In an official statement, Ubisoft announced that the data would be presented "in the coming days," and the decision to freeze trading was made due to current legal requirements.
The company did not specify the reason, but analysts, including Daniel Ahmad from Niko Partners, believe that such actions may foreshadow an important announcement. This could be big news, a potential acquisition, or financial issues requiring additional time.
Employees received an internal letter from CFO Frederique Duge. The message notes that the company needs "a little more time" to complete the semi-annual report. The reason for the delay was not disclosed, and the trading freeze is intended to reduce "unnecessary speculation and market instability." The full picture will only become clear at the upcoming investment conference.
This is another worrying sign in a difficult time for Ubisoft. A month ago, the publisher created a new company, Vantage Studios, in conjunction with Tencent, which owns 25% of the shares. Vantage will now manage Ubisoft's largest franchises, including Assassin’s Creed.
Whether Ubisoft is preparing a major announcement or a potential acquisition is on the horizon, we have to wait for the publication of the report and the conference for investors.