Man Without Qualities


Thursday, July 04, 2002


Never Give a Sucker an Even Break! VI

The New York Times reports today that:

In an interview published Thursday in the weekly Le Point but conducted June 5, the boyish-looking former chairman [of Vivendi, Jean-Marie Messier] said Charles Bronfman, uncle of Vivendi board member Edgar Bronfman Jr., used ``bootlegger methods'' to take revenge. ``His dream is to replace me by an American and regain control of the group.''

Which is interesting, since Mr. Messier seems to express his beliefs that the Bronfmans:

(1) had the power to "take revenge" on him, where they now own only 5.2% of Vivendi (they have sold some of their stake),

(2) want an American to run Vivendi, where Mr. Messier seems to be using the term "American" in its broadest sense, to include Canadians; and

(3) want to "regain" control of the Vivendi group, where the Bronfmans never controlled Vivendi.

Perhaps this example of Mr. Messier's thought processes gives some indication as to why his strategic plans went so awry.

Jean-René Fourtou, the newly appointed Vivendi interim chairman and chief executive, is not an American and his appointment does not seem to reflect the desires of the Bronfman family or any shift toward their control of the group. So an investor might wonder whether there is more "revenge" in store.

Mr. Messier's crack about the Bronfmans and "bootleggers" is interesting. It is true that the Bronfman fortune got a big boost selling liquor during prohibition. But the family is Canadian, and liquor was not illegal in Canada during prohibition. So I'm not really sure if it's right to suggest that the Bronfman family were bootleggers or that Charles Bronfman retains bootlegger characteristics.

But, since Mr. Messier brings it up, Charles may want at least to consider having Edgar Bronfman, Jr.'s legs broken - just for getting the family into this mess and, of course, for old times sake. I would.

The Times also reports that:

The appointment of Jean-Rene Fourtou as chairman prompted an optimistic initial reaction of the Paris exchange: Vivendi shares opened 15 percent higher. But they slipped back as investors realized how much work needs to be done to turn the company around, and closed 5.5 percent higher.

Dow Jones reports that the Vivendi share price uptick was attributed to sign that Vivendi's banks would extend additional credit, notwithstanding the internal chaos of their borrower. The appointment of some French bank officers to the Vivendi board was seen as good news: "Although the directors are appointed in an independent capacity, bankers in Paris said their presence on the board should 'help grease the wheels' between the troubled media group and its creditors."

Of course, in the United States such appointments might be thought to create a horrifying conflict of interest for these directors who, after all, are apparently going to be greasing the wheels with government-insured bank funds. And bank shareholders might be forgiven a certain queasiness at the prospect that these bank officers have been given Vivendi board appointment with the express intent to "help grease the wheels" between the troubled media group and the bank to which the directors supposedly owe a fiduciary responsibility.

And then there is the interesting report that the banks' support comes with analysts' expectations that "bankers are now likely to give credit on condition of asset sales." Apparently political considerations will prohibit substantial sales of Vivendi's French assets, including Vivendi's loss-making pay-TV unit Canal Plus. Although some people have suggested that part or all of Canal Plus could be sold, its chief executive, Xavier Couture, said in an interview published Thursday that ``whatever happens, the Canal Plus group is there to stay as an entity.'' Further, it's hard to see how Canal Plus can be sold because it pays half the funding for movies made in France. So it seems that for "cultural considerations" Vivendi is going to have to sell off its best performing (American) assets, and retain the dud French assets - all the while absorbing more credit from French banks.

Maybe that shareholder queasiness and those 'cultural considerations" help to explain why Dow Jones is also reporting that "Despite the assurances, shares in Societe Generale and BNP Paribas SA - Vivendi's two largest lenders - have dropped sharply this week."

Yes, indeed. As well they might. The Wall Street Journal says that "[b]ased on a detailed liquidity statement Vivendi released late Wednesday, credit analysts estimate that Vivendi could face a cash shortfall of €2.7 billion ($2.65 billion) by the end of the year, expanding to as much as €5.5 billion by the middle of 2003, unless it can quickly secure a new multibillion-euro credit line from its lenders." And the banks are now expected to provide those funds.

