Vivendi updates on plan to split into several entities

Vivendi: update on the study of the split project

Vivendi’s Management Board presented today to the Supervisory Board an update on the feasibility study of the split project announced on December 13, 2023.

Since the distribution and listing of Universal Music Group in 2021, Vivendi has endured a significantly high conglomerate discount, substantially reducing its valuation and thereby limiting its ability to carry out external growth transactions for its subsidiaries. Canal+,Havas and Lagardère are currently experiencing strong growth in an international context marked by numerous investment opportunities.

In order to fully unleash the development potential of all its activities, the Management Board of Vivendi proposed to the Supervisory Board on December 13, 2023, the possibility to explore the feasibility of a project to split the company into several entities, each of which would be listed on the stock market.

PARIS — The Management Board today proposed to the Supervisory Board – which gave its approval on the matter – to structure the split around four entities:

• Canal+
  Canal+ Group has experienced significant growth in recent years, reaching a subscriber base of over 25 million in nearly 50 countries. Following the acquisitions of M7 and SPI, the company has taken strategic stakes in businesses such as MultiChoice, Viu and Viaplay, demonstrating its ability to identify and seize promising opportunities across all its geographical areas. In light of these successes, Canal+ is well-positioned to capitalize on further consolidation opportunities on a global scale.
• Havas
  As one of the global leaders in communications, Havas brings together over 23,000 employees spread across more than 100 countries. The group has maintained a steady pace of targeted acquisitions over the past two years, thereby strengthening its range of expertise and geographic footprint. Havas has also launched numerous innovative solutions to meet the needs of its clients. The impressive momentum demonstrated by Havas on a global scale paves the way for an accelerated development and the continuation of its successful transformation.
• A company grouping the assets in publishing and distribution
  This newly created entity would group Vivendi’s majority stake in Lagardère and wholly owned Prisma Media. Lagardère is a worldwide group present in more than 40 countries with over 27,000 employees. It is the third largest book publisher for the general public and educational market sand a global leader in Travel Retail. It also includes press and live entertainment activities. Prisma Media is the leader of magazine publications and online media in France with a portfolio of some 30 brands. This entity would foster collaboration between the different activities related to publishing in its broadest sense.
• An investment company
  This investment company would own listed and unlisted financial stakes in the cultural, media and entertainment sectors. It would actively support the strategic development of its portfolio companies and would focus on value creation and capital return to its shareholders, through an effective portfolio rotation and a targeted reinvestment policy.

This split project would provide each of the four listed companies with the human resources and the financial agility necessary for their development.

This project will have to prove its added value for all stakeholders and include an analysis of the tax consequences of the various contemplated operations.

A new update on the study of the split project will be presented to the Supervisory Board meeting convened on March 7, 2024, the day of the publication of the Group’s 2023 annual results.

Several other important steps should be taken. These include, amongst others, the consultation of the employee representative bodies of the concerned entities, before which no decision in principle will be taken, the necessary regulatory approvals, the approvals required from the bond holders and the other Group’s creditors as well as, in due time, the consent of the Vivendi shareholders.