Ubisoft for sale?

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2005-05-28 12:22pm

Reuters wrote:Reuters Summit-Ubisoft Willing to Be Acquired, in Talks-CEO
Fri May 27, 2005 03:01 AM ET

By Dominique Vidalon and Siobhan Kennedy

PARIS (Reuters) - Ubisoft (UBIP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) , Europe's second-largest video games publisher, is in takeover talks with several parties and does not rule out being acquired by larger U.S. rival Electronic Arts (ERTS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) if offered a high enough price, the company's chairman and chief executive said on Thursday.

"We are speaking with third parties that are interested either to merge (or to invest in the company)," Yves Guillemot told the Reuters Telecoms, Media and Technology Summit here on Thursday.

"If someone comes with a very good offer, that will be very interesting ... I'm going to consider it," Guillemot said, adding that several Chinese companies were among the suitors, although he declined to provide further details.

Ubisoft, known for the hit "Splinter Cell" game series and "Prince of Persia," is at the center of takeover speculation after Electronic Arts, the world's biggest games maker, bought a nearly 20 percent stake in the French company in December 2004.

Ubisoft has dismissed Electronic Arts' approach as hostile and said it was working on organising a defense against a potential bid. Guillemot said he was also talking not only to other suitors, but with several investors as well.

Guillemot said Ubisoft and Electronic Arts held discussions in the past but they were not speaking at the moment.

"That tactical 20 percent does not help. It's a very bad start," Guillemot said.

"It would be wrong to go with the first guy who wants to buy the company," he added.

Electronic Arts is now the company's largest shareholder, ahead of Ubisoft's founders, the Guillemot brothers, who together own 17.5 percent.

But the brothers still control 22.8 percent of the voting rights against 18.4 percent for EA.

Caisse des Depots et Consignations, a state-owned French bank, owns about 6 percent of the capital. BNP Paribas has a 4 percent stake.

Guillemot said Ubisoft would rather stay independent but he would proceed with a sale at the right price.

"We're not going to sell the company for less than we think it's worth. Our turnover is very good. We see our market share improving, so there's no rush to sell," he said.

Guillemot said Ubisoft had held talks with several Chinese companies, although he declined to name them.

Potential Chinese suitors could include the nation's two largest online game operators, Shanda (SNDA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) and NetEase.com Inc. (NTES.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , both of which have hefty amounts of cash on their balance sheets. Shanda in particular has been very acquisitive in the last year.

As much as I dislike Ubi, I'd hate for them to be acquired by EA...

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2005-05-28 01:02pm

Fuck Ubi. They screwed the PC fans over with Ghost Recon 2 and now promise Ghost Recon 3, and now are doing the same fucking thing with Ghost Recon 3 to the PC fans.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2005-05-28 04:18pm

Alyeska wrote:Fuck Ubi. They screwed the PC fans over with Ghost Recon 2 and now promise Ghost Recon 3, and now are doing the same fucking thing with Ghost Recon 3 to the PC fans.

But they gave us Silent Hunter 3, and gave us three patches within a month!

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2005-05-28 05:12pm

Three patches within a month is evidence that Ubi Soft fucking sucks in my book.

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2005-05-28 05:56pm

Alyeska wrote:Three patches within a month is evidence that Ubi Soft fucking sucks in my book.

Nah, that depends on what the patches are for.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2005-05-28 06:07pm

SH3 asshipped had some pretty major issues... like crew staying outside when you dive.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2005-05-28 06:12pm

Stark wrote:SH3 asshipped had some pretty major issues... like crew staying outside when you dive.

But very few crash bugs. Very few.

Drooling Iguana · Post by **Drooling Iguana** » 2005-05-28 08:09pm

So, how long will it be until all games come from EA and Microsoft?

DarkSilver · Post by **DarkSilver** » 2005-05-28 09:02pm

As much as I hate Ubisoft (they brought us that PoS MMORPG Shadowbane....amoungst other things....) I fucking hate EA more (fuck you InQWis and EA for canceling Ultima X).

I'm tired of seeing EA gobble up other producer and designer studios, then suck the very soul from them.......

I'd hate to see another get absorbed into the EA Collective

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2005-05-28 11:07pm

For once I'm crossing my fingers for Microsoft to run in there and snatch up Ubisoft, they have been doing great things(Compared to EA) with companies they have bought

Drunk Monkey · Post by **Drunk Monkey** » 2005-05-28 11:15pm

Drooling Iguana wrote:So, how long will it be until all games come from EA and Microsoft?

Don’t be to confident you still have to deal with Link and the big N.

Silver Paladin · Post by **Silver Paladin** » 2005-05-29 02:00am

Mr Bean wrote:For once I'm crossing my fingers for Microsoft to run in there and snatch up Ubisoft, they have been doing great things(Compared to EA) with companies they have bought

I agree. Microsoft Game Studios is becoming a quality publisher in it's own right. I was very impressed with Rise of Nations, Age of Empires III and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes at E3, and I think by virtue of their massive bankroll, they can afford to let games get the proper amount of development time.

I also hope Vivendi Universal takes a peak at Ubisoft; they are Blizzard's publisher and they've given the developer time to work their magic.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2005-05-29 02:04am

Silver Paladin wrote:I also hope Vivendi Universal takes a peak at Ubisoft; they are Blizzard's publisher and they've given the developer time to work their magic.

You think Vivendi Universal is good?

Silver Paladin · Post by **Silver Paladin** » 2005-05-29 02:06am

DPDarkPrimus wrote:
Silver Paladin wrote:I also hope Vivendi Universal takes a peak at Ubisoft; they are Blizzard's publisher and they've given the developer time to work their magic.
You think Vivendi Universal is good?

I've liked the way they've handled Blizzard. For the most part Blizzard does it's own thing and Vivendi takes care of the financing. That's the way it should be; let the beancounters count the beans, let the designers make the game on their time schedule.

While Vivendi hasn't given their smaller companies the same leeway, I suspect with an acquisition with as much clout and name recognition as Ubi Soft, they will keep a hands off approach as well.