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Vivendi Faces EU Antitrust Charges Over Lagardere Deal
3 Jul
Summary
- EU antitrust regulators issued new charges against Vivendi.
- The charges relate to Vivendi's 2023 acquisition of publisher Lagardere.
- Vivendi risks a fine up to 10% of its global annual revenue.
The European Commission has intensified its antitrust case against Vivendi, issuing a supplementary statement of objections regarding the company's 2023 acquisition of publisher Lagardere. This follows initial charges from July 2025, which alleged Vivendi violated merger rules by completing the Lagardere acquisition without prior approval.
The supplementary statement introduces significant new evidence and explanations, though the core scope of the alleged infringement remains largely unchanged from the previous charges. Vivendi has the right to a closed-door hearing to present its defense.
If found guilty of procedural violations, Vivendi could face substantial penalties, potentially reaching 10% of its total global annual revenue. The EU antitrust watchdog generally maintains a strict stance against such violations, often imposing considerable fines.
