Vivendi

Vivendi reports 7% rise in revenues (France)

On 03.04.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: 6.9 percent increase in the revenue, up from EUR 25.39 billion a year earlier to 27.13 billion in 2009, has been reported by French entertainment and communications group Vivendi. Acquisitions made in 2008 were the major factor behind the growth.

According to the company, Activision Blizzard and SFR have met their targets due the success of the games Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, World of Warcraft, the successful integration of Neuf Cegetel into the new SFR, and important market share gains in broadband Internet.

The EBITA of the company has been boosted by 8.8 percent to EUR 5.39 billion, reflecting the strong performance of Activision Blizzard. Vivendi’s adjusted net income fell to EUR 2.59 billion, or EUR 2.15 per share, in 2009, compared to EUR 2.74 billion or EUR 2.34 per share, a year earlier.

Vivendi reports better-than- expected revenue (France)

On 03.03.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Due to a strong performance from both gaming and telecoms divisions, a better-than- expected revenue and operating profit has been posted by French media and telecoms conglomerate, Vivendi.

Vivendi’s revenues were up 6.9% year-on-year to EUR27.13 billion (USD36.99 billion) for 2009 while the EBITDA was up 8.8% year-on-year at EUR5.39 billion. However, a one-off provision related to possible damages in a US-led class action lawsuit affected the net income which swung to a loss of EUR839 million in 4Q09.

According to group’s chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy, this year the firm would hopefully post ‘slight growth’ on an adjusted operating profit basis compared with ‘strong growth’ last year. The gaming division of the company reported sales rise of 50% y-o-y at EUR3 billion.

Tagged with: EBITDA • Europe • France • Operating Profit • Vivendi

3G network-sharing agreement signed by French mobile operators

On 02.25.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: An agreement has been signed between three established mobile phone operators of France to share third-generation mobile network installations in order to extend 3G network coverage across the country.

Principles on how to share 3G mobile network deployments has been laid down in the framework agreement signed by France Telecom’s Orange, Vivendi SA’s SFR and Bouygues’ Bouygues Telecom on February 11.

According to French telecoms regulator Arcep, the agreement will help speed up the extension of the 3G network in France and will enable full nationwide coverage by the end of 2013. Terms for the inclusion of Iliad’s Free Mobile in the agreement will also be discussed by the three operators before May 31, 2010.

Tagged with: 3G • Arcep • Bouygues Telecom • Europe • Framework Agreement • France • France Telecom • Free Mobile • Iliad • operator • Orange • SFR • Vivendi • Vivendi SA

Zain denies the sale of its African assets

On 02.09.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Reports that Kuwait operator Zain was in talks with Vivendi, France Telecom and Vodafone to offer a possible sale of the former Celtel networks has been denied by the telco. It was reported by a newspaper that Zain had been in talks with the other operators for the past couple of months and is seeking US$11-US$12 billion for its African assets.

Last year, Vivendi’s plan to buy the African networks, for a reported US$12 billion was said to be an all-share based transaction, with Zain taking 20 percent of Vivendi, in exchange for 10 percent of Zain Africa.

However, Vodafone recently increased its holdings in South Africa based Vodacom to 65%,

Tagged with: Celtel • France Telecom • Kuwait • operator • South Africa • Vivendi • Vodafone • Zain

Kuwait’s Zain gets no offers for African assets

On 02.08.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: No offers have been received by Kuwait’s Mobile Telecommunications Co., better known as Zain for its Africa assets. Earlier it was reported that France’s Vivendi, France Telecom and the U.K.’s Vodafone Group are holding talks with Zain to buy the company’s Africa operations.

Zain, which has been in discussions with the international companies for about two months, could sell its Africa assets for $11-$12 billion and the resignation of chief executive officer Saad Al Barrak intensified the talks.

Tagged with: Africa • ASIA • France • France Telecom • Kuwait • U.K. • Vivendi • Vodafone

Class action suit lost by Vivendi

On 02.01.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: French telecommunications and entertainment group Vivendi has been found guilty by a New York court guilty on all 57 counts of misleading shareholders on its financial health between October 2000 and August 2002.