And if the Bronfmans and Mr. Diller can patch up their differences and wait out the lunatics in Paris, maybe the Canadians and Americans will have a good shot at picking up the American assets at a bargain, firesale price after all - with French taxpayers paying the difference.

Got to love those European “cultural considerations.”






Comments:
Perhaps your loved one has tons of t-shirts with their favorite team logo, or perhaps they collect hats and have 10 hats with the logo on it in different stylesAnother advantage of cutting your to a bout is that you angle out as a alarm for added supporters of your team,Cubs Jerseys Some of them are really hard to compliment A former quarterback recently revealed his struggles with having to deal with the effects of the numerous concussions he suffered during his career as a player In 2006, Reed recorded 60 tackles and five interceptions and was voted to his third Pro Bowl Here are some names Waddell should inquire at the trade deadline to help his club: Chris Phillips, Shane Doan, Ray Whitney, Shawn Horcoff or Mike FischerYour preparation material is realy nice for 3COM CIPTS exam,have a lots of valuable thing

[url=http://www.officialnikenflshop.com/reggie_wayne_jersey-c-914_1092_1095.html]Reggie Wayne Jersey women[/url]
[url=http://www.officialnikenflshop.com/ryan_mathews_jersey-c-914_1308_1313.html]Ryan Mathews Jersey women[/url]
[url=http://www.officialnikenflshop.com/eli_manning_jersey-c-914_1199_1205.html]Eli Manning Jersey women[/url]

 
tramadol online cod tramadol 10 100 mg - tramadol overdose quantity
 
buy tramadol next day tramadol 50 mg tab - tramadol 50 mg 377
 
lorazepam no prescription apo-lorazepam tab 1mg - ativan trip
 
buy tramadol with mastercard tramadol 50 mg dogs side effects - tramadol no prescription free shipping
 
buy tramadol cod buy tramadol rx - buy tramadol hcl
 
discount ativan lorazepam 1mg how to take - ativan side effects overdose
 
tramadol online where to buy tramadol forum - purchase tramadol online no prescription
 
buy tramadol online tramadol dosage dogs 50mg - buy tramadol online cod only
 
tramadol 50 mg buy 100mg tramadol online - order tramadol health solutions network
 
order tramadol buy tramadol 50mg online - tramadol hcl vicodin
 
buy tramadol online no prescription cod order tramadol usa - take tramadol 50 mg get high
 
tramadol online tramadol 58 93 dosage - tramadol withdrawal what to do
 
buy klonopin online best place buy klonopin online - klonopin for anxiety panic
 
ativan online buy ativan online no prescription needed - ativan side effects withdrawal symptoms
 
order klonopin side effects from klonopin overdose - prozac klonopin side effects
 
where to buy tramadol online zydol tramadol dosage - cheap tramadol online cod
 
tramadol online legal purchase tramadol online - tramadol листовка
 
buy tramadol tramadol hcl taken with tylenol - tramadol dosage high
 
order ambien online ambien online with prescription - ambien sleeping pills buy usa
 
soma online cost of generic soma - soma 350 mg drug interactions
 
tramadol online order tramadol online international - tramadol jaundice
 
buy tramadol cod fedex order ultram online no prescription - tramadol normal dose
 
ambien for sale online true ambien stories - ambien side effects death
 
ambien online no prescription ambien sleep behavior - discount ambien online
 
somas online how to buy soma online - soma pills wikipedia
 
tramadol online ultram online no prescription - tramadol tablets
 
buy tramadol tramadol 50mg tablets info - tramadol high yahoo
 
buy tramadol online tramadol-online.biz - buy tramadol online cod
 
order ambien sleep aids like ambien - can you really buy ambien online
 
soma pharmacy soma san diego line up - buy soma without rx
 
carisoprodol no prescription soma ku - buy soma online no prescription mastercard
 
tramadol no rx buy tramadol online from usa - tramadol for dogs different than for humans
 
buy tramadol cheap no prescription tramadol for cheap to buy - tramadol online pharmacy overnight
 
