PARIBAS AFFAIRES INDUSTRIELLES (French group BNP PARIBAS) has forced VU - VIVENDI UNIVERSAL to buy, following the exercise of a sales option, its 16% stake in France's UGC, Europe's foremost cinema operator (516 million euro turnover in 2001 with 92 halls in 6 countries), for close to 50 million euro, valuing UGC at over 300 million euro. VIVENDI thus becomes IGC's main stakeholder, with 55.3% of the capital. The Verrachia family, historical shareholder that holds the remainder of the...