# Vivendi

> French mass media holding company

**Wikidata**: [Q1127887](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1127887)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivendi)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vivendi

## Summary

Vivendi is a French mass media holding company headquartered in Paris, France, founded in 1987 (with earlier origins dating to 1981), that operates across film, television, music, video games, advertising, and digital streaming platforms. The company controls major subsidiaries including Canal+, Universal Music Group, Gameloft, Havas, and Dailymotion, and is listed on the CAC 40 and EURO STOXX 50 stock market indices. Vivendi is owned primarily by the Bolloré Group and maintains significant influence over global entertainment and media distribution.

## Key Facts

- **Headquarters**: Paris, France
- **Inception**: December 18, 1987 (with origins dating to 1981)
- **Website**: https://www.vivendi.com/
- **Stock Exchange Listings**: Euronext Paris (CAC 40), Italian Stock Exchange, EURO STOXX 50
- **Primary Owner**: Bolloré Group (French investment and industrial holding group, founded 1822)
- **Revenue**: Ranges from €9.572 billion to €28.878 billion (various years)
- **Total Assets**: €32.365 billion to €38.251 billion
- **Employees**: 22,603 to 44,142
- **Net Profit**: €127 million to €4.744 billion
- **Key Executives**: Arnaud de Puyfontaine (CEO), Yannick Bolloré (Chairman)
- **Industry Classification**: Mass media, media company, video game publishing, advertising

## FAQs

**What are Vivendi's major subsidiaries?**

Vivendi owns Canal+ (French film and television studio, founded 1984), Universal Music Group (Dutch-American music corporation founded 1934), Gameloft (French video game publisher founded 1999), Havas (French advertising and PR company founded 1835), and Dailymotion (video streaming platform founded 2005). The company also owns Canal+ Group, which includes multiple television channels and production studios.

**What stock indices is Vivendi included in?**

Vivendi is a component of the CAC 40 (the 40 major companies trading on Euronext Paris, inception: December 31, 1987) and the EURO STOXX 50 (Eurozone stock market index, inception: February 26, 1998).

**What is Vivendi's ownership structure?**

Vivendi is primarily owned by the Bolloré Group, a French investment and industrial holding company founded in 1822. Other significant shareholders include Société Générale and Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, both major French financial institutions.

**What video game companies has Vivendi owned?**

Through its subsidiaries and acquisitions, Vivendi has owned or been affiliated with Gameloft (French video game publisher), Coktel Vision (French video game developer, founded 1984), and has published or distributed titles including F.E.A.R. (2005), The Hobbit (2003), Ground Control II: Operation Exodus (2004), Nexus: The Jupiter Incident (2004), Men of Valor (2004), Enclave (2002), SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate (2006), and Futurama (2003).

**What historical acquisitions shaped Vivendi?**

Vivendi acquired MCA Inc. (American media conglomerate founded 1958) and the Seagram Company Ltd. (Canadian multinational conglomerate founded 1857), which were pivotal in transforming the company into a global media powerhouse. The company also had affiliations with EMI (British music company founded 1931).

**What is Vivendi's connection to the Paris 2024 Olympics?**

Vivendi is connected to the Paris bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, which was officially launched on June 23, 2015.

## Why It Matters

Vivendi stands as one of the world's most significant media conglomerates, wielding substantial influence over global entertainment distribution, music publishing, television broadcasting, and digital content. As the owner of Universal Music Group, Vivendi controls a massive share of the global music industry, representing artists across virtually every genre and managing the catalogs of historic record labels. The company's ownership of Canal+ positions it as a dominant force in European television and film production, while Gameloft's mobile gaming presence connects Vivendi to billions of smartphone users worldwide.

The company's strategic importance extends to its role in French economic and cultural soft power. Being a CAC 40 component, Vivendi represents one of France's flagship publicly traded companies and serves as a barometer for the health of European media markets. Its ownership by the Bolloré Group ties it to a century-old French industrial dynasty, further cementing its position in the country's business establishment.

Vivendi's influence also shapes digital media consumption patterns through Dailymotion, one of Europe's few globally significant video streaming platforms. In an era of media consolidation, Vivendi's ability to vertically integrate content creation, distribution, and monetization across music, film, television, gaming, and advertising creates competitive advantages that few rivals can match.

