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[UbiSoftologist]

Source: AFX http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/050121/323/farsj.html

PARIS (AFX) - Ubisoft Entertainment SA chief executive Yves Guillemot said the group has begun tie-up discussions with several potential partners, aimed to defending the company from a potential takeover bid from Electronics Arts of the US.

'The negotiations with our partners will end fairly soon,' Guillemot said in an interview with BFM radio, the day after posting third quarter sales and reaffirming the group's aim to avoid a takeover from EA, which has taken a 20 pct stake in the company.

He has already indicated that Ubisoft has a defence plan against EA, said yesterday he is still interested in pursuing a tie-up with Eidos PLC.

In any case, Ubisoft 'will no longer be the company it was before Dec 20,' when EA bought a 20 pct stake from Talpa Beheer, the investment vehicle of Dutch financier John de Mol.

'We will be working with other parties, whether they be industrial or financial,' Guillemot told BFM.

 

[Andy787]

I could like a company with Splinter Cell, Hitman, Rainbow Six, Deus Ex, Prince of Persia, and Legacy of Kain, under the same umbrella. Yes, I think I could do that.

 

[UbiSoftologist]

I could like a company with Splinter Cell, Hitman, Rainbow Six, Deus Ex, Prince of Persia, and Legacy of Kain, under the same umbrella.

I agree. Ubisoft possesses the talent to re-invigorate Eidos' IPs.

 

[Andy787]

I think IO can handle Hitman very well themselves, but I would absolutely love to see Ubi Montreal take a go with the Legacy of Kain series, or hell, a new Tomb Raider would be perfect for them.

 

[Jotaro]

I think IO can handle Hitman very well themselves, but I would absolutely love to see Ubi Montreal take a go with the Legacy of Kain series, or hell, a new Tomb Raider would be perfect for them.

Aren't Ubisoft Montreal overrated?

And it seems Ubisoft is losing their style. When they bought Red Storm Entertainment, it was their best move ever. But nearly every other intellectual property of theirs seem to bomb at retail, except for maybe Prince of Persia now. It seems that loony french games like Rayman does not sells anymore, and look at BG&E, an excellent game, and it was one of their worst flops ever. This french company, because of their success with everything Tom Clancy-related, seems to become more and more american!

And they are making an MMORPG with Heroes of Might and Magic. I do not consider that good handling of an external, newly acquired intellectual property.

 

[Coen]

Ubisoft hasn't been Ubisoft ever since they decided to fuck up Rayman.

 

[Jotaro]

Ubisoft hasn't been Ubisoft ever since they decided to fuck up Rayman.

I presume you are talking about Rayman 3? They, in my point of view, went just WAY out of proportions with zanyness and french humor. The french dub is cool tough, it's like a saturday morning cartoon.

 

[FortNinety]

Yeah, I had always assumed that if the brothers fine thier company taken from them, they would simply leave and start again. They're pretty stubborn, and in this instance, it's good for all of us.

 

[Deku]

If I remember correctly, Ubi stock jumped when EA bought that 20%

That's an indication shareholders approve of a possible buyout. But as with many Business decisions, the people who are actually in charge doesn't really listen to shareholders and make decisions based on irrational emotions, including in this case, blind nationalism.

I hope EA wins.

 

[The Bookerman]

If I remember correctly, Ubi stock jumped when EA bought that 20%

That's an indication shareholders approve of a possible buyout. But as with many Business decisions, the people who are actually in charge doesn't really listen to shareholders and make decisions based on irrational emotions, including in this case, blind nationalism.

I hope EA wins.

Irrational emotions?

Hey hotshot, if you work your ass off for a company that is less blinded by corporatism than EA, you wish it stays the same.

Ubi wishes to keep their independance and I stand fully behind the big boss.

 

[Deku]

Irrational emotions?

Hey hotshot, if you work your ass off for a company that is less blinded by corporatism than EA, you wish it stays the same.

