European Sex Capital

At the end of June, a piece of news suddenly sent shockwaves through Hollywood: the French water group Vivendi acquired the canadian media giant Seagram Company for 30.4 billion US dollars;

Vivendi instantly became an international media tycoon with the MGM Film Group and PolyGram Music Group under its wing.

In an interview with France's Les Echos, Vivendi CEO and President Jean-Marie Messier outlined his strategic vision: "The twenty-first century is the age of telecommunications. Vivendi should own cultural products such as films, television, and music, which must be spread around the world through telecommunications and the internet!"

At the Hôtel George V in Paris, Aaron had been invited to a business cocktail reception hosted by Vivendi.

Aaron held Christiana Yeri in his arms. "Their ambitions really aren't small. It looks like acquiring Seagram Company is only the beginning of an international acquisition spree."

"North America is the main market. Jean-Marie Messier will definitely make more moves next!"

Christiana Yeri said softly, "How has Hollywood reacted?"

Aaron smiled. "Not too badly. Seagram Company was at the bottom of the Big Seven, and it had no broadcast television, cable television, or satellite television assets."

"MGM's performance over the past few years has been average too. The only thing worth mentioning is PolyGram Music Group."

The Bronfman family had plunged headfirst into the media industry, only to end up in a miserable state—even Seagram's brewing business was gone;

Vivendi had built its fortune on water services and energy, only entering the media industry in 1998. Naturally, Aaron was looking forward to seeing how it would end!

Christiana Yeri reminded him, "Vivendi is also preparing to merge its Pathé Cinemas and Gaumont's theater resources, turning them into a major European cinema chain."

Odeon Cinemas, in which Dawn Universal held a 40% stake, was