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October 05, 2001
Vivendi
Environnement Shares Begin Trading on the New York Stock Exchange
Paris and New York, October 5, 2001 - Vivendi
Environnement, a world leader in environmental services, today listed its shares
on the New York Stock Exchange. Shares of Vivendi Environnement will be traded
in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) with 100 million ADRs
representing an equal number of Vivendi Environnement ordinary shares. No new
Vivendi Environnement shares will be issued in conjunction with the listing. The
ADRs will be traded under the ticker symbol 'VE'. The Bank of New York will act
as the ADR Depositary Bank.
Members of senior management, including
Jean-Marie Messier, Chairman of Vivendi Environnement's Supervisory Board, and
Henri Proglio, Chairman of Vivendi Environnement's Management Board, visited the
New York Stock Exchange to mark the listing on the Big Board. This follows on
from Vivendi Environnement's successful IPO in Paris in July 2000; the shares
have delivered a total return of over 25% since then.
'Today's listing
gives Vivendi Environnement's shares the visibility, credibility, and security
that the prestigious New York Stock Exchange can provide,' said Mr. Messier, who
is also a member of the NYSE Board. 'The listing is also a testament to Vivendi
Environnement's unwavering confidence in America's financial markets,
particularly at the prestigious financial center here in New York. Vivendi
Environnement is a leading environmental services company on a worldwide basis
and is committed to expanding its presence in the US and around the world. I am
very eager to share Vivendi Environnement's vision for growth with US
investors.'
Mr. Proglio said, 'Vivendi Environnement is a world leader in
providing environmental services, active in the areas of water, waste
management, transportation and energy services. The global success and rapid
growth of our company has been driven by the delivery of innovative and
cost-effective solutions and services to the public and private sectors, and a
business model that ensures the growth, quality and visibility of earnings.'
'Today's NYSE listing also highlights our large and expanding position
in the US, Vivendi Environnement's second largest market, with nearly $6 billion
in annualized sales. The ADRs will give US investors and our 45,000 US
employees an additional means to participate in our financial success.'
'The Exchange welcomes Vivendi Environnement to our family of listed
companies and looks forward to supporting the company's global brand and
business growth objectives,' said NYSE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dick
Grasso. 'Vivendi Environnement's listing provides the company with a gateway to
the world's largest base of investors and, in the NYSE, a partner which is
committed to providing the world's highest quality equities market. We applaud
the company for continuing with its plans to list as an added sign of support
for America and our financial markets.'
About Vivendi
Environnement Vivendi Environnement is a world leader in providing
environmental services to municipalities and corporations. The company's
activities are conducted primarily through four subsidiaries, each of which
concentrate on a different category of service: Vivendi Water (water), Onyx
(waste management), Dalkia (energy services), and Connex (transportation).
Vivendi Environnement has 215,000 employees in more than 100 countries around
the world and 2000 revenues of €26.5 billion ($25 billion). The main markets are
France (42% of sales), the US (20%) and Europe excluding France
(31%).
The four operating companies, which comprise Vivendi Environnement
are all contributing to the Group's growth and development, capitalizing on
public and private sector outsourcing trends around the world and opportunities
for consolidation. The company has pioneered innovative solutions for
municipalities and corporate customers, leveraging its water utility, waste
management, transportation and energy service knowledge, scale and management
skills, and benefits from long-term contracts. This business model provides
Vivendi Environnement with a strong platform for the growth, quality and
visibility of earnings.
Vivendi Environnement's presence in the US
increased significantly with its 1999 acquisitions of US Filter, the water
management company, and Superior Services, the waste collection company. The US
continues to be a growth market for Vivendi Environnement, as a significant
opportunity exists to seize market share in its municipal and industrial
outsourcing market.
Vivendi Environnement's ordinary shares are listed on
the Paris exchange, with approximately 346 million shares outstanding. Vivendi
Universal holds 63% of Vivendi Environnement's share capital. For additional
information, please visit Vivendi Environnement's website at:
www.vivendienvironnement-finance.com
This document contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the 'safe harbor' provisions of
the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are
based on management's current expectations or beliefs and are subject to a
number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following
factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from
those described in the forward-looking statements: inability to develop and
achieve success for new products, services and technologies; increased
competition and its effect on third-party relationships and ability to obtain
new contracts; the costs associated with compliance with environmental laws; and
inability to obtain or retain, upon acceptable terms, the licenses and permits
necessary to operate and expand Vivendi Environnement's businesses. Neither
Vivendi Universal nor Vivendi Environnement undertakes any obligation to provide
updates or to revise any forward-looking statements. Investors and security
holders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by Vivendi Universal with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov or directly from Vivendi
Universal.
*US dollar conversion rate provided for reader convenience
only at the December 31,2000 rate of
$1=e1.06146
Contact: Nathalie Pinon (Investor
Relations) Vivendi Environnement 011-33-1-7175-0167 Or Anne-France
Malrieu (Media) Image Sept 011-33-1-53-70-74-70 Or John Dudzinsky
(Media) Dana Johnston (Investor Relations) Taylor
Rafferty (212)889-4350
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