A minority shareholder in Ubisoft, led by Juraj Krúpa, CEO of AJ Investments, is organizing a protest outside the company's Paris headquarters. Krúpa accuses Ubisoft of mismanagement and lack of transparency, particularly regarding alleged discussions with Microsoft, EA, and other publishers interested in acquiring its franchises. He claims Ubisoft has failed to disclose these discussions, as well as a partnership for an Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC with the Saudi investment firm Savvy Group.
In his statement to IGN, Krúpa criticized Ubisoft's management for not providing a clear recovery plan amidst declining shareholder value and poor operational performance. He highlighted the company's repeated delays, specifically mentioning the postponed release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, which has been delayed multiple times, most recently to March 20, 2025. These delays, according to Krúpa, have led to significant stock declines, negatively impacting retail investors while benefiting corporate and institutional investors.
Krúpa's frustrations stem from Ubisoft's ongoing issues, including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations. He pointed to reports from Bloomberg about discussions between Ubisoft's founding Guillemot family and shareholder Tencent to potentially take the company private, following a series of setbacks.
AJ Investments is calling on all frustrated investors to join the protest in May, emphasizing the need for Ubisoft to maximize shareholder value and operate with transparency and accountability. Krúpa mentioned that Ubisoft's management, advised by Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, is conducting a financial review of potential strategic options, with results expected soon. If these results positively impact shareholder value, AJ Investments may call off the demonstration.
The investor also warned of potential legal action against Ubisoft for misleading investors. This is not the first time AJ Investments has expressed discontent; in September, they issued an open letter urging Ubisoft to change its leadership and consider a sale following the disappointing performance of Star Wars Outlaws, which led to a significant drop in the company's share price.
For several years, Ubisoft has been struggling with a slow downward spiral, and the ongoing rumors about potential buyouts and strategic shifts continue to fuel uncertainty about the company's future.
