Vivendi Universal places 1.2 billion euros in high yield notes.

(From Agence France Presse)

The heavily-indebted French media and communications group Vivendi Universal said it had successfully placed 1.2 billion euros in (1.29 billion dollars) in high yield notes despite the tough market conditions.

"As the issue was oversubscribed more than six times, the company increased the total amount to 1.2 billion euros," Vivendi Universal said in a statement.

The issue was originally set at 1.0 billion euros.

Of the notes placed, 935 million was …