Ubisoft Shareholder Irate Over French Firm’s Failure to Disclose IP Acquisition Discussions with Microsoft, EA, and Others

Juraj Krúpa, the CEO of AJ Investments and a partial owner at Ubisoft, is contemplating a demonstration outside Ubisoft’s headquarters in Paris. According to Krúpa, Ubisoft did not disclose to investors the talks they had with companies like Microsoft, EA, and others who were interested in buying their valuable intellectual properties (IP). He alleges that management’s actions are damaging Ubisoft’s well-known and valuable brand.

In a statement observed by IGN, Krúpa alleges that Ubisoft is poorly run by its current leadership and that stakeholders are seeking a “detailed plan for revival.” Moreover, he alleges the firm has been deliberately concealing information about a DLC agreement for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, such as their collaboration with Saudi investment group Savvy Group. AJ Investments is reportedly ready to “file a lawsuit against the company for misleading investors.

The main problem lies in Krúpa’s assertion, based on confidential information from MergerMarket’s investment platform, that Ubisoft failed to reveal discussions they had with Microsoft, EA, and other potential buyers regarding the acquisition of their intellectual properties. This non-disclosure extends to both private and public knowledge about these potential steps.

In response to your query, IGN received this statement from Ubisoft: “We previously mentioned during our Q3 earnings that we’re considering different strategic and financial options. To ensure the best possible outcome for all parties involved, an independent committee has been set up by the board to manage this formal and competitive process. If a transaction takes place, we will inform the market as required by regulations.

In October, it appeared as though Tencent might be considering the purchase of Ubisoft and possibly making the company private; however, these talks were reportedly just preliminary explorations. Meanwhile, Krúpa points out that the constant delays in releasing Assassin’s Creed Shadows, occurring mere months apart, should have been foreseeable for Ubisoft given their previous communication with investors and subsequent revisions of their full-year projections. To make matters worse, another delay would move the game’s release date to March 20th, 2025.

The dissatisfied stockholder is planning to afford Ubisoft an opportunity to rectify its issues, and has made it clear by announcing his intentions ahead of time. Krúpa has decided to postpone his planned demonstration; as long as the company manages to boost shareholder value following the launch of Shadows.

As a dedicated gamer, I’m keeping tabs on the situation with Ubisoft. Their top brass and CEO are conducting a thorough financial review, aided by Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, to explore strategic options. We anticipate this review will bear fruit in the upcoming months. Given this timeline, we’re planning a demonstration in May—giving them ample time to arrive at a decision that truly boosts shareholder value. If their decision indeed enhances shareholder value to our satisfaction, we’ll stand down from the demonstration.

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2025-03-13 08:37