Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Tontine Holdings (PSTH) has divested its holding in Universal Music Group (UMG), bringing an end to a complex deal that saw its initial structure rejected by regulators. The special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) had originally sought to acquire a 10% stake in the music powerhouse, a transaction that would have seen UMG become the target of PSTH's acquisition.
The initial agreement, valued at approximately $4 billion, faced significant resistance from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Regulators raised concerns over the structure of the deal, which proposed that PSTH would purchase a minority stake in UMG rather than a controlling interest, departing from the typical SPAC model of acquiring entire companies. This regulatory scrutiny ultimately led to the original transaction being abandoned.
Following the rejection, PSTH instead directly acquired 2.9% of UMG shares from Vivendi, Universal Music's parent company, for $1.5 billion. This was a temporary holding, with the intention for PSTH to distribute these shares to its own investors once UMG was listed. However, Pershing Square has now confirmed the sale of this entire stake. The proceeds from this sale, along with other cash reserves, will be returned to PSTH shareholders.
The move clears the path for UMG's independent listing on Euronext Amsterdam, which is anticipated later this month. Vivendi, the French media conglomerate, is spinning off 60% of Universal Music Group, valuing the company at an estimated 33 billion euros (approximately £28 billion). The listing is expected to be one of Europe's largest this year, and Ackman's initial interest had drawn considerable attention to the valuation and prospects of the music industry giant.
For PSTH shareholders, the outcome means they will receive a cash distribution, effectively unwinding the investment in UMG. The SPAC, which raised $4 billion in its initial public offering in July 2020, will now continue its search for another suitable acquisition target, having failed to complete a de-SPAC transaction with Universal Music Group.