soma online soma 350 mg erowid - soma 5513 dan
 
cheap ambien no prescription ambien cr vs temazepam - negative side effects ambien cr
 
ambien sleep ambien 10mg trip - drug interactions ambien trazadone
 
tramadol online tramadol online florida delivery - buy tramadol rx online
 
ambien no rx ambien side effects in men - can you overdose on 2 ambien
 
generic ambien ambien cr snort - ambien side effects alcohol
 
order viagra for women is it safe to buy viagra online yahoo answers - can you order viagra online in canada
 
order viagra for women viagra new zealand buy online - generic viagra online+overnight shipping
 
buy discount tramadol buy tramadol no prescription free shipping - tramadol high dosage
 
order viagra online buy viagra online in south africa - illegal buy viagra online usa
 
generic ambien ambien side effects joint pain - buy ambien online overnight delivery
 
tramadol online tramadol online overnight mastercard - buy tramadol online forum
 
buy klonopin online will 2mg klonopin do - klonopin side effects depression
 
ambien zolpidem ambien cr sales 2009 - zolpidem tartrate same ambien
 
generic viagra buy online prescription viagra without - cheap generic viagra online review
 
tramadol online tramadol high doses - generic ultram online
 
buy ambien online generic ambien no prescription online - ambien side effects rash
 
viagra drug viagra 800 - viagra knock offs
 
soma pharmacy buy cheap soma online no prescription - buy soma online mastercard
 
sildenafil no prescription cheap generic viagra pills online - buy viagra line uk
 
buy tramadol no prescription tramadol dosage humans weight - buy tramadol free shipping
 
soma generic buy soma online no prescription overnight - muscle relaxer comparable soma
 
buy viagra locally viagra online tesco - cheapest viagra online pharmacy
 
order viagra online without script viagra dosage older men - buy viagra online genuine
 
buy soma online generic soma usa - generic soma 2410 v
 
cialis for sale cialis tadalafil reviews - cialis online reputable
 
buy viagra using paypal buy viagra online from canada - viagra online lloyds
 
buy tramadol online tramadol apap high - purchase cheap tramadol online
 
viagra online viagra dosage india - viagra online overnight shipping
 
buy viagra no prescription viagra for women dose - viagra online reviews
 
buy viagra online viagra online rpsgb - purchase viagra online
 
where to order viagra buy viagra online from canadian pharmacy - cheap viagra super force
 
viagra no prescription overnight delivery viagra dosage for pulmonary hypertension - buy viagra online genuine
 
buy cialis 20mg buy cialis montreal - cialis daily women
 
order tramadol online legal purchase tramadol online - can take 100mg tramadol once
 
buy generic tramadol online tramadol hcl gout - tramadol withdrawal long does last
 
buy viagra los angeles illegal to order viagra online - generic viagra available in us
 
cialis 10mg cialis online rx - buy cialis online nz
 
cheap tramadol tramadol online cheap no prescription - buy tramadol in usa no prescription
 
buy viagra now buy viagra online boots - viagra online purchase australia
 
buy viagra 100mg how to buy viagra no prescription - order viagra
 
tramadol online tramadol hcl 50 mg narcotic - dosage of tramadol 50mg
 
buy tramadol overnight cod tramadol 50 mg much - tramadol buy usa
 
buy generic cialis cialis цени - generic cialis goedkoop
 
buy viagra super active generic viagra canada - viagra youtube channel
 
buy finasteride online propecia side effects abc news - much generic propecia
 
buy tramadol online buy tramadol ampules - tramadol hcl effects
 
buy propecia online propecia cost australia - propecia finasteride reviews
 
propecia price propecia side effects list - propecia tablets cost in india
 
order tramadol no prescription buy tramadol online co.usa - tramadol withdrawal hell
 
how to order viagra online safely viagra me buy online - viagra time
 
tramadol online veterinary tramadol overdose - buy tramadol online saturday delivery
 
retin-a online pharmacy retin a micro anti aging - retin a products for stretch marks
 
tramadol 100 buy tramadol 50 mg online - tramadol hcl er 100mg
 
buy tramadol overnight cod tramadol addiction in egypt - tramadol hcl 50 mg street value
 
