JULY 22 – Universal Music Group’s (UMG) – which is the world’s largest music group and proprietor of the report labels behind mega stars Taylor Swift, Drake and Lady Gaga – has filed to promote its shares within the US.
The firm, which is already listed within the Netherlands, has a inventory market valuation there of virtually €50bn ($43.3bn; $58.5bn).
The music powerhouse’s line-up of worldwide superstars additionally contains Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande and Harry Styles.
The transfer comes as two main US share indexes – the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite – closed at recent report highs on Monday as share markets proceed to rebound after a quick droop over issues triggered by President Donald Trump’s tariff insurance policies.
UMG mentioned in its assertion that it has filed a confidential assertion with the US monetary markets regulator, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The potential public providing stays topic to evaluation by the SEC, it added.
The firm didn’t reveal the scale of the deliberate US providing or how a lot it might increase.
Confidential filings enable corporations to maintain info personal whereas partaking with regulators and assessing investor urge for food for a share sale earlier than disclosing particulars publicly.
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman’s hedge fund Pershing Square, which is among the largest shareholders of UMG, has beforehand pushed the agency to record within the US.
In January, Mr Ackman posted on X {that a} itemizing within the US would push up UMG’s worth.
“We additionally imagine the US itemizing will drastically enhance buying and selling liquidity for the shares,” he mentioned.
The world music conglomerate owns main report labels, together with Motown Records, which was residence to Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson.
It additionally owns Capitol Music Group, which counts the Beatles and Katy Perry amongst its artists.
In 2024, UMG was involved in a dispute with TikTok over royalties.
The row noticed UMG’s music being muted or faraway from the social media platform till each corporations reached an agreement in May that yr.
