Guillemot: Ubisoft Not For Sale, Looking At Acquisitions

According to an interview in French financial publication La Vie Financiere, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has indicated strongly that the French-headquartered developer and publisher is not available for purchase. This follows continuing rumors of the company's possible acquisition, particularly by Electronic Arts, which owns a 20% stake in Ubisoft obtained from a third-party investor without Ubisoft's permission, and of whom Guillemot has previously comented: "I view this action on the part of EA as hostile." Perhaps making clear recent reports of an interview with the French newspaper Les Echoes in which Guillemot was quoted as saying: "We are not safe from a hostile action from Electronic Arts, which it would be difficult to block if they make a genuinely interesting offer", the Ubisoft CEO clarified matters further in the La Vie Financiere interview, commenting: "Let this be clear: we are not for sale. We think that it's more in Electronic Arts' interest that Ubisoft remains independent and achieves a strong growth of its revenues and earnings." Guillemot also revealed that Ubisoft has had only "sporadic" contact with EA regarding its investment, and furthermore commented that Ubisoft itself was looking to acquire firms: "We are looking at two or three deals with companies whose turnover does not exceed 100 million euros ($118 million). It could be small publishers, studios or even known brands that we would develop." Finally, the Ubisoft CEO seemed keen to leave the door open, even if just a crack, continuing his somewhat equivocal stance on Ubisoft's status by ending his comments: "That said, sector consolidation is inevitable. In these conditions, if a company offers a strategy and a price satisfactory for staff and shareholders, we will look at it."