order tramadol tramadol for dogs expiration date - tramadol for dogs after surgery
 
retin a online retin a buy online - retin a micro - how much does it cost
 
buy retin-a online retin a wrinkles under eye - where to buy retin a online no prescription
 
buy tramadol online no prescription tramadol dosage neuropathic pain - buy tramadol online europe
 
discount retin-a retin a cream for eye wrinkles - retin-a micro gel benefits
 
generic tramadol online tramadol 50 mg biogaran - tramadol 50 mg rx list
 
buy tramadol online tramadol 50mg vs lortab 10mg - tramadol for dogs onset of action
 
buy propecia online propecia cost at target - propecia results 4 months
 
buy tramadol buy tramadol eu - cheap tramadol online
 
buy generic tramadol online what is tramadol a generic for - tramadol hcl 50 high
 
propecia online pharmacy cheapest propecia online uk - propecia side effects breast
 
tramadol 100mg tramadol dosage restless leg syndrome - buy tramadol online with a cod
 
buy retin-a online retin a cream walmart - para que sirve retin a gel 0.01
 
buy tramadol hcl buy tramadol online no prescription overnight - buy 300 mg tramadol
 
propecia pills the best generic propecia - propecia cost australia
 
buy tramadol online buy tramadol us pharmacy - tramadol online next day delivery
 
tramadol 50 mg tramadol 200 mg extended release - tramadol dosage premature ejaculation
 
buy retin-a retin-a for stretch marks - retin a gel initial breakout
 
buy tramadol online without a prescription tramadol hcl 25 mg - buy tramadol no rx
 
tramadol 50mg tramadol hcl doses - tramadol mg get high
 
buy tramadol tramadol hcl-acetaminophen zen - order tramadol online overnight
 
discount propecia generic propecia buy - propecia side effects dizziness
 
buy tramadol no prescription overnight tramadol 50 mg addictive - order tramadol online with mastercard
 
tramadol 100mg tramadol ingredients side effects - tramadol hcl 50 mg webmd
 
buy tramadol buy tramadol with cod delivery - tramadol online reliable
 
cialis online no prescription cialis price walgreens - сиалис состав
 
buy tramadol tramadol 50mg no prescription - tramadol hcl ld50
 
cheap viagra cheap viagra us - buy viagra online reviews
 
tadalafil no prescription http://www.cialis-online-shop.com - cialis online sale
 
buy tramadol buy tramadol using mastercard - tramadol 93 58 dosage
 
buy tramadol tramadol nausea - buy tramadol in arkansas
 
viagra online without prescription viagra before and after - levitra vs viagra dosage
 
buy cialis buy cialis online australia - cialis daily strength
 
buy tramadol tramadol dosage effects - tramadol hcl tab 200mg
 
cialis 20mg low dose cialis online - циалис начин на употреба
 
buy tramadol tramadol dosage large dogs - how many tramadol 50mg can you take
 
buy generic viagra viagra for women cosmo - viagra no prescription us
 
generic cialis online where to buy cialis online - buy cialis online free shipping
 
viagra online without prescription buy viagra generic - buy viagra online nz
 
tadalafil 20mg buy cialis pills - cialis online lloyds pharmacy
 
generic viagra where is the cheapest place to buy generic viagra - viagra dosage proper
 
order viagra is generic viagra effective and safe - viagra 500mg
 
generic cialis buy cialis online yahoo - cialis daily better
 
cialis 10mg cheap cialis uk - cialis online 5mg
 
buy cialis without doctor prescription order cialis over internet - generic cialis online overnight
 
buy cialis safe place order cialis online - cialis online without
 
cheap viagra buy viagra alternative - viagra keeps flowers from wilting
 
generic cialis cialis online scams - genuine cialis price
 
buy cheap cialis cialis online singapore - buy cialis with paypal
 
generic cialis buy generic cialis online australia - cialis quit working
 
generic cialis where to buy cialis online yahoo answers - cialis daily use dosage
 
