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Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square is selling its remaining stake in Universal Music Group (UMG) after the music giant’s board rejected a takeover proposal earlier this year.
Pershing is marketing roughly 80.6 million UMG shares in an overnight placing, with Bank of America offering a range of €17.66 to €18.62 per share — a sale that could raise about €1.5 billion at the top end.
The move follows UMG’s unanimous conclusion that Pershing’s April non-binding bid, which valued the company at roughly €55.8–€56 billion, “fundamentally and materially undervalues” the business.
Ackman first built a multi‑billion dollar UMG position beginning in 2021, briefly served on the company’s board and has previously sold tranches of stock; he had also pushed to move UMG’s primary listing to the U.S. The sale marks the latest chapter in a multi‑year activist campaign and comes after major shareholder Bolloré publicly urged the board to reject Pershing’s offer.
UMG shares saw modest downward pressure in reaction to the news in European trading.
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The Hollywood ReporterBill Ackman to Sell Remaining Universal Music Stock After Failed Acquisition Bid






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