Culligan Still Leading Choice for Water Treatment Needs.

Business Editors

NORTHBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 2001

Consumer research confirms that Culligan International Company continues to maintain its leadership position in all water treatment categories - softeners, whole-house filtration systems, drinking water systems, and bottled water. According to consumers, the Culligan brand is the one they are most proud to own, and the one they purchase the most. The extensive research study focused on the consumer buying process of recent purchasers and of prospects, providing insight into motivations, brand preferences, benefit ranking, and the overall purchase experience.

"The great thing about Culligan is that we can provide consumers with the level of information they prefer about water quality solutions," said Mike Reardon, Culligan's president and chief operating officer. "Some consumers like doing a lot of the research themselves; others want their options simplified and explained to them in layman's terms by an expert such as a Culligan dealer. Culligan can help both types - with information through our website (culligan.com(TM)) and product literature as well as the knowledge, professionalism and expertise of the Culligan Man(TM)!"

While products in the four above categories are sold through the company's nationwide dealer network, Culligan also offers products such as faucet-mount filters and countertop pitchers through select retail outlets. Consumers may research products, learn more about various water problems, and find their local Culligan Man through the company's website, culligan.com.

Culligan manufactures and distributes bottled water and water treatment products for retail, household, and commercial applications worldwide. A division of USFilter that comprises global water and wastewater treatment leader Vivendi Water, Culligan is among the most widely recognized brand names in the world, having been in business since 1936. Vivendi Water is owned by Vivendi Environment, which is the largest environmental services company in the world with annual revenues of more than $23 billion. For more information, Culligan invites you to visit its website at www.culligan.com as well as those of USFilter (www.usfilter.com) and Vivendi (www.vivendi.com).

Important Disclaimer. This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations or beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: acquisition related risks, inability to further identify, develop and achieve success for new products, services and technologies; increased competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; inability to establish and maintain relationships with commerce, advertising, marketing, technology, and content providers. Investors and security holders are urged to read Vivendi's Registration Statement on Amendment No. 1 to Form 20-F, the Vivendi Universal joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Vivendi Universal with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at the Commission's web site at www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained for free from Vivendi Universal.