A statement has already been issued by Vivendi citing its disagreement with the decision and its plan to appeal on the grounds of court’s decision to allow French shareholders to join the US class action, its rulings on jurisdiction, and the plaintiff’s method of proving and calculating damages.

A maximum damages at EUR 6.6 billion, down from EUR 8 billion has been estimated by attorneys for the plaintiffs.

According to Vivendi, damages will be calculated at a later stage, on a per-share and per-day basis, and that it is impossible to know at this time the total number of shares traded by class members, the dates of the sales and the number of class members who will submit a valid claim.

Tagged with: Europe • France • New York • North America • plaintiff • U.S • Vivendi

India’s mobile market eyed by Vivendi France

On 01.28.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Vivendi France may take over 51% of the India’s Datacom Solutions. Two rounds of talk have taken place between the officials of Vivendi and Datacom team and both the sides will meet again in a few weeks to take the discussion forward.

Owned by Videocon group, Datacom solutions has also attempted to sell a stake to Etisalat or Turkcell foundered during the credit crunch. Rumors were also there that America Movil or France Telecom could be interested in acquiring a stake in the company.

Datacom already has radio spectrum covering 21 of India’s 22 circles and have the advantage of its parent’s vast distribution network for selling phones and SIM cards, despite the late launch. Earlier, it was said that the firm is planning a US$2.8 billion GSM tender, but nothing seems to have happened since that was announced.

Tagged with: América Móvil • ASIA • Datacom Solutions • Etisalat • France Telecom • GSM • India • spectrum • Turkcell • Videocon • Vivendi

Vodafone’s SFR stake may be offered to Vivendi for sale

On 01.13.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: 44% stake of Vodafone in French mobile network SFR may be sold by the company to its majority shareholder, Vivendi. In order to continue acquisitions in emerging markets, the executives of the company will have to consider the sale of minority interests, such as SFR.

The worth of Vodafone’s stake in SFR is around EUR6.8 billion on the open market. But Vivendi, which has a first right of refusal is not likely to pay above EUR6 billion.

It was after beating Vodafone in a battle to acquire British Telecom’s 26% stake in Cegetel that Vivendi took control of the mobile operator. 80% of the GSM network SFR is controlled by Cegetel giving 56% controlling interest to Vivendi in the network.

Tagged with: Cegetel • Europe • GSM • operator • USA • Vivendi • Vodafone

Vivendi, Televisa join hand for license bid by Cofetel

On 01.13.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A joint bid has been planned by Mexican media group Televisa and French telecommunications and entertainment group Vivendi for a mobile license in Mexico. The partnership agreement is expected to be reached by February 15.

Deployment of mobile network with nationwide coverage is intended by the two parties with an investment of over USD 3 million on the project in 2010. More than 90 companies have acquired the bid documents for the mobile license tender launched by Cofetel on 6 January.

Additional 120 MHz spectrum in the 1.7 and 1.9 GHz frequency bands has been offered as a part of the tender by Mexican telecoms regulator Cofetel. Cofetel’s authorization will allow the operators to submit their bids on 25 May and the result is expected to be released by June.

Tagged with: Cofetel • Mexico • North America • operator • Televisa • Vivendi

5% acquired by Vivendi in Brazilian GVT

On 01.08.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Vivendi, French entertainment and telecoms group, increased its equity stake by 5% in Brazilian telco and ISP Global Village Telecom (GVT), lifting its ownership to 85.7% in the firm. Close to 118 million of GVT’s total of 137 million shares is owned by Vivendi after the transaction.

Vivendi’s purchase of GVT is currently reviewed by Brazil’s securities regulator amid accusations that the deal was unfair to minority shareholders. Earlier, details concerning alleged irregularities in the takeover were asked by Telefonica’s Brazilian subsidiary from country’s securities regulatory authorities.

A letter was also sent to the head of the securities regulator CVM, requesting information on the probe. The probe began in the month of November after which Vivendi launched its surprise bid. Telesp, on the other hand alleges that shareholders of the Brazilian company sold their stock based on inaccurate assumptions from the French group and financial agents linked to the GVT offer.

Tagged with: Brazil • Global Village Telecom • North America • South America • Telefonica • Telesp • USA • Vivendi