VIVENDI UNIVERSAL

NYSE: V
VIVENDI UNIVERSAL
Apr 20, 2006 04:42 ET

Vivendi Universal Reports First Quarter Revenues up 6.5 % on a Comparable Basis

PARIS, FRANCE--(CCNMatthews - April 20, 2006) - Vivendi Universal (NYSE:V)



Note to readers: Vivendi Universal provides preliminary, unaudited
revenue information for the first quarter of 2006 on an IFRS basis in
accordance with European regulatory requirements.

 


First quarter of 2006 Revenues

Vivendi Universal's as published revenues amounted to EUR 4,766 million compared to EUR 4,509 million for the first quarter of 2005, an increase of 5.7%.

On a comparable basis(1), revenues amounted to EUR 4,766 million compared to EUR 4,474 million for the first quarter of 2005, an increase of 6.5%.

Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group's (UMG's) revenues of EUR 1,125 million rose 8.4% versus last year reflecting significant growth in the digital sector, strong sales of local repertoire in Japan and higher Music Publishing activity in addition to favorable currency movements. Digital sales of EUR 111 million represented 10% of total revenues and were up 146% versus last year with strong growth across all sectors and regions.

At constant currency, revenues grew by 2.8% despite comparison to a very strong quarter in 2005 due to an exceptional release schedule in that period that included major releases from 50 Cent and The Game.

Best sellers in the quarter were new releases from Andrea Bocelli, Jack Johnson and Prince in addition to the debut release from Ne-Yo that topped the U.S. album chart in March. Other best sellers were NOW 21 in the U.S., Spitz and Dreams Come True in Japan and carryover sales from Mary J. Blige. Last year's best sellers included new albums from 50 Cent, The Game, Jack Johnson and 3 Doors Down and very strong carryover sales from The Killers and Gwen Stefani.

In the U.S., total album unit sales for the industry as measured by SoundScan declined 3%(2) with sales of digital albums up 143%. Digital track sales exceeded 140 million and were up 89% versus 2005.

UMG had six albums featured in the top 10 best sellers year to date including the top 2.

Vivendi Universal Games

Vivendi Universal Games' (VUG) revenues of EUR 134 million were 18.6% above the prior year (up 9.7% at constant currency). This increase was primarily driven by the continued success of World of Warcraft, the critically acclaimed subscription-based, massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) from Blizzard Entertainment.

Other solid performers in the first quarter of 2006 included North America revenues from Ice Age 2, the well-reviewed game based on the movie in current release from Fox, and continuing strong sales from backlist products including 50 Cent: Bulletproof and Crash Tag Team Racing.

Canal+ Group

Canal+ Group reported revenues of EUR 899 million, up from EUR 881 million in 2005. On a comparable basis(3), revenues were up 7.7% compared to the first quarter of 2005.

Revenues from pay-TV operations in France were up 11% compared to 2005 due to subscription portfolio (Canal+ and CanaSat) growth and higher revenues per subscriber.

Gross additions over the period were on a par with last year's good levels. At the end of March, Canal+ Le Bouquet represented 54% of total Canal+ subscriptions portfolio, a 5-point increase compared to March 2005.

Revenues from pay-TV operations in Poland were up mainly due to subscriber portfolio growth.

Concerning Studiocanal, higher revenues from theatrical releases and DVD sales did not offset, on this quarter, lower revenues from Working Title.

SFR

SFR revenues grew by 3.4% (by 2.9% on a comparable basis)(4) to EUR 2,135 million.

The favorable effects of the increase in customer base along with the growth in "voice" and "data" usage are partly offset by the strong cut of regulated tariffs as from January 1, 2006 (a 24% cut of mobile voice termination rates and a 19.4% cut of SMS termination) and by the cut in the price of communications charged to customers for the new offers launched in mid 2005. SFR twelve months rolling ARPU(5) decreased by 1.8% to EUR 479 in March 2006 (versus EUR 487 in March 2005).

Excluding the impact of the regulated tariffs' cut, SFR total revenues would have been up by 7.2%.

