Ubisoft Shareholders Reportedly Want a Tencent Buyout Where Guillemot Family Retain Control

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Ubisoft Shareholders Reportedly Want a Tencent Buyout Where Guillemot Family Retain Control

Key Takeaways

  • Ubisoft is said to be in talks with Tencent for a buyout, aiming to have the Guillemot family retain control.
  • Ubisoft employees are reportedly concerned about the company’s future.
  • Shareholders want the Guillemot family to maintain power as Ubisoft seeks strategic options.

As a long-time gamer and follower of Ubisoft’s journey through the years, I must admit that the recent news about potential buyouts has left me feeling somewhat uneasy. The Guillemot family has been at the helm for decades, delivering iconic titles like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry to our gaming screens.

It appears that Ubisoft, known for producing the popular series ‘Assassin’s Creed’, is rumored to be engaging in discussions with Tencent regarding a possible acquisition. The Guillemot family is said to maintain some level of influence over the company even if it is sold. Recent financial struggles, such as underperforming games in recent years, have led to speculation that Ubisoft might be seeking a sale to another entity.

In early March, Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, disclosed that he’s taking all necessary steps to hold onto the company’s leadership. This revelation came from an internal memo intended for Ubisoft employees. Insider Gaming shared this information, exposing a sense of uncertainty among staff members about the company’s direction. A survey with an 86% response rate gathered over 55,000 comments, suggesting that approximately 2.6 employees commented on average. Given the current workforce of roughly 21,000, this suggests low morale within the organization. However, the Guillemot family is actively working to improve employee sentiment.

According to reports, Ubisoft and Tencent have been discussing a possible acquisition for some time now. Tencent currently holds approximately 10% of Ubisoft, and it appears they are aiming for a larger say in the company’s decision-making process. However, Reuters suggests that Ubisoft is pushing for an agreement that would allow its French founding family, the Guillemots, to maintain control over the company’s decisions. The outcome of these power negotiations between Ubisoft and Tencent remains uncertain. As the news of these talks has emerged, Ubisoft’s stock has climbed by more than 14%.

Ubisoft Shareholders Want Guillemot Family to Maintain Control of The Company

Ubisoft Shareholders Reportedly Want a Tencent Buyout Where Guillemot Family Retain ControlUbisoft Shareholders Reportedly Want a Tencent Buyout Where Guillemot Family Retain ControlUbisoft Shareholders Reportedly Want a Tencent Buyout Where Guillemot Family Retain ControlUbisoft Shareholders Reportedly Want a Tencent Buyout Where Guillemot Family Retain Control

Due to weak financial performance at Ubisoft, they have been exploring various strategies to help stabilize their company. In a recent comparison of years, Ubisoft saw a 22% decrease in net bookings, with the underwhelming response to Star Wars Outlaws being one factor. There has been little information shared about Ubisoft’s negotiations with Tencent, but rumors continue to surface regarding the potential terms of their agreement.

Unexpectedly, Ubisoft pushed back the release date of “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” from November 2024 to February 2025. It seems that developers at Ubisoft have been requesting a delay for this game for quite some time now. Only recently has this postponement been granted. We’ll have to wait and see how well this title does in the future.

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2024-12-06 19:43