buy cialis buy cialis online cheap - levitra versus cialis reviews
 
buy cialis online cheap cialis online legitimate - generic cialis dangers
 
viagra cost viagra online reliable - safe website buy generic viagra
 
order soma will soma 350 mg get you high - soma quote from brave new world
 
buy cialis cialis online apotheke - cialis 20mg online
 
viagra online how to purchase viagra in us - where to buy generic viagra forum
 
viagra online generic viagra evaluation - viagra knock offs
 
buy cialis online cialis soft tabs online - cialis daily coupon
 
viagra online can you buy viagra boots - is it legal to buy generic viagra online
 
generic soma soma yoga pants - soma to buy online
 
soma without prescription soma 008 - soma pills street value
 
soma medication long do soma pills last - buy genotropin (somatropin)
 
buy soma generic soma imprints - generic soma pill identifier
 
purchase soma buy soma with mastercard - legitimate online soma
 
buy soma online soma stores - soma drug group
 
buy soma soma austin - order soma watson
 
buy soma soma san diego venue info - buy soma online with cod
 
soma medication soma buy overnight - buy soma online overnight delivery
 
soma online address for soma san diego - ver argento soma online
 
buy soma soma kamisori saddle - radio-online soma fm
 
order soma soma san diego scott raynor - soma x agni
 
buy soma somatropin brand generic - soma drug while pregnant
 
buy retin a retin a wrinkles 2012 - retin a .1 instructions
 
tramadol generic how much tramadol dosage - tramadol hcl long term use
 
retin a cream retin a gel malaysia - retin a creme micro
 
buy tramadol online buy tramadol us pharmacy - 100mg tramadol lot
 
cheap tramadol tramadol hcl constipation - tramadol dosage vicodin
 
buy tramadol buy tramadol hydrochloride online uk - buy tramadol online us pharmacy
 
retin a online pharmacy retin-a micro what does it do - retin a 0.01 gel para que sirve
 
buy tramadol india legal purchase ultram online - purchase tramadol no prescription
 
tramadol overnight shipping buy tramadol cod - buy tramadol legit
 
buy cialis online where to buy cialis no prescription - buy cialis 20mg
 
buy retin buy retin a for cheap - retin a micro made acne worse
 
cheap tramadol tramadol 319 high - buy tramadol at walmart
 
buy retin a retin a micro .1 reviews - retin a no prescription
 
buy tramadol get tramadol online no prescription - buy tramadol online in uk
 
buy tramadol online mastercard overnight tramadol order online no prescription - generic brand tramadol
 
cheap tramadol купить tramadol online - order tramadol
 
buy tramadol tramadol hcl breastfeeding - tramadol legal status
 
buy tramadol medication tramadol hcl 100 mg tablets - tramadol dosage and effects
 
generic tramadol online tramadol hcl 50mg reviews - tramadol 50 mg tablets dosage
 
cheap tramadol zydol 50mg tramadol hydrochloride - tramadol dosage neuropathic pain
 
cheap tramadol buy generic tramadol online - is it illegal to order ultram online
 
order xanax no prescription xanax side effects 0.5 mg - xanax side effects mayo clinic
 
xanax online prescription xanax side effects dogs - xanax side effects loss of appetite
 
tramadol online tramadol 50mg dosage for humans - tramadol hydrochloride 50 mg get high
 
tramadol online tramadol 50 mg effervescent tablets - ultram vs tramadol
 
buy tramadol tramadol lethal dose - buy tramadol order cheap tramadol online
 
order cialis cialis free coupon - cialis online deutschland
 
http://buytramadolonlinecool.com/#73892 tramadol high dosage - tramadol side effects high
 
buy klonopin online non generic klonopin - klonopin side effects mood swings
 
http://landvoicelearning.com/#63987 tramadol overdose limit - buy tramadol online with mastercard
 
buy klonopin online generic klonopin online - hydrocodone klonopin erowid
 
http://landvoicelearning.com/#63987 tramadol hcl nausea - buy tramadol online overnight shipping
 
http://southcarolinaaccidentattorney.com/#50476 soma carisoprodol addiction - soma carisoprodol recreational
 
carisoprodol 350 mg carisoprodol sub for soma - carisoprodol buzz
 
Post a Comment

Home