Vivendi was born of the Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE), created by imperial decree on December 14, 1853.

Major highlights of Vivendi’s recent history include the following:

 

2024

On December 9, 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.

In June, 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.

2023

In December, 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.

2022

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.

2021

In January, Vivendi made an investment in Prisa, the Spanish-speaking leader in media and education. In May, Vivendi acquired Prisma Media, France’s magazine publishing group, in print and digital.

2020

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.

2019

Vivendi acquired Editis, the second largest publishing group in France.

2018

In April, Yannick Bolloré was appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Vivendi.

2016

Vivendi acquired a stake in Banijay, the world leader in the production and distribution of television programs, acquired Gameloft, the world leader in mobile video games and increased its stake in Mediaset, becoming its second-largest shareholder.

2015

Vivendi became the reference shareholder of Telecom Italia (“TIM”).

2014

In June, Vincent Bolloré was appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Vivendi. Vivendi's ambition was to build a major global integrated industrial group in content, media and entertainment.

1998

The Compagnie Générale des Eaux changed its name to become Vivendi.