Vivendi Universal

Beautifully engraved ADR certificate from the Vivendi Universal. This historic document was printed by the De La Rue Company and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of workers in front of a globe. This item has the printed signatures of the Company’s Managing Director and Authorized Officer.






Certificate Vignette



The following history is from the company's press releases:

From Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE) to Vivendi Universal

1853: Creation of Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE) by Imperial decree, enabling the company to win its first public service concession to supply water in Lyons.

1980 - 1996: CGE expands, diversifies and starts international operations in water, waste management, energy, transport services, and construction and property.

CGE also expands in Telecoms and Media

1983: CGE participates in the creation of Canal+, the first Pay-TV channel in France

1987: Creation of SFR, which brings GSM network into service in 1992

In 1998, the Group changes name and becomes Vivendi

1999: Sale of the Property and of the Construction divisions

A strong focus on communication activities

Telecoms 1996: Creation of Cegetel to cover all telecommunications services in anticipation of the deregulation of the French telecommunications market on January 1, 1998. Group Cegetel is currently France's leading private telecommunication operator, in both fixed (Cegetel) and mobile (SFR) telephony services

1997: Cegetel and SNCF (French national railroad) form a joint subsidiary, Télécom Développement, to operate an alternative telecommunications network (backbone) throughout France

1998: Launch of Cegetel's voice service over fixed lines

2000: Vivendi Universal takes a 35% stake in Maroc Telecom

Publishing 1997: Acquisition of a 30% interest in Havas

1998: Merger between Vivendi and Havas Acquisition by Havas of Cendant Software (entertainment and educational software in the USA) and Anaya (the second largest education and multimedia publisher in Spain)



Pay-TV 1992: Launch of the analogic terrestrial version of CanalSatellite in France

1996: Roll out of the first digital set-top boxes and launch of the digital version of CanalSatellite, the first digital TV offer in France

1997: The acquisition of NetHold, the second largest pay-TV operator in Continental Europe. Major step in Canal+'s successful internationalization Launch of the digital TV offer in Spain and Italy

1998: Launch of the digital TV offer in Poland and Scandinavia

1999: Launch of the digital TV offer in Belgium

2000: Launch of the digital TV offer in the Netherlands

Internet 1999: Creation of Vivendi Net, which brings together Vivendi's Internet ventures

2000: Vodafone AirTouch and Vivendi agree to establish an Internet and Telecoms Alliance to launch the first European multi-access portal Vizzavi



Vivendi focuses on media and communications

June 2000: Vivendi announces its project to merge with Canal+ and Seagram.

July 2000: Vivendi Environnement is listed on the Paris Bourse (Vivendi remains the majority Shareholder with 63%).

September 2000: Vivendi is listed on the New-York Stock Exchange under the symbol "V".

December 2000: Creation of Vivendi Universal, following the successful merger with Canal+ and Seagram.

2001: Vivendi acquires mp3.com, the Internet's premier Music Service Provider, and leading American publisher, Houghton Mufflin.

December 2001 : Echostar and Vivendi Universal form Strategic Alliance to Offer New Progamming, Interactive Television Services for Consumers.

May 2002 : Vivendi Universal Closes Acquisition of Entertainment Assets of USA Networks, Inc.

August 2002: Vivendi Universal reduces its stake in Vivendi Environnement to 40.8%