Pershing Square Acquires 7.1% of Universal Music
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Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE AUGUST 10, 2021 Page 1 of 21 INSIDE Pershing Square Acquires • iHeartMedia Stock Drops 21%, Even as 7.1% of Universal Music Group at Radio Recovers • Tunji Balogun Possible Bargain Valuation Named Def Jam CEO BY GLENN PEOPLES • Walter Yetnikoff, Former CBS Records President and Pershing Square Holdings fulfilled its plans on Tues- UMG’s latest earnings help explain Ackman’s af- Industry Titan, day (Aug. 10) to acquire a stake in Universal Music fection for the company: Revenues increased 19.6% Dies at 87 Group ahead of Vivendi’s spin off on Sept. 21. The year over year to 1.65 billion euros ($2.4 billion) and • Bonnaroo & high-profile hedge fund led byBill Ackman paid recorded music streaming revenue, the engine of the Summerfest Are about $21.78 per share and $2.8 billion in total for 7.1% company’s long-term growth, rose 23.8% to 1.12 billion Requiring COVID-19 of UMG’s equity. The deal values UMG at 33 billion euros ($1.35 billion). Vaccines or euros ($38.7 billion) equity value, putting the enter- “There’s no business I have more confidence in the Negative Tests prise value at roughly 35 billion euros ($45.7 billion) long-term trajectory of than this company — or the • Hollywood to 37 billion Euros ($43.4 billion). PSH and its affili- music industry in general,” Ackman told Billboard in Park Opens New ates have the right to acquire another 2.9% of UMG’s July. “Piracy almost killed this business and streaming 6,000-Capacity ordinary shares by Sept. 9. has made it better than it was with CDs and records in YouTube Theater Tuesday’s announcement came three weeks the ‘90s.” • R. Kelly Trial Begins after Pershing Square’s special purpose acquisition Ackman could be getting a bargain as UMG’s equity With Jury Selection: company (SPAC), Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, is arguably worth far more than 33 billion euros, ac- On the Scene at dropped its plans to buy a 10% stake in UMG in a cording to a dozen analysts who cover Vivendi. Taking NYC Courthouse complicated deal at a 35 billion euros ($41 billion) into account UMG’s net debt, the 33 billion euros • San Diego valuation. After PSTH investors lost interest, driving equity value puts UMG’s enterprise value at about 35 Symphony’s down the share price, and the Securities and Ex- billion euros. With UMG’s stakes in Spotify, Tencent Year-Round Venue, change Commission objected, according to Ackman, and Vevo, as valued by analysts, the enterprise value The Rady Shell, Hosts PSTH changed course. As an alternative, Ackman said climbs to roughly 37 billion euros. The 12 reports ex- Gladys Knight on Opening Weekend the PSH hedge fund would step in and buy between amined by Billboard have an average valuation of 40.2 5% and 10% of UMG’s ordinary shares. (continued) TOTAL IMMERSION ESSENTIAL ANALYSIS of the latest business topics and trends formulated to give industry players the competitive advantage in a rapidly changing market. EXCLUSIVE QUARTERLY REPORTS that deliver in-depth, holistic reporting; case studies; and custom data designed to serve the industry. A DEEP DIVE LIBRARY stocked with intelligence on fan data, SUBSCRIBE TO BILLBOARD PRO FOR song catalog sales, TV synchs, Africa’s burgeoning music ACCESS TO NEW REPORTS business and the gaming industry’s embrace of artists. AND THE ARCHIVE Page 3 of 21 IN BRIEF billion euros. UMG could be worth far more: expected by analysts polled by FactSet, ac- In a July 29 report following UMG’s strong iHeartMedia cording to DowJones Newswire, and second-quarter earnings, J.P. Morgan ana- investors were clearly hesitant about the lysts predicted that its $62 million valuation Stock Drops company’s future. — the highest of the dozen analyst valua- iHeartMedia shares began Friday at tions — “will ultimately prove conservative.” 21%, Even as $26.49 — 415% above its pandemic-era low To take advantage of a hot music industry of $4.31 — but fell by 17% on the day and and revived investor interest, Vivendi will Radio Recovers another 4.9% on Monday (Aug. 9), bringing spin off 60% of UMG through a listing on the two-day drop to 21.1%. the Euronext Amsterdam exchange on Sept. BY GLENN PEOPLES Investors have also continued to ham- 21. A Tencent-led consortium acquired 20% mer Audacy, the country’s third-largest of UMG’s ordinary shares bought at a 30 bil- HeartMedia’s share price fell more radio company, after its $0.01 earnings per lion euros valuation established in Decem- than 21% following the company’s share on Friday fell well below the $0.09 ber 2019. Vivendi will retain 10% of UMG’s second quarter 2021 earnings report consensus estimate. Audacy’s forecasted ordinary shares. on Friday, capping a week of mostly 10% revenue growth from the second to the PSH’s original plan was to use $4 billion