Filed by Vivendi Universal
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: The Seagram Company Ltd.
Commission File No. 1-2275
and
Subject Company: Canal Plus S.A.
Commission File No. 82-2270
November 17, 2000
November 15, 2000
VIVENDI REVENUES
TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
| |
| - VIVENDI |
| ------- |
| 29.1 BILLION EUROS |
| INCREASE OF 41% IN ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND |
| COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING 14% OF INTERNAL GROWTH |
| |
| |
| - COMMUNICATIONS |
| 9.4 billion euros |
| Strong increase of 70%, including 19% of internal growth |
| |
| |
| - ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES |
| 18.8 billion euros |
| Increase of 31%, including over 11% of internal growth |
| |
| |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vivendi's revenues in the first nine months of 2000 totaled 29.1 billion euros,
with environmental services and communications accounting for 28.2 billion
euros, a 41.5% increase over the 19.9 billion euros as at September 30, 1999.
Internal growth was close to 14% (19% in communications and 11% in environmental
services).
These 9 months show Vivendi's withdrawal from the Construction & Property
Division (disposal of Vinci, with revenues of 6.2 billion euros, and Nexity,
with revenues of 1.3 billion euros, as at September 30, 1999). In addition,
Sithe's contribution of 709m euros was only in the first six months of 2000,
compared with the full nine months of 1999, reflecting the group's withdrawal
from the independent power production sector. These effects were partially
offset by the consolidation of Canal+ and USFilter (nine months compared with
five in 1999).
<PAGE>
COMMUNICATIONS
--------------
Vivendi Communications had revenues of 9.4 billion euros. The 69.5% increase is
a result of the consolidation of Canal+ for the nine-month period (compared with
none to September 30, 1999), with an impact of 2.8 billion euros. On a
like-to-like basis and at constant exchange rates, growth was approximately 19%.
Since only a small percentage of the revenues depends on advertising (less than
5%), this factor will not affect the performance and growth of Vivendi
Communications.
ACCESS: TELEPHONY AND TELEVISION
Telecommunications generated revenues of 3.9 billion euros, an increase of 34%,
with Cegetel contributing 3.8 billion euros, compared with 2.9 billion euros as
at September 30, 1999, an increase of 30%. Revenues in mobile telephony were 3.4
billion euros. The number of subscribers rose 56%, to 9.2 million, for the first
nine months of 2000, compared with 5.9 million in the same period of the
previous year. This represents a significant advance toward the target of 10
million subscribers by the end of the year. The market share of "le 7" continued
to be excellent.
The audiovisual activities came to 3 billion euros, of which 2.8 billion euros
were generated by Canal+, increasing 20.5% over pro forma 1999 revenues (but not
consolidated in Vivendi's books as at September 30, 1999). Canal+ had 14.2
million subscriptions. The number of digital subscribers increased 39% in one
year, to 4.8 million. Pay TV outside of France generated 705m euros, an increase
of 32% from the first nine months of 1999.
CONTENT: PUBLISHING, LOCAL MEDIA AND MULTIMEDIA
Revenues for Havas were 2.4 billion euros, amounting to growth of 4.5% on a
like-to-like basis and at constant exchange rates. Growth in its multimedia
activities increased 21% on a like-to-like basis and at constant exchange rates,
partially because of the success of DiabloII, which was launched at the end of
June. Revenues generated outside of France accounted for 44% of business and
reached 1.1 billion euros. Half of the business was generated in the United
States.
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
----------------------
The revenues of Vivendi Environnement in the nine-month period increased nearly
31% to 18.8 billion euros, compared with 14.4 billion euros for the same period
of 1999. Internal growth was over 11% on a like-to-like basis and at constant
exchange rates, reaching 2.1 billion euros, primarily from the consolidation of
USFilter over the nine months (compared with five in 1999).
Revenues outside of France represented 11 billion euros, or close to 59% of the
total, an increase of 50%.
These results are in keeping with our forecasts for the year in both the
environmental services and communications businesses.
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<PAGE>
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
"SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF
1995. THESE STATEMENTS ARE BASED ON MANAGEMENT'S CURRENT EXPECTATIONS OR BELIEFS
AND ARE SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL
RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS.
THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THESE MATERIALS ADDRESS THE
BUSINESSES OF VIVENDI AND THE COMBINATION OF VIVENDI, CANAL+ AND SEAGRAM. THE
FOLLOWING FACTORS, AMONG OTHERS, COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY
FROM THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: THE RISK THAT THE
VIVENDI, CANAL+ AND SEAGRAM BUSINESS WILL NOT BE INTEGRATED SUCCESSFULLY; COSTS
RELATED TO THE COMBINATION; FAILURE OF THE VIVENDI, CANAL+ OR SEAGRAM
SHAREHOLDERS TO APPROVE THE COMBINATION; INABILITY TO FURTHER IDENTIFY, DEVELOP
AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS FOR NEW PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGIES; INCREASED
COMPETITION AND ITS EFFECT ON PRICING, SPENDING, THIRD-PARTY RELATIONSHIPS AND
REVENUES; INABILITY TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMERCE,
ADVERTISING, MARKETING, TECHNOLOGY, AND CONTENT PROVIDERS. NONE OF THE VIVENDI,
CANAL+ OR SEAGRAM UNDERTAKES ANY OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE UPDATES OR TO REVISE ANY
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE
JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE BUSINESS COMBINATION TRANSACTION
REFERENCED IN THE FOREGOING INFORMATION BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE U.S.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION BY VIVENDI, CANAL+ AND SEAGRAM.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS MAY OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF THE JOINT PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY VIVENDI, CANAL+ AND SEAGRAM
WITH THE COMMISSION AT THE COMMISSION'S WEB SITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV. THE JOINT PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND THESE OTHER DOCUMENTS MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED FOR FREE
FROM VIVENDI, CANAL+ AND SEAGRAM. INFORMATION REGARDING THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE
PROXY SOLICITATION AND A DESCRIPTION OF THEIR DIRECT AND INDIRECT INTERESTS, BY
SECURITY HOLDINGS OR OTHERWISE, IS CONTAINED IN THE JOINT PRESS RELEASE RELATING
TO THE TRANSACTION FILED WITH THE COMMISSION BY EACH OF VIVENDI AND SEAGRAM, ON
JUNE 20, 2000.
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