Ubisoft CEO Responds to Acquisition Rumors: “We have everything we need to remain independent”

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Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot recently responded to rumors that the company could be acquired during a year-end investor call, saying “We have everything we need to remain independent.” 
There were rumors in April that Ubisoft might be acquired, and it has begun to sort out its accounts with the help of an external audit firm. There were media reports at the time that a number of private equity firms, including Blackstone Inc. and KKR & Co., had been studying Ubisoft’s business or preparing for an acquisition.

Ubisoft’s share price has been falling recently, and its current share price is 41.61 euros, down more than 50% compared to the beginning of 2021, which is also the most important reason for this acquisition rumor. In the face of such rumors, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot reassured investors that he had no intention of selling Ubisoft.

“There has been a lot of talk around consolidation in the industry, and Ubisoft in particular. Our overall position is clear and well known: As we said last February, we have everything we need to remain independent. We have the talent, the industrial and the financial scale, and a large portfolio of powerful IPs to create massive value in the coming years.“

However, the acquisition rumors are not without merit, Yves Guillemot believes that this “is putting in plain sight the real appeal and value of our assets and our value creation potential.” Yves Guillemot said the same thing in February this year. He also mentioned several times at the time that he would consider any acquisition or merger proposal, but he also emphasized that the main reason was that the company had to do it.

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