Saudi Arabia’s Balady Platform Shares its Experience at SDG Digital Event

Balady platform was selected from among 300 regional and international technical initiatives to present its experience. SPA
Balady platform was selected from among 300 regional and international technical initiatives to present its experience. SPA
TT

Saudi Arabia’s Balady Platform Shares its Experience at SDG Digital Event

Balady platform was selected from among 300 regional and international technical initiatives to present its experience. SPA
Balady platform was selected from among 300 regional and international technical initiatives to present its experience. SPA

Saudi Arabia’s Balady digital city platform shared its pioneering experience in digital municipal operations services at the high-level SDG Digital event in New York.

The event was convened by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The Saudi platform presented its experience in providing innovative services aiming to enrich the future of dwellers of Saudi cities and improve their quality of life and prosperity through its digital municipal service system.

Balady platform was selected from among 300 regional and international technical initiatives to present its experience about challenges facing the achievement of sustainable development.

The platform showcased its pioneering efforts in leading urban development and providing innovative municipal services globally to exchange global expertise with other participating parties at the event.



‘Assassin’s Creed’ Maker Ubisoft Says Regularly Reviews Options after Buyout Report

This photograph taken on February 13, 2024, shows logo of Ubisoft video firm company adorn the main entrance of the company, where a strike call is planned on February 14, 2024, in Montpellier, south of France. (AFP)
This photograph taken on February 13, 2024, shows logo of Ubisoft video firm company adorn the main entrance of the company, where a strike call is planned on February 14, 2024, in Montpellier, south of France. (AFP)
TT

‘Assassin’s Creed’ Maker Ubisoft Says Regularly Reviews Options after Buyout Report

This photograph taken on February 13, 2024, shows logo of Ubisoft video firm company adorn the main entrance of the company, where a strike call is planned on February 14, 2024, in Montpellier, south of France. (AFP)
This photograph taken on February 13, 2024, shows logo of Ubisoft video firm company adorn the main entrance of the company, where a strike call is planned on February 14, 2024, in Montpellier, south of France. (AFP)

Ubisoft, the maker of the "Assassin's Creed", "Far Cry" and "Watch Dogs" video games, said on Monday it regularly reviewed "all its strategic options", but declined further comment on a recent report of buyout interest.

France's largest video games maker has long been seen as a takeover target and has lost half of its stock market value over the last twelve months. It has been plagued by delays and the underperformance of some of its key titles.

Ubisoft said in a statement that it would inform the market if and when appropriate. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment further when asked by Reuters whether the company had received any approach from potential bidders.

Monday's statement followed a report last week by Bloomberg News that Ubisoft's founding family, the Guillemots, and Chinese tech giant Tencent, were considering a buyout.

Shares in Ubisoft initially rose by up to 6% on Monday after the statement, topping the SBF 120 index, but reversed course and were down 1.8% at 0905 GMT.

The Guillemot family and Tencent together hold close to 25% of Ubisoft's share capital, LSEG data shows, after a deal in 2022 that saw the Chinese group acquire close to half of the Guillemots' holding.

The move capped a difficult period at Ubisoft, marked by a succession of delays of new video games and management changes.

Ubisoft's stock price slipped further last month after weaker-than-expected quarterly sales.

An underwhelming start for its new game "Star Wars Outlaws" followed the postponement of the launch of "Assassin’s Creed Shadows" by three months to February.

Ubisoft had hoped the two games would help turn around its performance as it implements cost cuts to manage its debt.