ASAC II LP, an investment vehicle led by Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick and Chairman Brian Kelly, has also completed its purchase of approximately 172 million company shares from Vivendi for approximately $2.34 billion in cash, or $13.60 per share, in a separate transaction.

The shares Activision Blizzard purchased in the transaction will no longer be treated as outstanding, leaving the majority of the remaining 690 million shares in the hands of public shareholders. With the closing of the transaction, ASAC II LP—the investor group which, in addition to Kotick and Kelly, includes Davis Advisors, Leonard Green & Partners, L.P., Tencent, and one of the world's largest global institutional investors—now owns approximately 24.7% of the Company. Vivendi has retained 83 million shares, an approximate 12% stake in the Company.

Activision’s stock purchase was financed with a combination of approximately $1.2 billion of domestic cash on hand and recently issued debt, including $1.5 billion of 5.625% senior notes due 2021, $750 million of 6.125% senior notes due 2024, and a $2.5 billion seven-year term loan facility. The entire $4.75 billion of debt financing has a weighted average annual interest rate of less than 5%.

“With the completion of this transaction we open a new chapter in the history of Activision Blizzard,” Mr. Kotick said. “We expect immediate shareholder benefits in the form of earnings-per-share accretion and strategic and operational independence. Our audiences and our incredibly talented employees around the world will benefit from a focused commitment to the creation of great games. Our shareholders and debt holders will have the benefit of an energized, invested, deeply committed management team focused on generating long-term, superior returns and effectively managing our capital structure.”