France, Nov. 27 -- The case being heard at France's highest appeal court on Friday concerns whether billionaire Vincent Bollore and his family exercised "de facto control" of the French media and entertainment conglomerateVivendi during its breakup in 2024.

Investment group CIAM argued that the Bollore family's influence over Vivendi exceeded its headline shareholding of 29.9 percent. Under French law, passing the 30 percent threshold triggers a mandatory buyout offer to minority shareholders.

In April 2025, a Paris Court of Appeal decided that Vivendi's own shares should be counted as effectively controlled by the Bollore family, which pushed them over the line.

The court is now tasked with deciding whether that ruling still holds.

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