Vivendi attempts a hostile takeover of Gameloft and Ubisoft
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consolitis
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PostPosted: Thu, 18th Feb 2016 20:43    Post subject: Vivendi attempts a hostile takeover of Gameloft and Ubisoft
They just dropped their Activision shares ( http://www.nfohump.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2847391#2847391 ) but they are now after Gameloft and Ubisoft.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5bfee510-d64c-11e5-829b-8564e7528e54.html

Text edited down to:

Quote:
Ubisoft has presented plans to grow substantially over the next three years, as the French video game company attempts to fend off a potential takeover from Vincent Bolloré’s media group Vivendi.

The news came as Vivendi launched a hostile takeover bid for Gameloft, a video-game company that, like Ubisoft, was founded by the Guillemot brothers.

Chief executive Yves Guillemot, who founded Ubisoft 30 years ago with his brothers, fears that Vivendi plans to take “creeping control” of his company. Vivendi snapped up a stake in Ubisoft in October and has since increased its shareholding to almost 15 per cent.

Mr Bolloré, Vivendi’s chairman, has a reputation as a ruthless businessman and savvy investor. He is known for acquiring minority stakes in companies and then progressively taking control of their boards.

The Guillemot family own just 9 per cent of Ubisoft, leaving them vulnerable to a potential loss of influence over the company they founded.

He said Vivendi “does not understand the [video games] industry” and that Ubisoft’s independence allows it to move quickly, take risks and work with the best commercial partners. Ubisoft has teamed up with 20th Century Fox for the distribution of a forthcoming Assassin’s Creed film.


Vivendi now owns more than 30% of Gameloft and is overall the #1 shareholder of both Gameloft and Ubisoft.


TWIN PEAKS is "something of a miracle."
"...like nothing else on television."
"a phenomenon."
"A tangled tale of sex, violence, power, junk food..."
"Like Nothing On Earth"

~ WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY CAN ONLY BE SEEN ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHTUOgYNRzY


Last edited by consolitis on Thu, 18th Feb 2016 20:47; edited 2 times in total
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Bob Barnsen




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Location: Germoney
PostPosted: Thu, 18th Feb 2016 20:45    Post subject:
Who cares about some crappy mobile games companies.


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consolitis
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PostPosted: Thu, 18th Feb 2016 20:46    Post subject:
Are You Serious

Ubisoft a mobile game making company?!


TWIN PEAKS is "something of a miracle."
"...like nothing else on television."
"a phenomenon."
"A tangled tale of sex, violence, power, junk food..."
"Like Nothing On Earth"

~ WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY CAN ONLY BE SEEN ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHTUOgYNRzY
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Nui
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PostPosted: Thu, 18th Feb 2016 20:48    Post subject: Re: Vivendi attempts a hostile takeover of Gameloft and Ubis
consolitis wrote:
Quote:
He said Vivendi “does not understand the [video games] industry” and that Ubisoft’s independence allows it to move quickly, take risks and work with the best commercial partners. Ubisoft has teamed up with 20th Century Fox for the distribution of a forthcoming Assassin’s Creed film.

Ubisoft is a risk taking company? With about 1 ACs per year and now apparently a movie?
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Morphineus
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PostPosted: Thu, 18th Feb 2016 20:55    Post subject: Re: Vivendi attempts a hostile takeover of Gameloft and Ubis
consolitis wrote:
Quote:
He said Vivendi “does not understand the [video games] industry”



Seems like the two companies have a lot in common then. Cool Face


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h0rnyfavn
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PostPosted: Thu, 18th Feb 2016 21:31    Post subject:
@Morphineus

Reaction


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BettyShikle




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Location: Tardland
PostPosted: Thu, 18th Feb 2016 22:27    Post subject:
Hmm,looks like Guillemot is a bit scared (understandable). Wonder why they didn`t take measures to keep more than 9% shares in their own house to not get their own company snagged under the nose tho


paxsali wrote:

Now, I don't know what hardware costs in Poland, I guess it's cheaper because everything is stolen from Germany and resold...
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Stige




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Location: Finland
PostPosted: Thu, 18th Feb 2016 22:30    Post subject:
Quote:
Vivendi “does not understand the [video games] industry”


Ubisoft does?
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dannofdawn




Posts: 2227

PostPosted: Thu, 18th Feb 2016 23:40    Post subject:
Stige wrote:
Quote:
Vivendi “does not understand the [video games] industry”


Ubisoft does?