## Notable For

- Ownership of Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company by revenue
- Controlling interest in Canal+, France's premier premium television channel and film studio
- CAC 40 and EURO STOXX 50 index membership
- Ownership of Gameloft, one of the largest mobile game publishers globally
- Historical acquisition of Seagram Company's entertainment assets, transforming into a global media conglomerate
- Partnership with NBCUniversal, one of America's largest media companies
- Ownership of Havas, one of the world's oldest advertising agencies (founded 1835)
- Dailymotion ownership, providing a European alternative to YouTube

## Body

### History and Origins

Vivendi's corporate history traces to its founding on December 18, 1987, though the company has roots extending to 1981. The modern Vivendi emerged through a series of transformative acquisitions, most notably the acquisition of MCA Inc. (founded November 10, 1958) and the Seagram Company Ltd. (founded 1857). These acquisitions, particularly the Seagram purchase, fundamentally reshaped the company from its original form into a diversified media conglomerate. The Seagram Company, originally a Canadian multinational, had itself evolved from a distillery into a significant entertainment and media player, and its acquisition by Vivendi marked one of the largest media mergers of the early 2000s.

### Corporate Structure and Leadership

Vivendi is headquartered in Paris, France, and operates as a holding company with subsidiaries spanning multiple media sectors. The company is led by CEO Arnaud de Puyfontaine, a French businessman, while Yannick Bolloré serves as Chairman. The Bolloré Group, founded in 1822, serves as Vivendi's primary shareholder, providing strategic direction and capital support. Additional significant shareholders include Société Générale (French multinational banking and financial services company, founded 1864) and Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (French financial organization created in 1816).

### Stock Market Presence

Vivendi is listed on multiple major stock exchanges and indices. The company trades on Euronext Paris, France's primary securities market founded in 1724, where it is a component of the CAC 40 index—a blue-chip index representing the 40 largest companies trading on the Paris stock exchange. Vivendi is also a component of the EURO STOXX 50, a stock market index of eurozone stocks launched in 1998. Additionally, the company has a presence on the Italian Stock Exchange, which was founded in 1808.

### Media Holdings and Subsidiaries

Vivendi's media empire encompasses several major companies:

**Canal+ Group**: Founded on March 1, 1984 (with restructuring on January 1, 2018), Canal+ is a French film and television studio and distributor headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. The group operates multiple television channels and maintains significant presence in film production and distribution. Canal+ employs approximately 7,700 people across its operations.

**Universal Music Group**: A Dutch-American music corporation founded in September 1934, Universal Music Group represents the cornerstone of Vivendi's music division. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with operations spanning the United States, Netherlands, and globally, UMG operates record labels, publishing arms, and distribution networks. The company employs between 4,500 and 7,900 people across various periods and owns iconic labels including Capitol Studios (founded 1956, located in Hollywood).

**Gameloft**: Founded in 1999, Gameloft is a French video game publisher headquartered in Paris. The company specializes in mobile gaming and has produced hundreds of titles across iOS, Android, and other platforms. At its peak, Gameloft employed approximately 6,200 people (2013), with around 4,600 employees reported in 2019.

**Havas**: Founded in 1835, Havas is one of the world's oldest advertising and public relations companies. Based in Paris, Havas employs approximately 19,000 people and operates globally as a major player in advertising, media planning, and communications.

**Dailymotion**: Founded on March 15, 2005, Dailymotion is a French video streaming platform headquartered in Paris. The platform competes globally with YouTube and other video sharing services.

### Video Game Operations

Vivendi's involvement in video games extends beyond Gameloft to include historical ownership of Coktel Vision, a French video game developer and publisher founded in 1984. Headquartered in Meudon, France, Coktel Vision developed numerous titles before being acquired and eventually becoming part of Vivendi's gaming portfolio. The company published or distributed notable titles including F.E.A.R. (2005 first-person shooter), The Hobbit (2003), Ground Control II: Operation Exodus (2004), Nexus: The Jupiter Incident (2004), Men of Valor (2004), Enclave (2002), SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate (2006 expansion pack), and Futurama (2003 3D platform game).

