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                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.20

                                    CONSENT

     I, Andre Desmarais, hereby consent to being named in the Joint Proxy
Statement-Prospectus included in the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by
Vivendi Universal in connection with the Merger Agreement, dated as of June 19,
2000, among Vivendi, Canal Plus S.A., Sofiee S.A., Vivendi Universal Exchangeco
Inc. (formerly known as 3744531 Canada Inc.) and The Seagram Company Ltd.
("Seagram"), as a person who will become a director of the entity resulting from
the combination among Seagram, Vivendi and Canal Plus S.A.

                                                /s/ ANDRE DESMARAIS
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                                   Andre Desmarais

Dated October 30, 2000