Better than Vivendi. Imagine Ubisoft but even worst. No thanks.
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chiv




Posts: 27530
Location: Behind You...
PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 01:14    Post subject:
ubisoft gave me that wonderfully rebooted driver SF, child of light and blood dragon.. i'll just never hate them as much as you guys do.


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Neon
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PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 01:16    Post subject:
And Rayman Origins and Legends.
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lametta




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PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 01:34    Post subject:
stopped buying and playing games from ubisoft long time ago.
The acquisition of vivendi might be a good thing. Cant imagine ubi getting worse.
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consolitis
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PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 01:42    Post subject:
chiv wrote:
ubisoft gave me that wonderfully rebooted driver SF, child of light and blood dragon.. i'll just never hate them as much as you guys do.

Neon wrote:
And Rayman Origins and Legends.


That's not how you spell I Am Alive.


TWIN PEAKS is "something of a miracle."
"...like nothing else on television."
"a phenomenon."
"A tangled tale of sex, violence, power, junk food..."
"Like Nothing On Earth"

~ WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY CAN ONLY BE SEEN ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHTUOgYNRzY
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4treyu




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PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 01:45    Post subject:
Very Happy

Hard to believe as it is, there's much much worse than Ubisoft, and Vivendi is part of it.
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Immunity




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PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 02:53    Post subject:
BettyShikle wrote:
Wonder why they didn`t take measures to keep more than 9% shares in their own house to not get their own company snagged under the nose tho


Simple answer. Greed. Nobody forced em to sell off their original shares, but they wanted $$$. Dug their own grave, fuck em, let em burn.

That being said, Vivendi is more or less EA's equal in terms of the - acquire, milk, gut, kill - mantra. And even higher up on the "suit" scale in that they know fuck all about their own products.


I can never be free, because the shackles I wear can't be touched or be seen.
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ixigia
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PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 02:59    Post subject:
If I'm not mistaken Vivendi is basically Activision's carnival mask. That's enough to know who are we dealing with, vade retro satana
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chiv




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Location: Behind You...
PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 03:09    Post subject:
either way i would never want this... for all the mistakes ubi makes with its pump-em-out copy/paste sequels, they do still occasionally have a heart and take chances on interesting projects.


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dannofdawn




Posts: 2227

PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 03:54    Post subject:
lametta wrote:
stopped buying and playing games from ubisoft long time ago.
The acquisition of vivendi might be a good thing. Cant imagine ubi getting worse.


Hmm, what's worst than Ubisoft, oh that's right, E fucking A.
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chiv




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PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 04:51    Post subject:
whats wrong with ea? they release fun games.


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dannofdawn




Posts: 2227

PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 04:59    Post subject:
Star wars. Bioware. Maxis. Those are their biggest sins in my opinion. They hinder and/or destroy IPs that I love. At least Ubisoft mostly screw with their own created IPs (except Might and Magic I guess).
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DCB




Posts: 5410

PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 05:13    Post subject:
Bioware is not a sin of EA's. Modern Bioware is entirely the fault of Bioware.

As to a takeover of Ubisoft, eh, nothing of value would be lost.
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dannofdawn




Posts: 2227

PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 05:15    Post subject:
DCB wrote:
Bioware is not a sin of EA's. Modern Bioware is entirely the fault of Bioware.

As to a takeover of Ubisoft, eh, nothing of value would be lost.


