![]() UMG, meanwhile, is not just counting on its music to thrive as it goes public.Ī prospectus for the IPO said UMG's three main operating businesses are recorded music, music publishing and advertising, but that it is also expanding into areas such as live events, livestreaming, film, television and podcasts. Tuesday's operation involved Vivendi distributing 60 percent of UMG shares to its shareholders-including to Bollore himself-while the French company kept 10 percent and maintained a joint-management agreement with Tencent. It secured agreement from its investors for a massive buyback of up to half its shares following the UMG flotation to build up reserves against any hostile takeover bids triggered by the fall in its share price. Vivendi is keeping a chunk of UMG, but has already sold off a 20 percent stake to Chinese tech firm Tencent and 10 percent to US financier Bill Ackman.Īware that shedding its number one asset might be a risky move, Vivendi has taken steps-described as "quite extraordinary" by one activist shareholder-to protect its own share price. UMG has been a cash cow for Vivendi's media empire, with a turnover of 7.4 billion euros last year, accounting for 46 percent of the parent company's revenue. ![]() Universal Music, like its rivals Warner and Sony, was once threatened by music piracy but profits have soared in the age of streaming.Īnalysts say the industry has been undervalued, with JPMorgan Cazenove estimating that UMG's true worth could go as high as $64 billion, according to Music Business Weekly. Vivendi is owned by French billionaire Vincent Bollore, who has positioned himself as a powerful right-wing media baron in recent years and is looking to focus more on TV, advertising and publishing. With Vivendi shedding a majority stake in its crown jewel, its own shares sank by more than 15 percent on the Paris CAC 40 stock exchange. UMG is based in California but has been owned by French media conglomerate Vivendi. Trade magazine Music Business Weekly said it had been "expecting an impressive opening for UMG on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange today -– but even we weren't expecting this." Those investments have paid off with its new valuation eclipsing the $39 billion set the night before its listing on the Euronext Amsterdam index. Last year, it bought Bob Dylan's entire song catalogue for $300 million, one of the biggest acquisitions in music history. Universal Music Group (UMG) has a roster of four million titles and includes dozens of labels from Def Jam (Kanye West,Rihanna) to EMI Records (Justin Bieber, Metallica) to Capitol Records (Queen, Katy Perry). ![]() With shares up by more than a third at the close of their first day, the US-based music giant found itself valued at €45.5 billion ($53.3 billion). ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |