Beautifully engraved ADR certificate from the Vivendi Universal. This historic document was printed by the De La Rue Company and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of workers in front of a globe. This item has the printed signatures of the Company's Managing Director and Authorized Officer.
Certificate Vignette The following history is from the company's press releases: From Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE) to Vivendi Universal 1853: Creation of Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE) by Imperial decree, enabling the company to win its first public service concession to supply water in Lyons. 1980 - 1996: CGE expands, diversifies and starts international operations in water, waste management, energy, transport services, and construction and property. CGE also expands in Telecoms and Media 1983: CGE participates in the creation of Canal+, the first Pay-TV channel in France 1987: Creation of SFR, which brings GSM network into service in 1992 In 1998, the Group changes name and becomes Vivendi 1999: Sale of the Property and of the Construction divisions A strong focus on communication activities Telecoms 1996: Creation of Cegetel to cover all telecommunications services in anticipation of the deregulation of the French telecommunications market on January 1, 1998. Group Cegetel is currently France's leading private telecommunication operator, in both fixed (Cegetel) and mobile (SFR) telephony services 1997: Cegetel and SNCF (French national railroad) form a joint subsidiary, Télécom Développement, to operate an alternative telecommunications network (backbone) throughout France 1998: Launch of Cegetel's voice service over fixed lines 2000: Vivendi Universal takes a 35% stake in Maroc Telecom Publishing 1997: Acquisition of a 30% interest in Havas 1998: Merger between Vivendi and Havas Acquisition by Havas of Cendant Software (entertainment and educational software in the USA) and Anaya (the second largest education and multimedia publisher in Spain) Pay-TV 1992: Launch of the analogic terrestrial version of CanalSatellite in France 1996: Roll out of the first digital set-top boxes and launch of the digital version of CanalSatellite, the first digital TV offer in France 1997: The acquisition of NetHold, the second largest pay-TV operator in Continental Europe. Major step in Canal+'s successful internationalization Launch of the digital TV offer in Spain and Italy 1998: Launch of the digital TV offer in Poland and Scandinavia 1999: Launch of the digital TV offer in Belgium 2000: Launch of the digital TV offer in the Netherlands Internet 1999: Creation of Vivendi Net, which brings together Vivendi's Internet ventures 2000: Vodafone AirTouch and Vivendi agree to establish an Internet and Telecoms Alliance to launch the first European multi-access portal Vizzavi Vivendi focuses on media and communications June 2000: Vivendi announces its project to merge with Canal+ and Seagram. July 2000: Vivendi Environnement is listed on the Paris Bourse (Vivendi remains the majority Shareholder with 63%). September 2000: Vivendi is listed on the New-York Stock Exchange under the symbol "V". December 2000: Creation of Vivendi Universal, following the successful merger with Canal+ and Seagram. 2001: Vivendi acquires mp3.com, the Internet's premier Music Service Provider, and leading American publisher, Houghton Mufflin. December 2001 : Echostar and Vivendi Universal form Strategic Alliance to Offer New Progamming, Interactive Television Services for Consumers. May 2002 : Vivendi Universal Closes Acquisition of Entertainment Assets of USA Networks, Inc. August 2002: Vivendi Universal reduces its stake in Vivendi Environnement to 40.8%