Reuters Sources: Vivendi will buy Ubisoft this year

Sources talking to news agency Reuters have claimed that Vivendi will attempt to make a full takeover of Ubisoft in 2017.

Ubisoft and the Guillemot family have been resisting a full takeover from the French media conglomarete over the past year, despite Vivendi owning 25 per cent of the company.

The news comes from an exclusive story from Reuters who have spoken to two sources at Vivendi, following concern over their spending stragegy. The company has continuted to buy up european media companies through aquiring large stakes, including Telecom Italia, but is now under pressure from shareholders who have seen €15 billion of Vivendi’s money spent on this strategy.

The sources looked to the current target of Ubisoft and advertising group Havas as part of the next phase of Vivendi’s expansion.

"Vivendi is moving to the second phase, everything will take place this year," according to a source speaking to the news agency, referring to the potential takeovers of Havas and Ubisoft "The logical thing would be to buy Ubisoft," another source said.

The lack of returns or information on Vivendi’s spending plans are a concern according to financial analyists, Reuters report.

Ubisoft have previously rebutted any attempts at a takeover, and if it is attempted, it is expected to be a costly and hostile one. Earlier last year, the Guillemot family increased their stakes in Ubisoft to prevent such a takeover from happening.