Bill Ackman's Pershing Square is arranging the sale of its stake in Universal Music Group NV, days after the Amsterdam-listed music company declined a takeover proposal from the hedge fund founder, according to a report.
The fund intends to place about 80.6 million shares in an overnight offering. Bank of America Corp. is marketing the blocks with an indicated price band of €17.66 to €18.62 per share. If shares are sold at the upper bound of that range, the transaction would produce roughly €1.5 billion in proceeds.
Ackman's earlier approach had proposed acquiring the music company at a valuation of about €56 billion. Universal Music Group turned down that bid last week, saying the offer "fundamentally and materially undervalues UMG and will not deliver superior value creation."
Details
- Seller: Pershing Square, the investment vehicle associated with Bill Ackman.
- Target: Universal Music Group NV, listed in Amsterdam.
- Offer mechanics: an overnight placement of approximately 80.6 million shares.
- Price range: €17.66 to €18.62 per share, as being offered by Bank of America Corp.
- Potential proceeds: around €1.5 billion if the placement clears at the top of the indicated range.
- Previous bid valuation: Ackman had proposed a takeover valuing the company at about €56 billion; UMG rejected that offer.
Context and market note
The sale is taking place shortly after UMG's stated rejection of the takeover bid on the grounds that the proposal undervalued the company and would not create superior value, per the company's comment. The placement is being arranged by Bank of America Corp., which is presenting the indicated price range to potential buyers in an overnight offering.
As reported, the sequence of events is: an acquisition proposal from Ackman valuing UMG at roughly €56 billion; UMG's rejection last week; and Pershing Square's decision to move forward with a share placement of approximately 80.6 million shares at the stated price range.