NBC has at last started exclusive talks with Vivendi Universal. The merger would create a new US media venture valued at more than $40 billion. . The name of the new company is expected to be NBC Universal.
Vivendi chose NBC after the two companies agreed a preliminary deal to fold Vivendi’s US film, television and theme park businesses into a new company which would be controlled by NBC owners, General Electric.
Under the NBC proposal, Vivendi would receive $3.8 billion in cash on completion and retain a 20 per cent holding in the enlarged group. The deal could be signed by the end of the month.