Video games: what is this indiscretion from Bloomberg that is causing the stock price of Ubisoft to explode, even though it is in great difficulty ?

On the Paris Stock Exchange, Ubisoft shares rose 30.75% to 13.91 euros at 2:27 p.m. MaxPPP

The news agency's information has caused the company to rebound spectacularly, having lost 39.8% since the start of the year.

Ubisoft, which has a superb studio on the outskirts of Montpellier, jumped on the Paris Stock Exchange on Friday afternoon after Bloomberg News reported that Tencent and the Guillemot family were studying several scenarios for the video game publisher, including a buyout or a delisting.

China's Tencent and the founding brothers of the French group, who respectively hold 9.74% and 15.05% of the capital according to LSEG data, have spoken with advisers to explore ways to stabilize Ubisoft and increase its value, the news agency reported, citing sources who requested anonymity. The two entities could also join forces to take Ubisoft private, Bloomberg added.

Ubisoft, “a clearly unique asset in the sector”

For Charles-Louis Planade, an analyst at Midcap Partners, such news would not be not surprising, Ubisoft being “a clearly unique asset in the sector”. “Big players have tried to penetrate the 'open world' action-adventure genre that Ubisoft masters to perfection. We are thinking in particular of Google with Stadia, of EA, of all these players who, today, are banging their heads against the wall on this segment which remains one of the most lucrative”, he added.

On the Paris Stock Exchange, Ubisoft shares were up 30.75% at 13.91 euros at 2:27 p.m. In difficulty, the company has lost 39.8% since the beginning of the year. Contacted by Reuters, Ubisoft did not wish to comment.