New York - July 12, 2001 - Jean-Marie Messier, Chairmanand Chief Executive Officer of Vivendi Universal (Paris Bourse: EX FP; NYSE: V), todaymade the following comments relating to the announcement today about the newly formedaffiliate and technology arrangements between pressplay and MSN Music:
"This agreement is another step in Vivendi Universal's globalstrategy to strengthen our content distribution via the Internet. Edgar Bronfman, Jr.,Vivendi Universal's Executive Vice Chairman, and Doug Morris, Chairman of UniversalMusic Group, have been integral in moving us forward in this space, and the pressplay/MSNMusic agreement is testimony to their leadership. I am extremely pleased and excited thatpressplay and Microsoft are teaming up to deliver an online digital music subscriptionservice to consumers", said Mr. Messier. "The co-branded subscription servicefeatures great content, ease of use, superior audio quality, and intellectual propertyprotection. Our ultimate goal is to deliver to consumers access to all music, all the timethrough multiple distribution platforms."
The pressplay subscription service, to be launched late this summer,will offer music on a non-exclusive basis, and pressplay plans to offer content from othermusic companies and independent labels as well so that consumers can experience the mostcompelling selection of music available.
For the Universal Music press release click here.
Important Disclaimer
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" asthat term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Suchforward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results maydiffer materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks anduncertainties, many of which are outside our control, including but not limited to: therisk that recently acquired operations will not be integrated successfully; that thesynergies expected to be created as a result of recent acquisitions will not materialize;that Vivendi Universal will be unable to further identify, develop and achieve success fornew products, services and technologies; that Vivendi Universal will face increasedcompetition and that the effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships andrevenues of such competition will limit or reduce Vivendi Universal's revenue and/orincome; that Vivendi Universal will be unable to establish and maintain relationships withcommerce, advertising, marketing, technology, and content providers; and that VivendiUniversal will be unable to obtain or retain, upon acceptable terms, the licenses andpermits necessary to operate and expand its businesses; as well as the risks described inthe documents Vivendi Universal has filed with the U.S. Securities and ExchangeCommission. Investors and security holders are urged to read those documents at theCommission's web site at www.sec.gov. Those documents may also be obtained free of chargefrom Vivendi Universal.
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