Product details

The case explains the turnaround achieved by the French media and telecommunications company, Vivendi Universal (VU). It explains how the company nearly became bankrupt, mainly on account of the many acquisitions made during the years 2000 and 2001, by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jean Marie Messier. The case attempts to explain how Jean-Rene Fourtou, who succeeded Messier as VU's CEO reduced VU's financial debt and brought the company back to investment grade. It explains the measures Fourtou took, such as the asset disposal programme, to achieve this objective. The case also shows how Fourtou refocused the company as a media and telecommunications company in order to take advantage of new opportunities in the digitised entertainment sector.