Vivendi Universal confirms
that it has authorized Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank to carry out a placement
of BSkyB share certificates that must be converted in October 2002. The placement
is for an amount of $1.5 billion.
Following last week's
sale of 9.3% of Vivendi Environnement and with this transaction, Vivendi Universal
will then be in a position to cover any needs that may arise from various
opportunities for strategic partnerships in the U.S television and distribution
segments. Such opportunities may or may not be taken up.
This press release
contains 'forward-looking statements' as that term is defined in
the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ
materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of
risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, including
but not limited to: the risk that recently acquired operations will not be
integrated successfully; that the synergies 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 for new products,
services and technologies; that Vivendi Universal will face increased competition
and that the effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues
of such competition will limit or reduce Vivendi Universal’s revenue
and/or income; that Vivendi Universal will be unable to establish and maintain
relationships with commerce, advertising, marketing, technology, and content
providers; and that Vivendi Universal will be unable to obtain or retain,
upon acceptable terms, the licenses and permits necessary to operate and expand
its businesses; as well as the risks described in the documents Vivendi Universal
has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Vivendi Universal
does not undertake, nor does it have 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.
Contacts media:
Antoine Lefort
33-1-71-71-11-80
Alain Delrieu
33-1-71-71-10-86
