



 

Board of Directors and approved by the Compensation Committee for that fiscal year (provided that, if Activision Blizzard fails to meet an objective for a fiscal year, but “over-delivers” on any subsequent fiscal year(s) by an amount which is equal to or greater than the amount by which Activision Blizzard failed to achieve that or any other prior year’s objective, such that the cumulative non-GAAP earnings per share for all fiscal years prior to and including the fiscal year immediately prior to such vesting date, in each case as reported in the press release issued by Activision Blizzard for the period, has met or exceeded the cumulative non-GAAP earnings per share annual operating plan objectives, all shares that previously failed to vest will vest on that subsequent vesting date (along with the shares otherwise vesting on that date)), and subject to your remaining employed by Activision Blizzard through such vesting date.  Employee acknowledges that the grant of the New Performance Shares is expressly conditioned upon approval by the Compensation Committee, and that the Compensation Committee has discretion to approve or disapprove the grant of the New Performance Shares and/or to determine and make modifications to the terms of the New Performance Shares.  The New Performance Shares shall be subject to all terms of the equity incentive plan pursuant to which they are granted and Activision Blizzard’s standard forms of award agreement.  Employee also acknowledges that the Compensation Committee must determine whether the performance criteria solely as stated above have been satisfied and Employer agrees to use its reasonable best efforts for the Compensation Committee to consider whether or not the performance criteria solely as stated above have been satisfied prior to February 15 of the applicable period.

 

(c)           A new Section 2(k) is hereby added:

 

Subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee, the Employee will be granted 350,000 restricted share units which represent the conditional right to receive shares of Activision Blizzard’s common stock (the “RSUs”).  One-fourth of the RSUs will vest in equal installments on each of February 15, 2011, February 15, 2012, February 15, 2013 and February 15, 2014, subject to your remaining employed by Activision Blizzard through the applicable vesting date.  Employee acknowledges that the grant of the RSUs is expressly conditioned upon approval by the Compensation Committee, and that the Compensation Committee has discretion to approve or disapprove the grant of the RSUs and/or to determine and make modifications to the terms of the RSUs.  The RSUs shall be subject to all terms of the equity incentive plan pursuant to which they are granted and Activision Blizzard’s standard forms of award agreement.

 

(d)           A new Section 2(l) is hereby added:

 

The Employee will be eligible for annual equity grants to the extent that similarly situated Section 16 officers are determined by the Compensation Committee to be eligible for such grants.

 

5.             Removal of Minimum Ownership Position Requirements:  Section 15 of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety.

 

6.             Use of Defined Terms:  The parties agree that, with respect to the Agreement as amended by this Amendment No. 3, except with respect to Section 2 of the Agreement and including

 

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Exhibit A to the Agreement, all references to “Restricted Shares” shall be deemed to include the “RSUs” (in addition to the “Restricted Shares” and the “New Restricted Shares”) (and, for purposes of determining the “Market Price”, the determination shall be based upon the value of the shares underlying the restricted stock units and, where the context requires, references to the sale of RSUs shall be deemed to be references to the sales of the shares underlying the restricted stock units.

 

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Except as specifically set forth in this Amendment No. 3, the Agreement shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect.  If any term or provision of the Agreement is contradictory to, or inconsistent with, any term or provision of this Amendment No. 3, then the terms and provisions of this Amendment No. 3 shall in all events control.

 

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED:

 

Employee:

 

 

Employer:

 

 

 

 

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas Tippl

 

 

/s/ Chris B. Walther

Thomas Tippl

 

 

Chris B. Walther

Date: 

March 23, 2010

 

Date: 

March 23, 2010

 

5


Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Robert A. Kotick, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Activision Blizzard, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, at the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:   May 7, 2010

 

 

/s/ Robert A. Kotick

 

Robert A. Kotick

 

Chief Executive Officer of

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

 


Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Thomas Tippl, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Activision Blizzard, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, at the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:     May 7, 2010

 

 

/s/ Thomas Tippl

 

Thomas Tippl

 

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer,

 

Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

 


Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the quarterly report of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Robert A. Kotick, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, to my knowledge, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

(1)         The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2)         The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: May 7, 2010

 

 

 

/s/ Robert A. Kotick

 

Robert A. Kotick

 

Chief Executive Officer of

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 


Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the quarterly report of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Thomas Tippl, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the Company, certify, to my knowledge, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

(1)         The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2)         The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: May 7, 2010

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas Tippl

 

Thomas Tippl

 

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer,

 

Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of Activision Blizzard, Inc.

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.