Tencent and Guillemot Brothers' Dispute Over Control of Ubisoft

Business Drama

09 December 2024 16:54

Ubisoft’s two largest shareholders are in ongoing discussions about a potential buyout that could take the Assassin's Creed publisher private. However, a new report suggests tensions over control of the company following the deal.

Reuters revealed that Guillemot Brothers Ltd, led by Ubisoft co-founder Yves Guillemot and his family, wants to maintain its current level of control over the company after the buyout. In contrast, Tencent is reportedly holding off on increasing its stake in Ubisoft until it is granted more influence over future board decisions.

The negotiations are partly driven by concerns about preventing a hostile takeover of Ubisoft by another investor. Tencent is said to be waiting for the Guillemot family to agree to its terms before moving forward with the buyout, according to Reuters.

More:Former Ubisoft Executives Arrested

The possibility of a buyout first surfaced in October following a series of financial setbacks at Ubisoft, including the disappointing performance of Star Wars Outlaws. A minority shareholder even called for Ubisoft to go private after the company’s share price fell significantly post-launch of the game.

In September, Ubisoft lowered its financial targets for the year, delayed Assassin's Creed Shadows to February 2025, and launched an internal review to address its financial challenges.

Tags: Ubisoft

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