Vivendi, Messier sentenced to three years probation
French justice had the heaviest hand for the former boss of Vivendi, Jean-Marie Messier, his American counterpart, which had acquitted a year ago. After eight years of investigation and trial on one of the most sensational bankruptcies in recent years in France, the court ruled on Friday, the fate of Jean-Marie Messier, spent two years at the helm of the General Waters, he transformed into a giant media and led to the near-bankruptcy in 2002.
This icon of French capitalism in the early 2000s has indeed been sentenced this afternoon to a term of three years suspended sentence for "spreading false or misleading information" about the financial health of the group, and "abuse of social good. " It also scoop a fine of 150,000 euros, and shall indemnify dozens of small shareholders of Vivendi cheated by the rout of the telecommunications group.It was however acquitted of the third charge, "price manipulation" of Vivendi. He has already indicated through his lawyer that he will challenge this decision on appeal.
Behavior "prestidigiteur debt"
"Jean-Marie Messier has adopted towards the market behavior of real 'magician debt' behavior that could at most be detected by analysts and financial professionals (…) but certainly not by individual shareholders, which this communication was also addressed and which could only be deceived by its abbreviated and misleading, "reads the ruling.
Justice did not spare the closest collaborators of Jean-Marie Messier. Edgar Bronfman Jr., chief executive of Warner, was sentenced to fifteen months suspended sentence and five million euro fine for insider trading.His former right hand man and chief financial officer of Vivendi Universal, Guillaume Hannezo, was handed his side a penalty of 15 months suspended sentence and a fine of 850,000 euros free online credit report. Eric Licoys finally, former deputy director general of the group, was sentenced to six months suspended sentence.
Messier admits mistakes but no offense
Jean-Marie Messier has already indicated through his lawyer that he will challenge this decision on appeal. He admits indeed have made mistakes but no offense. The former boss, 54, and grants, the Wall Street Journal: "I was young, I've said too much and I became a symbol." Whatever the Horns of Canal + J6M nicknamed (for Jean Marie Messier, Myself Master of the World) even regretted his "arrogance" at the time. But beyond its mismanagement, Jean-Marie Messier also challenges a softer environment.He recalled that the bursting of the dotcom bubble and September 11 were particularly devastating for the values of the new economy traded.
He especially insists he did not deliberately sought to mislead analysts and shareholders. "Some of my decisions in the management proved wrong, but a fraud? Never, Never, never! "He says. And he points out the flaws in the file. The indictment for abuse of social good based on a negotiated golden parachute … but never touched. As for price manipulation, it acknowledges the massive purchase of Vivendi shares after the attacks of Sept. 11, but in order to protect the business speculators.His defense has also appeared for a time be satisfied that the prosecution had asked for his release, believing that he did not deliberately sought to mislead analysts and shareholders.
The association of small shareholders assets (APPAC), a civil trial, was on his side on Friday welcomed the "great victory for French justice, up to the expectations of shareholders."
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