Vivendi reveals strong Q2 financials

Vivendi posted its second quarter results with its EBITA (Earnings before interest, tax and amortisation) totalling €92 million.

Blizzard Entertainment’s EBITA amounted to €197 million (excluding allocation of company overheads), while Sierra entertainment reported a negative EBITA of €80 million. The firm blamed Sierra’s negative results on increased development costs, marketing costs and accelerated expenses of prepaid advances.

Following its completion of the Activision Blizzard merger on July 9th 2008, Vivendi, which now owns 54 per cent of the shares of the newly amalgamated firm, said World of Warcraft had enjoyed sustained growth, with a subscriber base reaching over 10.9 million at the end of the first half of 2008, an addition of 1.8 million incremental subscribers than at the end of June 2007.

Jean-Bernard Lvy, Vivendi’s management board chairman, said: Vivendi’s performance during the second quarter 2008 reflects the quality and dynamism of our business units in a tighter economic environment.”