Paris -- French media conglomerate Vivendi Universal announced on Monday that it expects to report a 20% increase in underlying operating profits this year. Thanks largely to an ambitious restructuring program, Vivendi was able to report sharply reduced losses for the first half of 2003. Furthermore, the company said that a resumption of dividend payments in 2005 looks increasingly likely. The company has not paid dividends since it fired former CEO Jean-Marie Messier last year.
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