### Financial Performance

Vivendi demonstrates substantial scale across multiple financial metrics:

- **Revenue**: €9.572 billion to €28.878 billion (varying years)
- **Total Assets**: €32.365 billion to €38.251 billion
- **Employees**: 22,603 to 44,142
- **Net Profit**: €127 million to €4.744 billion

### International Connections

Vivendi maintains significant international presence through Universal Music Group's operations in the United States (headquartered in Santa Monica, ) and the Netherlands. The company has connections to NBCUniversal, an American media and entertainment conglomerate founded in 2004 (with roots dating to 1926), headquartered in New York. Vivendi has also been affiliated with Lagardère Group (French media company founded in 1992), Banijay Entertainment (French entertainment content production company founded in 2008), and historically with EMI, the defunct British music recording and publishing company founded in 1931.

### Advertising and Communications

Through Havas, Vivendi maintains a major presence in global advertising and communications. Havas operates across multiple markets and represents a significant component of Vivendi's non-entertainment media holdings. The company's advertising operations connect Vivendi to broad consumer marketing networks spanning television, digital, print, and outdoor advertising.

### Digital Platforms

Beyond Dailymotion, Vivendi's digital presence includes AlloCiné (organization providing information on French cinema, founded 1993), and Wengo (French telephone advice service founded in 2004). These digital assets position Vivendi across various segments of online content and services.

### Historical Context

The connection to Napoleon III (President of the Second French Republic, Emperor of the Second French Empire, 1808-1873) in the provided data appears to relate to historical corporate lineage or brand associations rather than direct executive leadership. Jean-Bernard Lévy, another notable French businessman, has been affiliated with Vivendi in various capacities.

### Industry Classification

Vivendi operates across multiple industry classifications including mass media, video game publishing, advertising, music industry, and digital streaming. The company serves as both a holding company coordinating subsidiary operations and as an active participant in media production and distribution across its portfolio.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. [Source](https://www.lobbyfacts.eu/datacard/vivendi?rid=057865115207-48)
3. [Source](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220309_VIV_Rapport-financier-et-Etats-financiers-consolides-de-lexercice-2021.pdf)
4. [Source](https://live.euronext.com/fr/product/equities/FR0000127771-XPAR/company-information)
5. Vivendi 2016 Annual Report
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. [Source](https://live.euronext.com/en/product/equities/FR0000127771-XPAR)
8. SIRENE
9. Vivendi 2017 Annual Report
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. Czech National Authority Database
12. [Vivendi 2017 Annual Report](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180313_VIV_Vivendi-Rapport-annuel-Document-de-reference-2017.pdf)
13. [Source](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/20190311_VIV_Vivendi-DDR-2018-Version-finale.pdf)
14. [Source](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20200311-VIV_Vivendi-URD-2019.pdf)
15. Global LEI Index
16. [2018](https://www.vivendi.com/analystes-investisseurs/chiffres-cles-et-organigramme-simplifie/)
17. [Source](https://www.lepoint.fr/economie/lagardere-vincent-bollore-s-engage-dans-la-bataille-21-04-2020-2372376_28.php)
18. Google Knowledge Graph
19. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
20. [Source](http://www.vivendi.com/vivendi/IMG/pdf/20090302_PR090302_Earnings_2008.pdf)
21. [Source](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190214_VIV_CP_Resultats_annuels_2018.pdf)
22. [annual report. 2014](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/201404014_Document_de_reference_2013_FR.pdf)
23. [annual report. 2020](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20200311-VIV_Vivendi-URD-2019.pdf)
24. [annual report. 2021](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20210413_VIV_Vivendi-URD-2020.pdf)
25. [annual report. 2022](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220317_VIV_VIVENDI_URD_2021.pdf)
26. [press release. 2023](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230308_VIV_CP_Resultats-2022-Vivendi.pdf)
27. [2024](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20240307_VIV_Rapport-financier-et-Etats-financiers-consolides-audites-de-lexercice-2023.pdf)
28. [annual report. 2015](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/DDR_Vivendi_2014_version_francaise.pdf)
29. [annual report. 2019](https://www.vivendi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/20190311_VIV_Vivendi-DDR-2018-Version-finale.pdf)
30. BabelNet
31. [2020](https://www.gleif.org/content/4-lei-data/8-lei-mapping/1-download-bic-to-lei-relationship-files/bic_lei_gleif_v1_monthly_full_20200327.csv)
32. [data.gouv.fr](https://annuaire-entreprises.data.gouv.fr/entreprise/343134763)
33. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Vivendi-YXMA8M)
34. Wikirate