The video game market has witnessed several major takeovers in recent months: after the takeover of Zenimax (Bethesda) last year, Microsoft renewed its efforts with Activision Blizzard, then Sony followed with Bungie…
According to information from Bloomberg, another giant in the sector could soon be acquired, but not necessarily for the benefit of Microsoft or Sony.
According to Bloomberg, Ubisoft is currently of interest to several investor funds, its private equity firms, including Blackstone Inc. and KKR & Co. have expressed interest in the French company. Despite everything, no negotiations would be started for the moment, it is not yet certain that the main shareholder is in any case willing to sign anything.
Because Ubisoft has repeatedly resisted takeover attempts: Yves Guillemot of the founding family of the publisher still holds 15% of the shares. The editor displays sawtooth results with a very fluctuating stock market price. The stock has thus plunged in one year, dropping from €84.60 in January 2021 to just €51 in March this year. The group has a market capitalization of 4.8 billion euros.
Despite everything, the publisher is counting on its next releases and franchises to raise the bar and return to success. In addition, the group shares great ambitions and seeks to diversify, in particular by adapting its franchises into derivative products, series, films and even amusement parks…
The group has regularly resisted the offensives of the Vivendi group, but since then the situation has changed and Yves Guillemot confided last February that he wanted to examine any offer that might arise. It must be said that in the meantime, Ubisoft has also been heavily criticized for various cases of sexual harassment covered by senior executives of the group.
Ubisoft was also widely heckled after its announcements concerning the NFTs but also the presentation of certain projects, in particular the next Ghost Recon postponed to an indefinite date, just like Beyond Good and Evil 2 still at an impasse.
The question of redemption is therefore becoming more and more realistic for the group.
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