A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

An Ubisoft spokesman appeared to confirm rumors that the company is considering taking itself private with Tencent.

A screenshot from Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (2015), Ubisoft

Last week Bloomberg’s Vinicy Chan, Dong Cao, and Benoit Berthelot claimed that Tencent Holdings Ltd. and the Guillemot family were “considering options including a potential buyout of the French video game developer after it lost more than half its market value this year, according to people familiar with the matter.”

The reported added, “The Chinese tech company and Guillemot Brothers Ltd. have been speaking with advisers to help explore ways to stabilize Ubisoft and bolster its value, the people said, asked not to be identified discussing a private matter. One of the possibilities being discussed would involve teaming up to take the company private, according to the people.”

A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

READ: Monetization Director At Ubisoft Stevy Chassard Lashes Out At Gamers And Fellow Developers

Now an Ubisoft spokesman appeared to confirm this is being discussed. The spokesman told VGC, “Ubisoft has noted recent press speculation regarding potential interests around the Company. It regularly reviews all its strategic options in the interest of stakeholders and will inform the market if and when appropriate.”

The spokesman added, “The Company reiterates that management is currently focused on executing its strategy, centred on two core verticals – Open World Adventures and GaaS-native experiences.”

A screenshot from Star Wars Outlaws (2024), Ubisoft

Investment firm AJ Holdings previously called for Ubisoft to be sold and taken private. In an open letter addressed to the Ubisoft board, CEO Yves Guillemot, Tencent, and the Guilemot Family Holding in the middle of September the company stated, “Take the Company Private for fair price: We urge the Board to consider taking Ubisoft private, with Tencent as a significant partner and shareholder. Ubisoft as a public company is under ongoing scrutiny to report better and better quarterly results to please investors which may harm strategy going forward and is harming Ubisoft at this time, when they need to think long-term to get new air into their exceptional franchises.”

Furthermore, it noted, “If Guillemot and Tencent are not interested in Ubisoft value, we urge the current management not to block any takeover as there are several PE groups that would be interested, based on our research. In the event of offer from a PE group or strategic investor, we urge Guillemot family to accept this bid, when this bid will be for fair price, if this offer won’t be accepted we will sue for a reimbursement of damages.”

A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

The investment firm made this call after it accused the Guillemot family and Tencent of “discounting potential value of Ubisoft in order to buy more shares at lower valuation and eventually take full control of the company at heavily discounted valuation.”

It specifically stated, “In our view, recent delays of certain titles there are creating uncertainty amongst investors is beneficial for Guillemot and Tencent in order to acquire more shares at even discounted valuation as Ubisoft is currently trading close to 15 EUR per share lowest point since 2015, giving Ubisoft valuation less than 2 billion EUR. Guillemot brothers who are respected entrepreneurs in France best know the value of Ubisoft and its distribution agreements they have with Tencent and Activision Blizzard, so we assume they may use this as tactic to get minority shareholders under the stress.”

A screenshot of Skull and Bones (2024), Ubisoft

The firm followed up on this with Reuters reporting that it had “gathered support from 10% of the French videogame publisher’s shareholders.”

It also reiterated its call for Ubisoft to sell and take it private, “We call on the management of Ubisoft to allow the sale of the company to third parties or private equity firms at a fair price.”

A screenshot from The Crew Motorfest (2023), Ubisoft Ivory Tower

Ubisoft’s stock rallied upon the initial rumor for Bloomberg increased 36.14% in the last five days from a low around €9.95. It currently sits at €13.75.

However, despite the rally the stock is still down 30.06% in the last 3 months and 40.5% since the beginning of the calendar year. It is down nearly 52% since last year. In the last five years its down over 78%.

A screenshot of Ubisoft’s stock price taken on October 7, 2024 at 11:16 AM ET.

What do you make of this spokesman’s comments?