France's Vivendi, currently awaiting approval from the European Commission (EC) for its proposed merger with Seagram, has reported a 67% rise in first-half profit to Euros1.4bn on turnover up 16% to Euros19.4bn. The growth came mostly from Vivendi's SFR mobile phones unit.

Meanwhile Vivendi has given the EC "voluntary undertakings" over non-exclusivity in film and music rights, but has not proposed any asset sales, according to French daily La Tribune. Vivendi chairman Jean-Marie Messier said he expected to be given the greenlight for the merger by mid-November.