Ubisoft "not for sale", considering new acquisitions

Ubisoft chairman Yves Guillemot has declared that the company is "not for sale" - but declined to entirely rule out the possibility of a takeover by publishing giant Electronic Arts.

Speaking to French weekly La Vie Financiere, Guillemot also said that Ubisoft was also considering making several acquisitions in a consolidating sector, according to Reuters.

"Nothing has been signed but we are looking at two or three deals with companies whose turnover does not exceed EURO 100 million (USD 118 million)," Guillemot said.

"Nothing has been signed. It could be small publishers, studios or even known brands that we would develop."

Rumours of an EA takeover began to emerge last December after the publisher bought a 20 per cent stake in Ubisoft - and Guillemot added fuel to the fire in September by stating: "We are not safe from a hostile action from Electronic Arts, which it would be difficult to block if they make a genuinely interesting offer."

Guillemot told La Vie Financiere that Ubisoft's relations with EA are now "normalised" and that the two companies are in contact on a "sporadic" basis.

"Let this be clear: we are not for sale," Guillemot continued.

"We think that it's more in Electronic Arts' interest that Ubisoft remains independent and achieves a strong growth of its revenues and earnings."

However, Guillemot did not rule out the possibility of a takeover entirely, stating: "That said, sector consolidation is inevitable. In these conditions, if a company offers a strategy and a price satisfactory for staff and shareholders, we will look at it."