The ruling removes, for now, the prospect of a mandatory buyout of Vivendi by Bolloré after the case was sent back by France's top civil court.
Paris' Court of Appeal ruled that Vincent Bolloré and Bolloré SE do not exercise control over Vivendi SE, removing for now the prospect of a mandatory buyout of the media group by Bolloré. Vivendi shares were down 10% at 0900 GMT after the decision. The case returned to the appeals court after France's top civil court in November quashed an earlier ruling that had ordered a buyout analysts estimated could cost 6 billion to 9 billion euros. The dispute stems from Vivendi's 2024 break-up, which minority investor CIAM said strengthened the Bolloré family's grip on the group even though Bolloré SE held 29.9%, just below France's 30% mandatory bid threshold.