Levy was widely seen as a champion of the proposed acquisition, and his headline-grabbing exit fuelled speculation that the EMI Music purchase may have been see as unpopular within Vivendi.

However, according to a leaked email from Grainge to staff, chairman of Vivendi's supervisory board, Jean-Rene Fourtou, remains "committed to Universal Music's strategic ambitions" and "fully supportive [of] and inspired by" its EMI bid.

Grainge included a statement from Fourtou that said Universal was "an integral part of Vivendi's commitment ...