Ubisoft Declares Independence Amidst Vivendi Takeover; Vivendi Dubbed ‘Aggressive Pursuer’
With Vivendi might possibly take over Ubisoft's management, the French multinational game development and publishing company pledged to fans for remain independent if the unthinkable happens, according to GameSpot.
Company CEO Yves Guillemot expressed his dismay over Ubisoft's possible Vivendi takeover through an internal office email. He declared that Vivendi's acquisition of stakes into the company was "unsolicited and unwelcome."
Guillemot writes: "Our intention is and has always been to remain independent, a value which, for 30 years, has allowed us to innovate, take risks, create beloved franchises for players around the world, and which has helped the company grow into the leader it is today."
Vivendi acquired 6.6 percent stake in Ubisoft and additional 6.2 percent stake in Gameloft earlier this month, combining a total of $183 million worth of shares. Vivendi, which is currently under Chairman Vincent Bollore, also owns 20 percent of telecommunications company Italia SpA and wants to influence in its decision-making and start changes according to a report from Bloomberg.
However, Ubisoft's CEO Guillemot is clearly against with what Vivendi plans for the game company. He noted that the French mass media company has a history of "aggressively pursuing companies with the entertainment sector."
Should Vivendi's takeover of Ubisoft might happen, he expressed that the company will be managed by people who do not have a single idea on their expertise and what it takes to be successful in gaming industry.
Guillemot later added: "We're going to fight to preserve our independence. We should not let this situation--nor any future actions by Vivendi or others--distract us from our goals. Our best defense is to stay focused on what we have always done best--deliver the most original and memorable gaming experiences."
Ubisoft is known for releasing best-selling game titles such as "Assassin's Creed," "Far Cry" and "Prince of Persia" series. It was founded in 1986 and is currently one of the biggest video games in the world.
