Simpson Thacher is representing Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) in connection with its announced acquisition of ZeniMax Media, Inc. for a purchase price of $7.5 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of Microsoft’s fiscal year 2021 and is subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
ZeniMax Media creates and publishes original interactive entertainment content for consoles, PCs, and handheld/wireless devices. The deal will give Microsoft’s Xbox games division ownership of top-selling games including “Fallout,” “The Elder Scrolls,” “Doom,” “Quake,” “Wolfenstein,” “Prey” and “Dishonored.”
The Simpson Thacher team includes Alan Klein, Anthony Vernace, William Allen, Lauren Kim and Brian Kloeblen (M&A); Greg Grogan, Patricia Adams and Jake Phillips (Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits); Lori Lesser, Corina McIntyre and Bobbie Burrows (Intellectual Property); Jonathan Goldstein, Eli Shalam and Sophie Staples (Tax); and Krista McManus (Real Estate).