#pershingsquarecapitalmanagement

yahoo news | Pershing Square Bids €30.40 Per Share to Acquire Universal Music Group in $9.4B ... Pershing Square Capital Management, the hedge fund run by billionaire Bill Ackman, has lodged a non‑binding offer to acquire Universal Music Group at €30.40 a share – roughly a 78 % premium to the current market price. The proposal would give UMG shareholders €5.05 in cash per share (about €9.4 billion in total) and 0.77 shares in a newly created publicly‑listed entity for every share they own, with the combined company eventually listed on the NYSE under U.S. GAAP and eligible for inclusion in the S&P 500. Ackman contends that UMG’s share price is chronically depressed, not because of weak fundamentals but due to a mix of structural and market headwinds. He points to the uncertainty surrounding the Bolloré Group’s 18 % stake, the long‑delayed U.S. listing, an under‑leveraged balance sheet, the absence of a clear capital‑allocation plan, and the market’s failure to value UMG’s €2.7 billion holding in Spotify. Despite these challenges, he praised CEO Sir Lucian Grainge and his team for delivering solid operational results while the stock lagged. The deal is expected to close before year‑end, with full equity financing backed by Pershing Square and its affiliates and debt financing locked in at signing. Approximately 17 % of UMG’s existing shares would be retired, leaving the merged entity with about 1.54 billion shares while preserving its investment‑grade credit rating. Legal and financial advisers on the transaction include Sullivan & Cromwell, White & Case, Stibbe, and Jefferies. Read more: https://econotimes.com/Pershing-Square-Bids-3040-Per-Share-to-Acquire-Universal-Music-Group-in-94B-Deal-1738302 #pershingsquarecapitalmanagement #billackman #universalmusicgroup #nyse #s&p500

Bloomberg Technology | Ackman’s Pershing Square Offers to Buy Universal Music Group by Charlotte Hughes-Morgan Pershing Square Capital Management has offered to buy Universal Music Group for €9.4 billion ($10.8 billion) in cash plus shares, according to a Bloomberg Terminal statement on Tuesday. The proposal involves a merger with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings, Ltd., an SEC-registered acquisition company, which would result in the newly combined entity becoming a Nevada corporation. The merged company would shift its primary stock listing from Amsterdam to the New York Stock Exchange, marking a significant change in Universal Music Group’s corporate structure and market presence. This move reflects Pershing Square’s strategy to consolidate and reposition high-value assets within a U.S.-listed framework. The offer underscores growing interest in major music rights holders as streaming continues to drive revenue growth in the industry. Universal Music Group, home to artists across genres and generations, represents one of the most valuable portfolios in global entertainment, making it a prime target for strategic investment. Pershing Square’s move signals confidence in the long-term value of music intellectual property in the digital era. Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-07/ackman-s-pershing-square-offers-to-buy-universal-music-group #ackman #pershingsquarecapitalmanagement #universalmusicgroup #sparcholdings #newyorkstockexchange