Vivendi in last ditch effort to avert EU fine for closing Lagardere deal too soon

Foo Yun Chee

Wed, December 10, 2025 astatine 6:02 AM CST 1 min read

By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS, Dec 10 (Reuters) - French media conglomerate Vivendi made a ​last-ditch effort connected Wednesday to stave disconnected ‌a imaginable EU antitrust fine, pursuing charges it closed ‌its acquisition of steadfast Lagardere earlier receiving regulatory approval.

Vivendi, represented by much than a twelve lawyers, made its lawsuit to elder contention ⁠officials and lawyers ‌at the European Commission arsenic good arsenic French antitrust officials astatine ‍a day-long closed hearing. Lagardere's lawyers were besides present.

All the participants declined to comment.

The Commission, which acts ​as the EU contention watchdog, successful its ‌July complaint expanse said Vivendi breached the standstill work acceptable retired successful the bloc's merger rules.

The company, which has rejected the charges, risks a good of arsenic overmuch arsenic ⁠10% of its planetary ​annual gross if recovered blameworthy ​of breaking EU rules.

The Commission, which takes a pugnacious enactment against procedural violations ‍and has ⁠handed retired stiff fines successful caller years, is acceptable to contented its determination ⁠next year.

It cleared the Lagardere woody anterior to opening ‌the investigation.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; ‌Editing by Kirsten Donovan)