Connect with us

Global Banking and Finance Review is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website. .

Business

Vivendi’s music unit Universal posts strong results ahead of spin-off

2021 07 28T170931Z 1 LYNXMPEH6R1EB RTROPTP 4 VIVENDI AGM - Global Banking | Finance

By Mathieu Rosemain

PARIS (Reuters) -Vivendi’s most prized division Universal, the music label behind artists like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift, drove group first-half results, bolstering its position two months before its planned spin-off and listing in Amsterdam.

The transaction, carefully designed over the last two years by Vivendi’s top investor, Vincent Bollore, aims to cash in on the music industry rebound, underpinned by booming streaming revenues but also a recent surge in sales of vinyl records and CDs.

With an estimated enterprise value of 35 billion euros ($41 billion), according to Vivendi, Universal Music Group (UMG) is worth more than the market value of its own parent company.

The spin-off involves the distribution of 60% of Universal’s shares to Vivendi’s shareholders.

The deal has become high profile in the United States, as billionaire Bill Ackman plans to buy 10% in the company after he failed to do so via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).

Universal’s core profits represented about three quarters of Vivendi’s first-half earning before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA), at 753 million euros.

Vivendi’s other key subsidiaries, pay-TV Canal Plus, advertising group Havas and publishing unit Editis, also contributed to core profits, which rose by 49% from a year earlier.

Group revenues over the period were up by 12% to 8.22 billion euros.

While benefiting Vivendi’s shareholders in the short term, the separation of Universal would strip the group of its most valuable asset, which represents 75% of the group’s total valuation, according to broker Bryan Garnier.

During the call, several analysts pressed Vivendi’s management about what the company could do to support the stock’s price following Universal’s spin-off.

Chief Financial Officer Hervé Philippe said that a shares buyback programme was “absolutely a possibility”.

Analysts also asked about the mounting challenge faced by Canal Plus after e-commerce giant Amazon recently seized most of France’s broadcasting rights for the Ligue 1 soccer matches.

The move could be a game changer for the French TV market, biting Canal Plus’ market share in what used to be its main turf.

“We’ve got a problem,” Vivendi’s chief executive Arnaud de Puyfontaine said, insisting that the price the pay-TV was paying for the remaining matches it could broadcast was too high compared to what Amazon would pay.

Several legal procedures were under way, he said.

Universal’s market debut and spin-off are scheduled for Sept. 21, Vivendi confirmed. Universal will hold a capital markets day of briefings for analysts and investors on Aug. 25, it said.

(Reporting by Mathieu RosemainEditing by David Evans, David Holmes and Nick Macfie)

Global Banking & Finance Review

 

Why waste money on news and opinions when you can access them for free?

Take advantage of our newsletter subscription and stay informed on the go!


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Global Banking & Finance Review │ Banking │ Finance │ Technology. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Recent Post