What does V stand for?

Byline: ROSS TIEMAN TROUBLED French media giant Vivendi Universal today promised a bright new future after agreeing to merge its US entertainment business with General Electric's NBC, writes Ross Tieman.

PARIS -- Vivendi Universal (NYSE:V) Group Receives a Large Majority Approval by Owners of ADRs Vivendi Universal announced today that it is has received irrevocable consents from owners of the company's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), representing a large majority of American Depositary Shares (ADSs) to amend its ADR deposit agreement, allowing the company to move to terminate the deposit agreement and delist from the New York Stock Exchange.

THE Paris HQ of troubled French media conglomerate Vivendi Universal and several homes of former executive chairman Jean-Marie Messier were raided today by French police.

The Paris Court of Appeals also reduced the amount of the penalty imposed by the AMF against Vivendi Universal from EUR 1 million to EUR 300,000.

IAC/InterActiveCorp, Vivendi Universal and General Electric today announced transactions that simplify the companies' corporate and financial structures and result in IAC's exit from Vivendi Universal Entertainment LLLP (VUE).

PARIS -- Concerning the restructuring of the agreements between Vivendi Universal, NBC Universal and IAC/InterActiveCorp, Vivendi Universal has the following remarks: 1) The total net amount paid in cash by Vivendi Universal in this transaction amounted to $235 million, compared with the elimination of the obligation to make average annual payments of $30 million over a 17-year period.

PARIS -- Vivendi Universal (Paris Bourse: EX FP; NYSE: V) announced today the signing of a EUR 2 billion syndicated facility, the launch of which was announced on March 11, 2005.

PARIS -- In accordance with the statement made during the company's 2004 earnings announcement on March 10, 2005, Vivendi Universal (Paris Bourse: EX FP; NYSE: V) has completed its plan to unwind the interest-rate swaps on its variable-rate debt, which was repaid following recent asset disposals.