The Financial Times cites people familiar with the bid process, saying that the French company has "markedly changed its approach" since the exit of Jean-Bernard Levy at the end of last month.

Fourtou is said to have wanted to show that the company is willing to make concessions to ease fears that the acquisition of EMI's recorded music arm would harm smaller labels and stifle digital music innovation.

He also wants to push Vivendi's credentials as 'a European company with ...