Vivendi Securities Class Action Notice May Affect Your Rights

June 3, 2009 07:00 UTC

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The following statement is being issued by the law firm of Abbey Spanier Rodd & Abrams, LLP regarding the Vivendi Universal, S.A., Securities Litigation.

If You Acquired Vivendi Securities Between October 30, 2000 And August 14, 2002, Then It Is Very Important For You To Read This Notice And The Related Materials Referenced In It. You Must Decide Whether You Want To Remain A Member Of A Class Against Vivendi And Its Former Senior Officers. Your Decision On This Question May Affect Your Legal Rights And Your Right To Receive A Portion Of Any Money Obtained In This Action.

You could be affected by a United States class action lawsuit against Vivendi, S.A. and two of its former senior officers, Jean-Marie Messier and Guillaume Hannezo (the "Defendants") alleging securities fraud. This notice is only a summary. Detailed information is available by visiting the website below.

Are you affected?

The lawsuit affects Vivendi investors from the United States, France, England and the Netherlands who purchased or otherwise acquired its securities between October 30, 2000 and August 14, 2002 (the "Class").

What is this case about?

Plaintiffs allege that Defendants violated the United States federal securities laws by making false and misleading statements regarding the financial condition of Vivendi, inflating the share price and causing economic harm to certain investors. Defendants vigorously deny all of the Plaintiffs' allegation and assert that they are not liable to Plaintiffs or the Class. The Court has expressed no view whether the Class or Defendants are right, and the Court's certification of the Class is not an expression of any opinion by the court as to the merits of this case. The lawyers for the Class will have to prove their claims at a trial unless the case is settled. The lawsuit asks for money to be paid to the Class in an amount to be decided by a jury. There is no money available now.

Who represents you?

The Court has appointed the New York firm of Abbey Spanier Rodd & Abrams, LLP as Lead Counsel for the Class. You don't have to pay them or anyone else to participate. You can hire your own lawyer, but if you do, you will have to pay that lawyer.

What are your options?

You have a choice to stay in the Class or not, and you must decide this now.

(1) To stay in the Class, you do not have to do anything. If money or benefits are obtained, you will be notified about how to ask for a share. If you stay in the Class, you will be bound by all orders and judgments of the Court as follows: A judgment in this case will be binding on you and other class members in any American court as provided by applicable law. The binding effects of such a judgment in foreign courts will be determined by those courts.

(2) On the other hand, you can exclude yourself from the Class, in which case you cannot get any money or benefits from this lawsuit, but you will keep any rights to sue the Defendants on these claims yourself, and you will not be bound by any Court orders or judgments in this case. To be excluded, send a letter to the address below, postmarked by September 15, 2009, stating you want to be excluded from In re Vivendi Universal, S.A., Securities Litigation. Include your name, address, telephone number and signature. Your exclusion letter should also show the number of securities you acquired and sold between October 30, 2000 and August 14, 2002.

How can I get more information?

Visit www.vivendiclassaction.com or write to Vivendi Securities Class Action, c/o The Garden City Group, Inc., P.O. Box 9250, Dublin, OH 43017-4650 USA (via First Class Mail within the United States and by international priority mail for other countries).

You may obtain information in the United States by calling 1-800-767-2840. If you are calling from France, England or the Netherlands, please call 00 800 776 77776. We encourage you to visit the website www.vivendiclassaction.com to obtain information about the lawsuit.

Contacts

Abbey Spanier Rodd & Abrams, LLP
Stephen T. Rodd, Esq.
info@abbeyspanier.com

Source: Abbey Spanier Rodd & Abrams, LLP

View this news release online at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090603005280/en