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Exhibit 99
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Canal+ Group and UPC to merge
their Polish satellite TV operations
PARIS AND AMSTERDAM, 10TH AUGUST 2001: CANAL+ GROUP, THE TV & FILM DIVISION OF
VIVENDI UNIVERSAL, AND UNITED PAN-EUROPE COMMUNICATIONS N.V. (UPC) SIGNED
DEFINITIVE AGREEMENTS TODAY TO MERGE THEIR RESPECTIVE POLISH SATELLITE TV
PLATFORMS CYFRA+ AND WIZJA TV AS WELL AS THE CANAL+ POLSKA PREMIUM CHANNEL, TO
FORM A COMMON POLISH DIGITAL TV PLATFORM.
The new company ("TKP") will be managed and controlled by Canal+ and will boost
the development of a stronger and more diversified digital TV offering in
Poland. Canal+ Group will own 75% and UPC will own 25% of TKP, the Polish
company.
UPC will contribute its Polish satellite assets to TKP, the Polish subsidiary of
Canal+ Group, in exchange for 25% of TKP and Euros 150 million in cash. As part
of this transaction, through a carriage agreement, Canal+ Polska will also be
available on UPC's Polish cable network which UPC will retain 100% control of,
expanding the reach of the Polish premium channel to over 1 million additional
subscribers. This merger is subject to regulatory approvals.
In a fast growing, but still largely underdeveloped market environment, this
transaction will generate significant synergies and create a platform with the
critical size necessary to achieve profitability. The merger will also
substantially accelerate the cash breakeven targets for both parties in Poland.
From day one, the new satellite platform will have a base of more than 700,000
subscribers.
The combined platform will offer the Polish viewer easier access to an increased
choice of local and international television and radio channels and also a wide
range of new interactive TV services at no extra cost. In addition, both Cyfra+
and Wizja TV subscribers will have access to Canal+ Polska. The new platform
will make use of the MediaGuard conditional access and the MediaHighway
interactive systems developed by Canal+ Technologies.
PIERRE LESCURE, CO-CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF VIVENDI UNIVERSAL AND CHAIRMAN OF
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF CANAL+ GROUP, said :"After restructuring our
international activities in Italy and the Nordic countries, our agreement with
UPC in Poland today meets the objectives we have set for 2001. This confirms
CANAL+'s strategy and strong presence in Poland since 1995 and our Group's
determination to strengthen our activities in Europe. We have built a strong
base upon which we will further develop our business and continue to meet the
expectations for
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existing and future subscribers. The polish viewer will benefit from our
agreement with an unprecedented programming offering as well as a larger and
easier access to CANAL+ Polska. We had enjoyed a productive relationship in the
conclusion of this agreement and we hope that this forms the basis for future
cooperation."
MARK SCHNEIDER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF UPC, said: "We are very pleased with
the outcome of this agreement. We have made it clear for some time that we are
looking to focus on our core business, this transaction helps us to achieve that
goal by rationalising our DTH assets into a common platform whilst allowing us
to retain ownership of, and improve our cable business with the addition of the
Canal+ Polska channel, which can only benefit the consumer. In addition, the EUR
150 million cash proceeds from this transaction further supports UPC's financing
position. We look forward to working with the Canal+ Group and believe this
agreement will form the basis of a future relationship in other markets".
ABOUT CANAL+ GROUP
Canal+ Group, the TV & Film division of Vivendi Universal, the world's second
largest media and communications group, is Europe's leading pay-TV company with
close to 16 million subscriptions to its premium channels and multi-service
digital TV platforms across the continent. Canal+'s premium channel format is
offered in 11 European countries and is based on recent movies and exclusive
sports events, family entertainment and documentaries. Canal+ launched the first
European digital TV platform in France in 1996 (Canalsatellite) and developed
similar bouquets of TV, radio, audio channels, as well as interactive TV
services, in all the countries where the premium channel is broadcast. It is
number one in Europe in digital television, with 5.8 million subscribers to its
digital services at the end of June 2001. Vivendi Universal's TV & Film division
combines the Canal+ Group and Universal Studios' businesses and is a major
global powerhouse in film and television production and distribution,
pay-television channels and services, digital television technology, Internet
content and themed entertainment.
ABOUT UPC
United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. (UPC), headquartered in Amsterdam, is one
of the leading broadband communications companies in Europe. Through its
broadband networks UPC provides television, Internet and telephony services to
residential customers. Furthermore, UPC offers telephony and data services to
business customers and delivers interactive and transactional television
services and pay TV channels to its own and other cable and satellite networks.
UPC is active in 17 countries in Europe and in Israel. UPC's cable networks pass
10.8 million homes, delivering basic cable television services to 7.2 million
subscribers. In addition, UPC had 409,000 Internet subscribers, 440,000
telephony subscribers as well as 33,000 digital subscribers. Note : these
figures are as of March 31, 2001 and do not include announced acquisitions or
minority interests.
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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined
in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual
results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of
a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control,
including but not limited to: the risk that the merging companies will not be
integrated successfully; that the synergies expected to be created as a result
of the merger will not materialize; that Vivendi Universal or UPC will be unable
to further identify, develop and achieve success for new products, services and
technologies; that Vivendi Universal or UPC will face increased competition and
that the effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues of
such competition will limit or reduce Vivendi Universal's or UPC's revenue
and/or income; that Vivendi Universal or UPC will be unable to establish and
maintain relationships with commerce, advertising, marketing, technology, and
content providers; and that Vivendi Universal will be unable to obtain or retain
the approvals and licenses necessary to operate and expand its businesses, in
addition the receipt of regulatory approvals will be necessary to close the
transaction; as well as the risks described in the documents Vivendi Universal
has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Vivendi Universal,
CANAL+ Group and UPC do not undertake, nor do they have any obligation, to
provide updates or to revise any forward-looking statements. Investors and
security holders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by Vivendi Universal
and UPC with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at or directly from
Vivendi Universal and UPC respectively.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT :
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Laurence Gallot, Marine Lemonnier, Communications Department,
Senior Vice President, Communications, international, Canal+ Group
Canal+ Group (France & Canal+ channel) +33 1 44 25 16 23
+33 1 44 25 19 42
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Ruth Pirie, Managing Director of investor Bert Holtkamp, Director of Corporate
Relations, UPC, +44 (0) 207 661 3500 Communications, UPC,
+31 20 778 9447
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