Vivendi was born of the Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE), created by imperial decree on December 14, 1853. In 1983, CGE began diversifying into communications, notably with Havas, Canal+, launched a year later, and then SFR in 1987. In 1998, CGE changed its name, which was closely linked to the water business, to Vivendi.
For the past ten years, Vivendi’s ambition has been to build a major global integrated industrial group in content, media and entertainment. In order to achieve this, the Group has made a number of strategic choices, either through investments or divestments.
Major highlights of Vivendi’s recent history include the following:
- In 2015, Vivendi became the reference shareholder of Telecom Italia (“TIM”).
- In 2016, Vivendi (i) acquired a stake in Banijay, the world leader in the production and distribution of television programs, (ii) acquired Gameloft, the world leader in mobile video games and (iii) increased its stake in Mediaset, becoming its second-largest shareholder.
- In 2019, Vivendi acquired Editis, the second largest publishing group in France.
- In 2020 and 2021, Vivendi sold 20% of Universal Music Group’s capital in stages to a consortium led by Tencent, and 10% to the Pershing Square group. On September 2021, Vivendi listed UMG on Euronext Amsterdam.
- In January 2021, Vivendi made an investment in Prisa, the Spanish-speaking leader in media and education. In May 2021, Vivendi acquired Prisma Media, France’s magazine publishing group, in print and digital.
- In 2022, Vivendi initiated a takeover bid for the shares of Lagardère SA. In November 2023, Vivendi took control of the company. The Group had to proceed to the sales of Editis to International Media Invest (IMI) and Gala magazine to Group Figaro following a decision from the European Commission.
- In December 2023, Vivendi announced that it was studying the feasibility of splitting the group into several entities, each of which would be listed on the stock market, in order to fully unleash the development potential of all its activities and reduce the significantly high conglomerate discount.
- In June 2024, Vivendi sold its international festival and ticketing activities to CTS EVENTIM, a leading international player in ticketing and live entertainment, except for its French ticketing business, See Tickets SAS.
- On December 9, 2024, the Combined General Shareholders Meeting of Vivendi, approved the separation from Vivendi of Canal+, Havas and Louis Hachette Group (bringing together Lagardère and Prisma Media) with a first listing of the shares of the three companies on December 16.