

4
Note 4. Net Exceptional Items
Financial Report | Statutory Auditors’ Report on the Consolidated Financial Statements | Consolidated
Financial Statements | Statutory Auditors’ Report on the Financial Statements |
Statutory Financial Statements
The decrease in the net financing costs from -€172.2 million in 2013 to
-€53.8 million in 2014 is due to:
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the decrease in external financing net costs from -€454.6 million
in 2013 to -€249.3 million in 2014, primarily as a result of the shift
of external net debt of €10.9 billion as of December 31, 2013 to
a net cash position of €4.6 billion as of December 31, 2014, i.e. a
€15.5 billion increase, mainly reflecting the impact of the sales of SFR
and of the Group’s stake in Maroc Telecom group (see “Significant
Events”, the Statement of Cash-Flow, Note 7, Financial Investments,
and Note 17, Borrowings). The average external net debt was
€7.8 billion in 2014 compared to €14.6 billion in 2013; and conversely;
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the decrease in internal net financing income (see Note 8, Current
Assets) from €282.4 million in 2013 to €195.6 million in 2014, as a
result of (i) the partial reimbursement from SFR, on May 14, 2014, of
its current account in the amount of €4 billion following the sale of
Maroc Telecom (directly held at 51% by SFR), and (ii) the disposal of
the balances of SFR’s loan and current account to Numericable, on
November 27, 2014.
3.2. Dividends received
Income from affiliates includes dividends from the interest in Activision
Blizzard of €11.4 million compared to €3,545.5 million in 2013 (including
a dividend of €2,562.5 million received from Vivendi Holding I LLC
in the form of Activision Blizzard shares and from SFR of €981.9 million).
3.3. Financial provisions and impairments
The changes to financial provisions and impairments resulted in a net
charge of €255.2 million including €136.8 million provision on current
accounts with affiliates, and a €121.8 million impairment on long-term
investments in affiliates.
During the fourth quarter of 2014, Vivendi, with the assistance of
independent appraisers, examined the value in use of its equity holdings,
including Groupe Canal+ and two holding companies from the music
sector held by Vivendi, being (i) Universal Music Group Inc. (UMG Inc.) in
relation to its activities in North America and Mexico and (ii) SIG 104 in
relation to activities in other countries. The value in use of Studiocanal
and nc+ in Poland was examined internally.
As a result, Vivendi’s Management determined that the value in use
of Groupe Canal+ SA, as of December 31, 2014, was equal to its net
carrying value. It also determined that the value in use of the two holding
companies from the music sector held by Vivendi, UMG Inc and SIG 104,
was determined to be higher than their respective book values.
The impairment of €121.8 million recorded as of December 31, 2014,
relates to Vivendi’s Snege shares and Wengo shares.
Note 4.
Net Exceptional Items
In 2014, a net exceptional gain of €3,290.7 million was recorded,
compared to a net exceptional loss of -€2,749.2 million in 2013. It is
primarily comprised of the following items:
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a global income of €4,029.5 million realized on the sale and
contribution of the shares of SFR to Numericable (see “Significant
Events”) comprising (i) a loss of €6,963.5 million on the sale and share
contribution, (ii) a reversal of impairment of €11,193.0 million taken
on the SFR shares, and (iii) an exceptional charge of €200 million
relating to Vivendi’s participation in the financing of the acquisition
of Virgin Mobile pursuant to the agreement entered into on June 20,
2014;
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a net capital gain of €206.2 million related to the sale of 41.5 million
shares of Activision Blizzard, following the expiration of the first lock-
up period as agreed at the time of the sale of more than 85% of the
Activision Blizzard interest in October 2013;
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a net charge of €103.0 million, after reversal of impairment, related
to the sale of SPT and Maroc Telecom shares directly held by Vivendi
(see, “Significant Events”); and
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a net charge of €624.4 million related to (i) the premium paid in
connection with the early redemption in December 2014 of bonds
issued in euros and USD with a make‑whole option for €4,250 million
and $594.8 million, respectively, and (ii) the balancing payment
received on hedging swaps (see Note 17, Borrowings).
3.1. Financing costs
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Annual Report 2014