Ipositive earnings-related news for the third quarter was lackluster compared to of the SPAC’s $5.4 billion to purchase a 10% recovering broadcast radio business. Still iHeart (20%), and investors reacted accord- stake in UMG. The remaining money would investors appear cautious about the sector’s ingly. Audacy shares dropped 10.9% to $3.03 be set aside in a new, second SPAC, and future, especially as the country faces a new on Monday and the company has lost 52.3% PSTH shareholders would receive warrants wave of COVID-19 cases. of its market capitalization since Feb. 23. that entitled them to buy into a future PSH With iHeartMedia posting gains across all Radio was among the earliest business transaction. Ackman promised investors “a business segments, revenues jumped 76.7% sectors to be hit by the pandemic after a company that will survive and thrive” with from the prior-year period to $862 million quick dearth in local advertising led to double-digit growth, an independent board, for the country’s largest radio company, widespread layoffs and furloughs. Now, the a dominant market position and a leader exceeding April’s guidance of a 65% gain. pandemic stubbornly continues, but the in Lucian Grainge he compares to “iconic Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before inter- radio industry is far removed from the dark CEOs” such as Walt Disney and Steve Jobs. est, taxes, depreciation and amortization) days of 2020. The three largest radio compa- After ditching its original plan, PSH reas- improved to $185 million from a $29 million nies — iHeartMedia, Cumulus and Audacy sured its investors that UMG is a worthy loss a year earlier. Both metrics exceed the — reported buoyant earnings that show a investment. “Pershing Square intends to be expectations of Morgan Stanley analyst Ben comeback in the making. a long-term UMG shareholder,” Ackman Swinburne, who has a $23 price target for In the second quarter, iHeart’s broadcast wrote in a July 19 letter to investors, “and will the company’s stock. business — which represented 52.4% of total endeavor to work with UMG management to But iHeartMedia’s net loss per share was revenue — climbed 84.9% from the prior-year help create value for all stakeholders.” $0.22 compared to the $0.14 loss per share period and 25.8% from the previous quar- AUTHORITATIVE INTELLIGENCE. DELIVERED DIGITALLY. CLICK HERE FOR FREE DELIVERY DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS ON SALE: AUG. 28, 2021 40 UNDER 40 On August 28th, Billboard will publish its annual 40 CONTACTS : Under 40 Issue, celebrating the next generation of leaders in the music industry. This issue will profile Joe Maimone | 201.301.5933 40 power players who are making their mark in music, [email protected] touring and live entertainment. Lee Ann Photoglo | 615.376.7931 These progressive young leaders’ innovation and [email protected] creativity will continue to create excitement in the music business. Cynthia Mellow | 615.352,0265 Advertise in this issue to reach the music industry’s [email protected] most influential and affluent - from the young disrupters to the seasoned veterans - who paved Marcia Olival | 786.586.4901 the way. [email protected] ON SALE : 8/28 | +447843437176 Issue Close: 8/18 Ryan O’Donnell Materials Due: 8/19 [email protected] BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE APRIL 13, 2020 | PAGE Page 4 5OF of 19 21 ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] IN BRIEF SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country ter. AThelbu digital audioms; group, Brett which includes Y oungtightening ‘Catc their belts inh 2020.’-es iHeartMedia Fifth Airplay podcasts, grew 112.3% year over year. Podcast expects to “replicate the majority” of its Tunji Balogun revenue aloneLea improvedder; 151.9% toTravis $54.3 $200Denning million cost reductions Makes from 2020 andHistory million, although it represented only 6.2% of return to 2019 EBITDA levels by the end of Named total revenue — up from 4.3% a year earlier. this year. iHeartMedia’s six-month adjusted SamCumulus’ Hunt’s second revenue studio jumped full-length, 53.9% andto first in overEBITDA five years, was Southside $286.7 million,sales (up compared 21%) in the to tracking Def week. On Jam Country Airplay, CEO it hops 18-15 (11.9 mil- (MCA$224.7 Nashville/Universal million from $146 Music million Group in Nashville), Q2 debuts$420 at No. million 1 on Billboard in the ’sfirst lion half audience of 2019, impressions, when up 16%). Top2020. Country Adjusted Albums EBITDA chart dated improved April 18.to In$36.9 its first finishedweek (ending the Aprilyear 9), at it $1 billion. earned 46,000 equivalent album units, including 16,000 in album sales, ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITHBY CHRIS YOUNG Brett EGGERTSEN Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cordingmillion to from Nielsen a $6.4 Music/MRC million loss Data.