Ubi wishes to keep their independance and I stand fully behind the big boss.

It goes both ways. Companies like EA can also be overcome by empire building over increasing shareholder wealth, at the sametime, it is apparent Ubi shareholders want them to sell to EA. The fact that they want to be independent has nothing to do with doing what is good for shareholders.

Besides, leaving that 20% on the table for EA to take says something about the competence of the managers in charge.

And yes, many companies fight takeovers not because its bad for shareholders but because the current management doesn't want to be fired by the one taking them over. It is irrational from an economic standpoint.

And what exactly are Ubi's plans to fight EA? Take poison pills by making expensive serance packages for the top executives to make it too expensive for EA? Buy unprofitable and doomed developer like Eidos to make the company look worse ?

Thanks for calling me a hotshot because apparently, I can see beyond my hatred for a company to criticize Ubisoft for doing something stupid ... again.

 

[FortNinety]

I hope EA wins.

For the life of me, I just can't understand such reasoning. Just because you like EA games, everyone else should be playing them? No fucking thank you.

 

[DarienA]

For the life of me, I just can't understand such reasoning. Just because you like EA games, everyone else should be playing them? No fucking thank you.

I hope EA becomes the MS of the VG industry!*

































*I really don't but it sounded cool to say/type!

 

[Deku]

For the life of me, I just can't understand such reasoning. Just because you like EA games, everyone else should be playing them? No fucking thank you.

I actually play very few EA games. The ones I do own are by Maxis, only because Maxis rules. I'm just noting that Ubisoft is being irrational for screwing their shareholders. Which is true. Their 'consideration' for the crap of a developer called Eidos sort of proves to me they are indeed looking for a poison pill to dirty the ubi portfolio while at the same time incurring debt or spending lots of cash to buy Eidos at a high mark up, so that EA will back off.

I've yet to see anyone prove me wrong that at the end of the day the shareholders are being hurt by the management.

 

[COCKLES]

Ubisoft POP team doing a Tomb Raider Lara Croft game = GOLD.

 

[thorns]

It goes both ways. Companies like EA can also be overcome by empire building over increasing shareholder wealth, at the sametime, it is apparent Ubi shareholders want them to sell to EA. The fact that they want to be independent has nothing to do with doing what is good for shareholders.

Besides, leaving that 20% on the table for EA to take says something about the competence of the managers in charge.

And yes, many companies fight takeovers not because its bad for shareholders but because the current management doesn't want to be fired by the one taking them over. It is irrational from an economic standpoint.

And what exactly are Ubi's plans to fight EA? Take poison pills by making expensive serance packages for the top executives to make it too expensive for EA? Buy unprofitable and doomed developer like Eidos to make the company look worse ?

Thanks for calling me a hotshot because apparently, I can see beyond my hatred for a company to criticize Ubisoft for doing something stupid ... again.

you know nothing about business do you? the shares go up on buyout rumors because to buy a company you have to offer a premium over the normal share price to tender the shares. It has nothing to do with shareholders being happy, it's just some people trying to jump on the bandwagon before it leaves.

They can make it very expensive for EA to buy UBI, that's for sure. I'm sure UBI shareholders are quite happy right now, since they reported strong earnings.

 

[Azih]

Lara Croft vs TimeSonofaBitch!


anyway

If I remember correctly, Ubi stock jumped when EA bought that 20%

This always happens and it happens because any attempted hostile takover jacks up the price and people want to buy low, sell high. It has nothing to do with long term prospects. Just short term speculation.

Edit: Dammit beaten.

 

[Baron]

I hope EA becomes the MS of the VG industry!*

If anyone not familiar with any of those acronyms you used happened across your post in twenty years, you'd be perceived as an absolutely fucking crazy man.

 

[FortNinety]

I actually play very few EA games. The ones I do own are by Maxis, only because Maxis rules..

Hey I love Maxis as well. Too bad they don't technically exist anymore. That's why I hate EA, and why I don't want them to "win" as you wish.