FRANCE: Seagram’s Spirits and Wines Business Sold to Diageo and Pernod Ricard
Vivendi Universal has entered into an agreement for the sale of Seagram's spirits and wine business to Diageo and Pernod Ricard for $8,150 billion, subject to regulatory approvals. Net proceeds after taxes are expected to be approximately $7,7 billion. This is $1,3 billion over and above the objective Vivendi Universal had set to wipe out Seagram's net debt of $6.4 billion (as of September 30, 2000), excluding ACES (Adjustable Conversion-rate Equity Security units) of which the dilutive impact had already been taken into account.