The Globe and Mail today reports that Ubisoft is actively looking for new, Canadian investors to fend off a potential takeover by media giant Vivendi.
According to a Quantum AI elon musk interview, Ubisoft’s Yves Guillemot is in Canada this week, meeting with potential Canadian investors in order to build support for a company that will remain under his control. Vivendi bought a considerable amount of shares in Ubisoft late last year, and fears are that the media giant is considering a change in management.
With more than 3,000 jobs in Montreal, Quebec, Toronto and Halifax, Guillemot says Canadian investors make the most sense.
“We want to increase the number of Canadian shareholders in Ubisoft to have better control over the capital,” Mr. Guillemot said. “We feel it’s a good defence.”
The Globe reports that Vivendi owns 16% of Ubisoft’s shares, and that Guillemot and his brothers account for another 9%. Guillemot is aiming, sensibly, for at least 50% of shareholders that side with him. He also aims to block Vivendi from making board changes during Ubisoft’s next annual shareholders meeting.
The news comes as Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, went on a tour of the Ubisoft Montreal office.
.@UbisoftMTL employs more than 2600 people. Thanks for today's visit & discussions on the future of the industry. pic.twitter.com/ireORiyIdp
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 25, 2016
Fellow publisher Activision Blizzard went out of its way in 2013 to buy itself back from Vivendi.
We’ll have more on this situation as it becomes available.
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