Police raids kick off probe into Vivendi.

Financial News, December, 2002

The Paris home of former Vivendi boss Jean-Marie Messier was raided by police Thursday as French magistrates began an investigation into whether the company issued misleading financial statements during his six years at the helm.The media and communications group confirmed that a team of financial fraud squad investigators were also searching the group's headquarters near the Arc de Triomphe, and those of its telecoms subsidiary Cegetel at La Defense. It is thought a number of documents were seized but neither company was prepared to comment.

The raids were ordered by a three-judge investigation panel charged with looking into a complaint by small shareholders that the group had presented misleading financial accounts.