Filed by Vivendi
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
October 19, 2000
OCTOBER 19, 2000 : CANADIAN HERITAGE AND INDUSTRY CANADA APPROVE
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PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION OF VIVENDI, SEAGRAM AND CANAL +
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PARIS, October 19, 2000 - Vivendi and The Seagram Company Ltd. announced
today that they have obtained approval relating to the proposed strategic
business combination among Vivendi, Seagram and Canal+ from the Minister
of Canadian Heritage and the Minister of Industry Canada, as required
under the Investment Canada Act.
The parties have also received antitrust clearances for the transaction
from the European Commission, appropriate U.S. antitrust authorities and
the Canadian Competition Bureau.
In addition, the French audiovisual authority (CSA) has indicated that it
would not oppose the transaction.
This 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 this release address the business 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 businesses 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 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, when it
becomes available, because it will contain important information. The
joint proxy statement/prospectus will be 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 (when it is available) 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.
CONTACTS: ALAIN DELRIEU (TEL.: 33 1 71 71 10 86) - ANTOINE LEFORT
(TEL.: 33 1 71 71 11 80)
