Vivendi takes stakes in games companies

Vivendi has take stakes in French games specialists Ubisoft and Gameloft.

The media giant has acquired 7.36 million Ubisoft shares for €140.3 million, giving it a stake of 6.6%. it acquired 5.24 million Gameloft shares for €19.7 million, giving it a stake of 6.2% in the latter.

Vivendi previously held a 61.1% stake in US-based games provider Activision Blizzard, but sold this down in two phases in 2013 for about €9 billion, with then president Jean-René Fourtou citing the group’s need to reduce its debt pile and an apparent dislike among board members of the violent nature of some Activision Blizzard games.

Ubisoft, the third-placed games provider for PCs and consoles worldwide, produces titles including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Watch Dogs, while Gameloft focuses on games for mobile devices.