Probe of Vivendi Finances Expected
Associated Press
A Paris prosecutor is expected to open a judicial investigation of possible irregularities in Vivendi Universal’s statements under former Chairman Jean-Marie Messier, legal sources said.
The step comes after an association of individual shareholders lodged a complaint at the end of July, alleging that Vivendi had put out false information about its financial situation and that it had resorted to forgery and the use of forged documents.
Vivendi declined to comment.
In other developments, Vivendi confirmed it plans to sell its European and Latin American publishing businesses to French media and defense conglomerate Lagardere.
