Ackman's Pershing seeks to exit Universal Music Group stake, Bloomberg News reports
Pershing Square's Stake Sale and Background
June 3 (Reuters) - Bill Ackman's Pershing Square is looking to sell its stake in Universal Music Group, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, days after the music industry giant rebuffed the billionaire investor's takeover proposal.
Details of the Stake Sale
Pershing Square will sell roughly 80.6 million shares in an overnight placing, Bloomberg reported, referencing a statement on Wednesday. Bank of America is marketing the shares in a range of €17.66 ($20.48) to €18.62 apiece, the report said, citing terms seen by Bloomberg.
Universal Music did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment and Pershing declined to comment.
Background of the Takeover Proposal
Pershing's Offer for Universal Music Group
Pershing had proposed a cash-and-stock offer for Universal Music Group in April, with the deal valued at about €55.75 billion, according to Reuters calculations.
Universal Music Group's Response
However, Universal Music Group — the company behind wildly popular artists including Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar — rejected the offer last week, saying it "materially undervalued" the company and was not in the best interests of shareholders, artists or the firm.
Shareholding Structure and Key Players
Pershing Square's Position
Pershing has a 4.7% stake in Universal Music Group — or about $1.64 billion — making it the company's fourth-biggest shareholder, according to LSEG data.
Role of the Bollore Family
Ackman had said there would be no deal without the backing of the Bollore family. French billionaire Vincent Bollore owns 18.4% of UMG, making him the biggest shareholder.
Bollore Group's Influence
His holding group had urged the UMG board to reject Ackman's offer, saying it undervalued the label, relied on the company's own cash and did not align with its long-term strategy.
Previous Pursuits and Regulatory Scrutiny
Ackman had previously pursued Universal Music Group in 2021 in a deal through a shell corporation designed to take a private company public, but dropped it following U.S. regulatory scrutiny.
Pershing Square instead became a major UMG investor, and Ackman served on its board until last year.
Additional Information
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(Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
