Vivendi to sell half its stake in Activision Blizzard

Canal+ Group owner Vivendi has agreed to sell half its stake in games firm Activision Blizzard. 

Vivendi said it will sell 41.5 million Activision Blizzard shares, representing 5.8% of this company’s total common shares, leaving it with an equal amount of the company.

The price of the transaction price is due to be announced at the close of trading today, though the offer is expected to be worth around US$850 million.

Activision Blizzard claims to be the world’s “largest and most profitable independent interactive entertainment publishing company” and is responsible for the Call of Duty videogame franchise and the massively multiplayer online game World of Warcraft.