NEWS

Ubisoft Might Be Going Private Amid Falling Market Value

Ubisoft, once a dominant force in the gaming industry, has seen a decline in recent years, losing much of its former appeal. This has led to a significant drop in its market value, with the company struggling to meet the expectations of gamers.

Amid these challenges, reports suggest that Tencent and the Guillemot family, Ubisoft’s founders, are considering taking the company private, following a market value drop of over 50% this year.

Importance: Tencent’s potential involvement in taking Ubisoft private could serve as a much-needed lifeline for the publisher, following its poor performance over the past few years.

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According to sources from Bloomberg, Tencent, which already holds around 10% of Ubisoft, has been in discussions with Guillemot Brothers Ltd and advisers about potential strategies to stabilize the company.

One of the options on the table is a joint effort to take Ubisoft private, though discussions are still at an early stage, and there’s no guarantee they will lead to concrete action. Other alternatives are also being considered as part of the effort to address Ubisoft’s recent financial challenges.

Ubisoft’s stock price recently reached its lowest point in nearly 11 years, following delays in high-profile projects such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows and the underwhelming launch performance of Star Wars Outlaws. The company has faced increasing pressure to reassess its business strategy.

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Earlier this month, a minority investor, AJ Investments, called on Ubisoft’s management to either take the company private or sell it to a strategic investor.

The Slovakia-based hedge fund, which holds less than 1% of Ubisoft, issued an open letter urging the board to consider significant changes, including a comprehensive cost reduction program and optimizing staffing levels to better align with industry standards.

The letter also recommended that Ubisoft increase its focus on core intellectual properties and consider replacing current CEO Yves Guillemot to pave the way for strategic growth.

The calls for reform follow growing concerns over the company’s declining market performance and delayed projects, which have prompted discussions about the future direction of the company.

Although it remains uncertain whether these discussions will result in concrete action, for now, Ubisoft’s fate hangs in the balance as the company navigates an unpredictable future amidst growing challenges.

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