Vivendi Environnement, the utilities subsidiary of Vivendi Universal, has joined the steady flow of European companies listing in the US and will start trading on the New York Stock Exchange this week.

The company has been in talks with the NYSE and Securities and Exchange Commission for months preparing the sale, but has only just received formal approval and a fixed date of October 5 for the listing. The shares will trade in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), and Vivendi Environnement will not raise any capital through the listing.