Pershing Square Holdings (PSH) this week confirmed that it had acquired 7.1% of Universal Music Group for $2.8bn.
PSH, which trades on the London Stock Exchange, should not be confused with Pershing Square Tontine Holdings (PSTH) – a special purpose acquisition company that is also owned by American investor and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman. In June, PSTH announced that it would acquire 10% of Universal by September and later backtracked on the deal, saying another division of its group would take over the acquisition.
PSH’s acquisition was based on a previously agreed enterprise valuation of Universal, which capped Universal’s price tag at €35bn. The firm did not commit to buying the initial 10% stake offered to PTSH. Additionally, Ackman secured the option to buy the 2.9% shortfall of the initial deal.
“PSH and its affiliates have the right to acquire up to an additional 2.9% of UMG’s ordinary shares at the same price per share by 9 September 2021, which right Pershing Square intends to exercise,” PSH said.
Universal’s parent company, Vivendi, said if Ackman decided to acquire the remaining 2.9% stake, he would buy the shares “through funds which he manages or in which he holds the majority of economic interest, based on the same valuation.”
The billionaire has until 9 September to do so and Vivendi has to sell the 2.9% before it lists on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange on September 21.
“Vivendi is very satisfied with the arrival at UMG of Mr Ackman, a major American investor, providing once again evidence of the music company’s global success and attractiveness,” the French media conglomerate said.
Not taking the 2.9% into account, Universal will be owned by Vivendi (10%), PSH (7.1%) and a consortium led by Tencent Holdings (20%) – while 60% of the music company will be traded on Euronext.
Most popular
Top Afrobeats songs of 2026
19 Mar 2026
Top amapiano songs of 2026
16 Feb 2026
Afrofest and StageVibes offer ACCES-affiliated artists performance opportunities in Toronto
06 Nov 2026
Top Naija songs of 2026
31 Mar 2026
Nigeria: Ṣẹwà named Spotify’s EQUAL Africa Artist for November
06 Nov 2026
Open call: Jägermeister 2026 Save The Night Fund
13 Nov 2026
Disclaimer: Music In Africa provides a platform for musicians and contributors to embed music and videos solely for promotional purposes. If any track or video embedded on this platform violates any copyrights please inform us immediately and we will take it down. Please read our Terms of Use for more.
Please log in to post a comment.