The reports, just days after Vivendi chairman Jean-Marie Messier and chairman of USA Networks Barry Diller said they were in advanced talks to separate their assets, could raise expectations of a substantial acquisition by Vivendi. Vivendi could also end up in control of the cable channels and film studios of USA Networks.
Vivendi’s sale of a third of its stake in BSkyB represents about eight percent of the equity of the pay-TV group. Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank are to manage the private placement to institutional investors of equity certificates which were convertible to BSkyB shares.
