Vivendi SA was created in 1998 when Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE), a major French industrial and media company, was renamed.

CGE had been increasing its media interests throughout the 1980s and 1990s. From 1998 on Vivendi began to dispose of the company's traditional businesses; property, construction and environmental. In July 2000 the remaining water and waste companies were spun off as Vivendi Environnement and in December 2000 Vivendi merged with Canal+ and Seagram, the owner of Universal Studios film company, to become Vivendi Universal. Veolia Environnement SA (formerly Vivendi Environnement) is a leading French-based multinational with activities in four main areas - water, waste management, energy and transport services. ... The title of this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... The Seagram Company Ltd. ... Universal Studios logo Universal Studios is a Hollywood film production and distribution company, controlled by General Electric Corporation. ... Vivendi Universal (VU) (Euronext: EX, NYSE: V) is a French company active in media and communications with activities in music, television and film, publishing, telecommunications and the Internet. ...

History

On December 14, 1853, a water company named Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE) was created by an Imperial decree of Napoleon III. In 1854, CGE obtained a concession in order to supply water to the public in Lyon, serving in this capacity for over a hundred years. In 1861, it obtained a 50-year concession with the City of Paris. December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (20 April 1808, Paris, France - 9 January 1873, Chislehurst, Kent, England) was a President of France, and later, Emperor of the French. ... 1854 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... City motto: Avant, avant, Lion le melhor. ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ...

For a hundred years, Compagnie Générale des Eaux remained largely focussed on the water sector. However, following the appointment of Guy Dejouany as CEO in 1976, CGE extended its activities into other sectors with a series of takeovers. Beginning in 1980, CGE began diversifying its operations from water into waste management, energy, transport services, and construction and property. It acquired the "Compagnie Générale d'Entreprises Automobiles" (CGEA), specialized in industrial vehicles, which was later divided into two branches: Connex and Onyx Environnement. CGE then acquired the "Compagnie Générale de Chauffe", and later the Montenay group. The Energy Services division these companies became part of was later (1998) renamed "Dalkia". A chief executive officer (CEO) or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or executive officer of a corporation, company, or agency. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal of waste materials, usually ones produced by human activity, in an effort to reduce their effect on human health or local amenity. ... Cranes are essential in large construction projects, such as this skyscraper Construction on the North Bytown Bridge in Ottawa, Canada. ... // Use of the term The concept of property or ownership has no single or universally accepted definition. ... Connex is the brand name of the transport services division of the French-based multinational company Veolia Environnement. ...

In 1983, CGE helped to found Canal+, the first Pay-TV channel in France, and in the 1990s, they began expanding into telecommunications and mass media, especially after Jean-Marie Messier succeeded Guy Dejouany on June 27, 1996. In 1996, CGE created Cegetel to take advantage of the 1998 deregulation of the French telecommunications market, accelerating the move into the media sector which would culminate in the 2000 demerger into Vivendi Universal and Vivendi Environnement. 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The title of this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... // Events and trends The 1990s are generally classified as having moved slightly away from the more conservative 1980s, but otherwise retaining a similar mindset. ... Telecommunication is the extension of communication over a distance. ... Mass media is a term used to denote, as a class, that section of the media specifically conceived and designed to reach a very large audience (typically at least as large as the whole population of a nation state). ... Jean-Marie Messier (born December 13, 1957) is a French businessman known for his flamboyance. ... June 27 is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 187 days remaining. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1998(MCMXCVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Vivendi Universal (VU) (Euronext: EX, NYSE: V) is a French company active in media and communications with activities in music, television and film, publishing, telecommunications and the Internet. ...

Vivendi

In 1998, Compagnie Générale des Eaux changed its name to Vivendi, and sold off its property and construction divisions the following year. Vivendi went on to acquire stakes in or merge with Maroc Telecom, Havas, Cendant Software, Anaya, and NetHold, a large Continental European pay-TV operator. Beginning in 1998, Vivendi launched digital channels in Italy, Spain, Poland, Scandinavia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) is a New York-based provider of business and consumer services, primarily within the real estate and travel sectors. ... Scandinavia, Fennoscandia, and the Kola Peninsula. ...

In June of 1999, Vivendi merged with Pathé, the exchange ratio for the merger fixed at three Vivendi shares for every two Pathé shares. The Wall Street Journal estimated the value of the deal at US$2.59 billion. Following the completion of the merger, Vivendi retained Pathé's interests in British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC and CanalSatellite, a French broadcasting corporation then sold all remaining assets to Jérôme Seydoux's family-owned holding company, Fornier SA who changed its name to Pathé. 1999 (MCMXCIX) is a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The phrase mergers and acquisitions or M&A refers to the aspect of corporate finance strategy and management dealing with the merging and acquiring of different companies as well as assets. ... Pathé or Pathé Frères is the name of various businesses founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France. ... The Wall Street Journal is an influential international daily newspaper published in New York City, New York with a worldwide average daily circulation of more than 2. ... British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB - formerly two companies, Sky Television and British Satellite Broadcasting) is a company that operates Sky Digital, the most popular subscription television service in the UK and Ireland. ...

In July 2000, Vivendi spun off the remaining water and waste companies into Vivendi Environnement (IPO in Paris in July 2000 and in New York in October 2001), later (2003) renamed Veolia Environnement. Vivendi went on to list on the New York Stock Exchange (as "V"), and in December, announced a major merger with Canal+ and Seagram, the owner of Universal Studios film company, to become Vivendi Universal. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... New York Stock Exchange (June 2003) The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the largest stock exchange in the world, although its trading volume was exceeded by that of NASDAQ (historic comparison graph {pdf}) during the 1990s. ... The title of this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... The Seagram Company Ltd. ... Universal Studios logo Universal Studios is a Hollywood film production and distribution company, controlled by General Electric Corporation. ... Vivendi Universal (VU) (Euronext: EX, NYSE: V) is a French company active in media and communications with activities in music, television and film, publishing, telecommunications and the Internet. ...