Vivendi Universal sales jump 12 percent in third quarter

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2005

PARIS (AFP) — French media group Vivendi Universal reported a 12 percent jump in third quarter sales to 4.87 billion euros (5.8 billion dollars) with telecommunications unit SFR the stand-out performer in the group's portfolio of businesses.

Vivendi, which also has television, music and video games activities, said that sales by SFR, one of the leading mobile phone groups in France, had increased by 20 percent from the same period of 2004.

The group sales figure was slightly above the 4.8 billion euros expected by analysts and shares on the Paris stock exchange were showing a gain of 2.41 percent to 26.73 euros in mid-afternoon trade. The CAC 40 index of leading shares rose by 1.37 percent.

Vivendi said that sales by its Canal Plus television unit, which has...