Vivendi acquires more Ubisoft shares

Vivendi has said it now owns over 20% of the share capital of games giant Ubisoft.

As of June 14, the French media giant owned 20.1% of the share capital and 17.76% of Ubisoft’s voting rights.

In a notification to the French markets regulator, Vivendi said that aimed to make further acquisitions in shares of the games company but that it did not envisage making a public offer for the company or to take control of it. It said it would continue to look to establish a “fruitful collaboration” with Ubisoft.

Vivendi also said it would ask for representation on Ubisoft’s board in line with its ownership position.

The company said its investment was in line with its strategy of investing in gaming with a view to convergence between games and its own platforms.

The latest move follows Vivendi’s hostile acquisition of smaller mobile-skewed French gaming company Gameloft, like Ubisoft founded and part-owned by the Guillemot family.