Bronfman Jr. Eyes Vivendi's U.S. Entertainment Assets

The assets would likely be worth at least $15 billion, reports say.
By TSC Staff ,

Edgar Bronfman Jr. is reportedly putting together a group of investors to make a bid for

Vivendi Universal's

(V) - Get Report

U.S. entertainment business.

Bronfman is the vice chairman of Vivendi's board. He and his father, Edgar M. Bronfman, became members of Vivendi's board when the company acquired Seagram in 2000. Both would reportedly halt temporarily their board activities while Vivendi pursues the sale.

Reports of the offer first appeared in

The Wall Street Journal

and indicated that Vivendi's U.S. entertainment assets would probably receive a bid of at least $15 billion. Those properties include Universal Studios and Universal Music Group. The

Journal

reported that

Cablevision

(CVC)

is among Bronfman's backers.

According to that report, Cablevision is seen contributing its entertainment cable networks to a new company that would be formed if Bronfman's bid succeeds. Cablevision would then get a 25% to 33% stake in the new company.

Bronfman is said to be one of several parties interested in Vivendi's U.S. entertainment assets.

General Electric

(GE) - Get Report

, which owns television network NBC,

Liberty Media

(L) - Get Report

and

Viacom

(VIA) - Get Report

, the owner of CBS, are among the potential bidders said to be considering an offer for at least some of the French company's holdings.

At Vivendi's annual meeting last month, CEO Jean-Rene Fourtou

made it clear he wanted to sell, or cede control of, the company's television, movie and theme park businesses, which operate under the Vivendi Universal Entertainment partnership, as well as Vivendi's music and video game business.

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