Vivendi Buys Back into Videogame Business Via Minority Stakes

By Sam Schechner 

PARIS-- Vivendi SA is re-entering the videogame business, splashing out EUR160 million ($183 million) to buy stakes in French game publishers Ubisoft Entertainment SA and Gameloft SE.

The French media company said late Wednesday that it has spent EUR140.3 million to buy a 6.6% stake in Ubisoft and another EUR19.7 million to buy 6.2% of Gameloft.

The purchases are the latest indication of Vivendi Chairman Vincent Bolloré's strategy after taking control of the group last year. While a wave of asset sales in recent years left Vivendi with a roughly EUR9 billion war chest, Mr. Bolloré has so far made only relatively small purchases, such as buying French online-video firm Dailymotion or building a minority stake in Italian telecommunications company Telecom Italia.

The purchase of stakes in two videogame companies marks a contrast with Vivendi's exit two years ago from its controlling stake in U.S.-based videogame giant Activision Blizzard Inc. At the time, Vivendi was under pressure to sell off assets to boost a sagging share price.

Ubisoft is one of the largest videogame makers in the world, known for franchises like Assassin's Creed. Gameloft is a smaller firm that has seen success by making games for mobile phones. Both companies are based in the Paris area.

Write to Sam Schechner at [e-mail]

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October 14, 2015 13:16 ET (17:16 GMT)

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