Ubisoft president Yves Guillemot has urged shareholders to hold on to their stock, pledging that the value of the company would double in the next two years.
Speaking to the BBC, Guillemot made something of a battle cry, assuring the games industry that the French publishing outfit would remain independent. As you may remember, Electronic Arts bought out around 20% of Ubisoft in December of last year. Since then, the firm has been in an ongoing, if somewhat silent battle to retain its independence.
“We are working hard to remain independent,” said Guillemot. “We know those guys [Electronic Arts] are around. We prefer by far to remain independent as we will be able to double our value in the next two years as we will double our effort. The profits of the company will grow fast because the products are selling well and generating lots of revenue.”
“If our shareholders are happy with what we do they will not sell their shares, they will keep them as it is a great investment for them, he continued. “We are in a business of creation. We need to keep the creativity and that is the value of the company.”
As to whether Ubisoft will remain independent remains to be seen. There was talk last week that the firm was looking for suitors in the entertainment sector, though this was never confirmed by anyone at the French publisher. Although Ubi and EA have been involved in mediated roundtable discussions, little more than a feeling of mutual disquiet has been gleaned.
Whatever happens, we will let you know. Do you even care anymore? As ever, let us know in the forum below.
Speaking to the BBC, Guillemot made something of a battle cry, assuring the games industry that the French publishing outfit would remain independent. As you may remember, Electronic Arts bought out around 20% of Ubisoft in December of last year. Since then, the firm has been in an ongoing, if somewhat silent battle to retain its independence.
“We are working hard to remain independent,” said Guillemot. “We know those guys [Electronic Arts] are around. We prefer by far to remain independent as we will be able to double our value in the next two years as we will double our effort. The profits of the company will grow fast because the products are selling well and generating lots of revenue.”
“If our shareholders are happy with what we do they will not sell their shares, they will keep them as it is a great investment for them, he continued. “We are in a business of creation. We need to keep the creativity and that is the value of the company.”
As to whether Ubisoft will remain independent remains to be seen. There was talk last week that the firm was looking for suitors in the entertainment sector, though this was never confirmed by anyone at the French publisher. Although Ubi and EA have been involved in mediated roundtable discussions, little more than a feeling of mutual disquiet has been gleaned.
Whatever happens, we will let you know. Do you even care anymore? As ever, let us know in the forum below.
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Comments
Joji 3 Jun 2005 13:18
1/4
Ofcourse we care, do you really want EA to own this industry, feeding us countless sequels without a sniff of originality or risk taking? I sure don't.
The industry is better that Ubisoft control their own destiny and decide to do the games that they want to. For it is their experimenting that has them raking in cash now (and EA sniffin the sweet scent of their share price no doubt).
Ubisoft had the vision to create Splinter Cell when MGS was already out, they breathed life back into PoP series again where few saw potential. They made the sleeper hit Beyond Good and Evil (a risk but a good one) and continue to support GC when many have bailed out on it already (where the hell was Burnout 3 for GC, EA?).
I can see Ubisoft becoming better in the future, for the french like the japanese know how to experiment for the greater good. If EA can learn anything from them it's that sequels are cool but they won't keep you afloat forever and experimental games such as BGaE are sorely needed.
I also feel Ubisoft are gonna be important to Nintendo next round (and on DS too) since they have given GC games with more mature content that was needed but not really being provided by others.
Viva le francais
The industry is better that Ubisoft control their own destiny and decide to do the games that they want to. For it is their experimenting that has them raking in cash now (and EA sniffin the sweet scent of their share price no doubt).
Ubisoft had the vision to create Splinter Cell when MGS was already out, they breathed life back into PoP series again where few saw potential. They made the sleeper hit Beyond Good and Evil (a risk but a good one) and continue to support GC when many have bailed out on it already (where the hell was Burnout 3 for GC, EA?).
I can see Ubisoft becoming better in the future, for the french like the japanese know how to experiment for the greater good. If EA can learn anything from them it's that sequels are cool but they won't keep you afloat forever and experimental games such as BGaE are sorely needed.
I also feel Ubisoft are gonna be important to Nintendo next round (and on DS too) since they have given GC games with more mature content that was needed but not really being provided by others.
Viva le francais
claudioalex 3 Jun 2005 14:57
2/4
It is obvious that Ubisoft is looking for a buyout,
this statement coming from a company wich wants to be buyed by other ones is So typical,
It is done to rise the stocks of the compnies, pretending that they dont want to sell right now and at the same time declearing that several important companies are interested in buyng Ubisoft would rise the stock values, so that they can have a bigger earnings from the selling.
Ubisoft is going to be selled, it is for real this time,
too sad that EA is going after that.
this statement coming from a company wich wants to be buyed by other ones is So typical,
It is done to rise the stocks of the compnies, pretending that they dont want to sell right now and at the same time declearing that several important companies are interested in buyng Ubisoft would rise the stock values, so that they can have a bigger earnings from the selling.
Ubisoft is going to be selled, it is for real this time,
too sad that EA is going after that.
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ann0uk 6 Jun 2005 11:56
3/4
Why do Ubisoft have to be bought? they are a successful company and being independant is best for them and for the industry.
EA are destroying the industry with their crap games and lack of originality.
EA are destroying the industry with their crap games and lack of originality.
PreciousRoi 7 Jun 2005 10:49
4/4
EA just makes me sad...
Back in the day they were the best games around, a developer that spoke directly to gamers. But they have gotten far to big for thier britches now, I wonder how many people at EA now were around when they were making games for the C64.
You know what EA needs to do for the next gen...instead of the same lame sequels and liscenced crapola...they need to go back to the old catalogue and update some classics...
Like Racing Destruction Set : The Next Generation...Think Project Gotham and Twisted Metal (kill style points?) had a love child...with a full track creation suite...uploadable user tracks, and downloadable track creation elements...now that would be cool.
Realms of Impossibility (was that the name? aka Zombies) has possibilities. A Resident Evil type game (sans weapons) set in an MC Escher landscape would be apropriate, maybe a combination Stealth/Survival Horror/Puzzle
Let's see someone already did Bard's Tale...feh...Fallout's been kept around.
Back in the day they were the best games around, a developer that spoke directly to gamers. But they have gotten far to big for thier britches now, I wonder how many people at EA now were around when they were making games for the C64.
You know what EA needs to do for the next gen...instead of the same lame sequels and liscenced crapola...they need to go back to the old catalogue and update some classics...
Like Racing Destruction Set : The Next Generation...Think Project Gotham and Twisted Metal (kill style points?) had a love child...with a full track creation suite...uploadable user tracks, and downloadable track creation elements...now that would be cool.
Realms of Impossibility (was that the name? aka Zombies) has possibilities. A Resident Evil type game (sans weapons) set in an MC Escher landscape would be apropriate, maybe a combination Stealth/Survival Horror/Puzzle
Let's see someone already did Bard's Tale...feh...Fallout's been kept around.