Vivendi buys €145m Ubisoft, Gameloft stakes

Vivendi has purchased minority stakes in leading games firms Ubisoft and Gameloft.

The multimedia firm spent a combined €145m on stocks, with €140m going on Assassin’s Creed firm Ubisoft and the rest on mobile games publisher Gameloft. Vivendi now has 6.6 per cent and 6.2 per cent stake in each company respectively.

Vivendi, of course, is no stranger to the games industry having been a publisher up until 2008, when it merged with 2013. Activision Blizzard performed an $8bn buyout in 2013.

GamesIndustry reports that Vivendi has not commented in great detail on these purchases, only saying that they were made “with a view to utilising [our] available cash”.

Ubisoft seems to be sensible purchase given the continued success of hit franchises such as Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry. 

However, Gameloft has had a troubled year, having closed eight “unprofitable” studios so far in 2015. This could partly explain the massive difference in the amount spent on the two company’s stocks.