Vivendi is struggling to sell their 61% stake in Activision, the largest U.S. video game publisher, finding there is "little enthusiasm among potential suitors", according to Bloomberg.
Despite news earlier this week which suggested that business giants Microsoft and Time Warner were among potential buyers Vivendi hoped to sell their stake to, the report from Bloomberg indicates there is little momentum in their goal to sell the company.
Microsoft is apparently not "actively considering a bid". However, a source says "that could change", and Bloomberg notes that Microsoft "would have to consider that buying Activision may jeopardize sales of the company’s Call of Duty games for rival consoles made by Sony and Nintendo."
Disney is unlikely to bid according to a person with knowledge of the company's plans, and Take-Two, the publisher of Rockstar, aren't interested either. Many of the company's respective representatives declined to comment, stating they do not comment on "market speculation".
According to IGN, Chinese company Tencent, who are in a partnership with Activision as recently announced, and Japanese company Nexon were also approached but both companies do not have sufficient cash to fund a purchase of Vivendi’s stake in Activision, which is said to be worth at least $10 billion.
Activision and Vivendi have still not publicly confirmed that Activision is for sale, despite all the backroom chats and reports flying around. When questioned, Vivendi chairman Jean-Rene Fourtou said that "It’s a possibility. We’re always looking at opportunities for all of our businesses."
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick simply said "it's great weather" when asked about a sale.
Bloomberg says that Vivendi "will consider selling Activision shares on the market if it can’t find a buyer," according to a source.
Source: Bloomberg
By Nathan Misa- Writer Bio