SFR proved ongoing commercial dynamism during the quarter, with 130,000 new customers, taking its total registered customer base to 17.328 million(6), an 8.3% increase versus the end of March last year. The postpaid customer base grew by 12.7% year-on-year to 11.039 million, leading to an improved customer mix of 2.5 percentage points in one year.

3G customers reached 1.352 million as of March 2006 compared to 1.003 million at the end of December 2005.

Average voice usage of SFR customers (AUPU)(7) continued its growth at 14.3% to 309 minutes per month.

Net data revenues improved significantly to represent 13.5% of network revenues for the first quarter of 2006, compared to 11.8% in 2005, partly due to an 18% increase in text messaging (SMS) sent by SFR customers (1.6 billion), to the multiplication by 1.7 times of MMS sent (43 million) and to the strong increase of other services. The latter now represent 31% of total data revenues compared to 27% in 2005. At end of March 2006, the data ARPU reached EUR 61, a 14% growth compared to 2005.

This performance highlights the success of SFR offers, which aims at progressively substituting fixed voice usage for mobile voice usage (launch of the "Absolu" packages for business customers and "Simply" for the mass market during the first quarter) and at developing new usages of the mobile phone, especially around music services (launch of the "Unlimited Music Pass" services and "Radio DJ", the first unlimited and personalized mobile music offer in France).

Maroc Telecom

Maroc Telecom revenues stand at EUR 483 million increased by 14.2% compared to the same period last year (+11.8% at constant currency).

First quarter mobile revenues grew by 17.9% to EUR 300 million compared to the same period last year (+15.3% at constant currency).

This progression was mainly explained by the growth of the customer base(8)(9) with 8.576 million of customers, +27.8% compared to the same period last year, with a net increase of 339,000 customers over the quarter.

The monthly ARPU(8)(10) and churn rate respectively stand at 10.1 euros (-9.8% compared to the same period last year) and 15.3% (+5.4 points compared to the same period last year) in the context of the strong increase of the customer base.

First quarter fixed and internet revenues grew by 10.1% to EUR 282 million compared to the same period last year (+7.7% at constant currency) thanks to a slightly growing customer base, to the pricing modifications operated during the 2005 last quarter and to the continuing success of the broadband activity.

The fixed customer base reached 1.336 million of lines (+0.1% compared to the same period last year). The ADSL customer base still experienced a strong growth, in particular with promotions during the first quarter, and reached 296,000 lines (+54,000 over the quarter, +225% compared to the same period last year).

Important disclaimer

Vivendi Universal is quoted on the NYSE and on Euronext Paris SA. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of the company's future performance. Actual results may differ significantly 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 risks described in the documents Vivendi Universal has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the French Autorite des Marches Financiers. Investors and security holders are strongly recommended to read those documents at the Security and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov and the French Autorite des Marches Financiers' website (www.amf-france.org). Copies of the documents may also be obtained free of charge from Vivendi Universal. This press release contains forward-looking statements that can only be assessed on the day the press release is issued. Vivendi Universal does not undertake, nor has any obligation, to provide, update or revise any forward-looking statements.