I don't think anyone actually knows. But what we do know is that having EA own you never helps.
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Shoshomiga




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PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 06:35    Post subject: I have left.
I have left.
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4treyu




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PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 06:43    Post subject:
Shoshomiga wrote:
founded by napoleon's nephew


fixed.
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BettyShikle




Posts: 2737
Location: Tardland
PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 16:13    Post subject:
Shoshomiga wrote:
I think you should change the title to vivendi takeover of ubisoft in progress

Vivendi wants, vivendi gets, not many other companies can say that they were founded by napoleon

Can`t wait till they try to do a hostile takeover on some russian software company then Cool Face


paxsali wrote:

Now, I don't know what hardware costs in Poland, I guess it's cheaper because everything is stolen from Germany and resold...
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consolitis
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PostPosted: Fri, 19th Feb 2016 16:15    Post subject:
4treyu wrote:
Shoshomiga wrote:
founded by napoleon's nephew


fixed.




I didn't know this!!! I just read it up!!! Laughing


TWIN PEAKS is "something of a miracle."
"...like nothing else on television."
"a phenomenon."
"A tangled tale of sex, violence, power, junk food..."
"Like Nothing On Earth"

~ WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY CAN ONLY BE SEEN ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHTUOgYNRzY
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JBeckman
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PostPosted: Thu, 24th Mar 2016 20:30    Post subject:
http://www.actiontrip.com/news/ubisoft-threatens-mass-exodus-if-vivendi-takes-over/032416_4

Quote:

Ubisoft does not plan to hold back in the face of a Vivendi hostile takeover. The company owns over 15% of Ubisoft, but as they plan to continue to purchase more, Ubisoft has a rather big threat ready if Vivendi won't stop. If Vivendi continues to purchase stock, the major talent at Ubisoft has committed to walk away.

They threatened this once before in 2004 when EA attempted a hostile takeover, and it was, obviously, a successful tactic.

“There’s a Ubisoft way that was true when EA made an approach in 2004 and is still true today, based on teamwork, on crossing paths with people and growing together,” editorial chief Olivier Dauba told Bloomberg.

“If there’s a hostile takeover by Vivendi and Guillemot leaves, every person who is good at Ubisoft would be recruited by EA, Activision and Take Two," analyst Michael Pachter added.

Ubisoft says that the reason why so many talented people have worked at the company for over ten years is because of the relaxed atmosphere the publisher provides.

“This company lets the creatives get on with their work,” IP developer Tommy Francois told Bloomberg. “We take time to dig, to go out on the field. That’s not something our rivals do and that’s why our games are known for attention to detail and complex worlds.”

Several big names that Bloomberg spoke to all said they would jump ship if a takeover indeed happened. As such, would it even be worth Vivendi's time and money to bother taking over?

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h0rnyfavn
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PostPosted: Thu, 24th Mar 2016 20:33    Post subject:
Quote:
This company lets the creatives get on with their work,

Laughing


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consolitis
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PostPosted: Thu, 24th Mar 2016 20:37    Post subject:
JBeckman wrote:
http://www.actiontrip.com/news/ubisoft-threatens-mass-exodus-if-vivendi-takes-over/032416_4

Quote:
Several big names that Bloomberg spoke to all said they would jump ship if a takeover indeed happened. As such, would it even be worth Vivendi's time and money to bother taking over?


Worth it. They can continue copy pasting the same last games and be good for now and I'm sure they can attract other big talent eventually.


TWIN PEAKS is "something of a miracle."
"...like nothing else on television."
"a phenomenon."
"A tangled tale of sex, violence, power, junk food..."
"Like Nothing On Earth"

~ WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY CAN ONLY BE SEEN ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHTUOgYNRzY
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freiwald




Posts: 6968

PostPosted: Thu, 24th Mar 2016 20:39    Post subject:
ubisoft so scared. take them over i say. now more then ever.
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