(1) Comparable basis essentially illustrates the effect of the
divestitures or abandonment of operations that occurred in 2005
(mainly NC Numericable at Canal+ Group and Annuaire Express, SFR
phone directory activities) and includes the full consolidation of
minority stakes in distribution subsidiaries at SFR as if these
transactions had occurred as at January 1, 2005. Comparable basis
revenues are not necessarily indicative of the combined revenues
that would have occurred had the events actually occurred at the
beginning of 2005.
(2) SoundScan sales for the week ending April 2, 2006.
(3) Comparable basis mainly illustrates the impact of Canal+ Group's
disposals of businesses (mainly NC Numericable in March 2005) as
if these transactions had occurred on January 1, 2005.
(4) Comparable basis illustrates the full consolidation of minority
stakes in distribution subsidiaries and excludes revenues from
phone directory activities (Annuaire Express) as of January 1,
2005.
(5) ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) is defined as revenues (including
mobile-to-mobile termination) net of promotions and net of
third-party content provider revenues (including toll numbers
related revenues) excluding roaming in and equipment sales divided
by average Arcep total customer base for the last twelve months.
In addition, ARPU is presented on a comparable basis, excluding
Annuaire Express outsourced end of 2005.
(6) SFR total base excluding wholesale customers total base (wholesale
customer base reached 179,000 at the end of March 2006.)
(7) AUPU (Average Usage Per User) is defined as the incoming and
outgoing "voice" volumes divided by average Arcep total customer
base for the last twelve months.
(8) Without Mauritel.
(9) The customer base, compliant with the ANRT definition and used by
Maroc Telecom in 2006, includes prepaid customers giving or
receiving a voice call during the last 3 months and not resiliated
postpaid customers
(10)ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) is defined as revenues (from
incoming and outcoming calls and data services), net of
promotions, excluding roaming in and equipment sales, divided by
average customer base over the period.


APPENDIX

VIVENDI UNIVERSAL
REVENUES BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

(IFRS, unaudited)

COMPARABLE BASIS

Comparable basis essentially illustrates the effect of the
divestitures or abandonment of operations that occurred in 2005
(mainly NC Numericable at Canal+ Group and Annuaire Express, SFR phone
directory activities) and includes the full consolidation of minority
stakes in distribution subsidiaries at SFR as if these transactions
had occurred as at January 1, 2005. Comparable basis revenues are not
necessarily indicative of the combined revenues that would have
occurred had the events actually occurred at the beginning of 2005.

----------------------------------------
1st quarter ended March 31,
----------------------------------------

% Change at
(in millions of euros) 2006 2005 % Change constant rate
------- ------- --------- --------------
Revenues
--------
Universal Music Group 1,125 1,038 8.4% 2.8%
Vivendi Universal Games 134 113 18.6% 9.7%
Canal+ Group 899 835 7.7% 7.3%
SFR 2,135 2,075 2.9% 2.9%
Maroc Telecom 483 423 14.2% 11.8%
Non core operations and
elimination of intercompany
transactions (a) (10) (10) na na
------- ------- --------- --------------
Total Vivendi Universal 4,766 4,474 6.5% 4.7%
------- ------- --------- --------------
------- ------- --------- --------------

AS PUBLISHED (b)

---------------------------
1st quarter ended March 31,
---------------------------


(in millions of euros) 2006 2005 % Change
------- ------- ---------
Revenues
--------
Universal Music Group 1,125 1,038 8.4%
Vivendi Universal Games 134 113 18.6%
Canal+ Group 899 881 2.0%
SFR 2,135 2,064 3.4%
Maroc Telecom 483 423 14.2%
Non core operations and
elimination of intercompany
transactions (a) (10) (10) na
------- ------- ---------
Total Vivendi Universal 4,766 4,509 5.7%
------- ------- ---------
------- ------- ---------

na : not applicable.

(a) Corresponds to Vivendi Telecom International, Vivendi Valorisation
and other non core businesses.
(b) As they will be published in BALO.

 



For more information, please contact

Vivendi Universal, Paris
Antoine Lefort
Media
+33 (0) 1-71-71-11-80

or

Vivendi Universal, Paris
Agnes Vetillart
Media
+33 (0) 1-71-71-30-82

or

Vivendi Universal, Paris
Alain Delrieu
Media
+33 (0) 1-71-71-10-86

or

Vivendi Universal, New York
Flavie Lemarchand-Wood
Media
+(1) 212-572-1118

or

Investor Relations, Paris
Daniel Scolan
+33 (0) 1-71-71-32-91

or

Investor Relations, Paris
Laurence Daniel
+33 (0) 1-71-71-12-33

or

Investor Relations, Paris
Edouard Lassalle
+33 (0) 1-71-71-30-45

or

Investor Relations, New York
Eileen McLaughlin
+(1) 212-572-8961