Universal Music Group N.V. Board of Directors Declines Unsolicited Pershing Square Proposal

UMG's Board of Directors unanimously rejected an unsolicited proposal from Pershing Square Capital Management, determining it undervalues the company and does not serve the best interests of shareholders and stakeholders. The Board reaffirmed confidence in management's strategy, highlighting UMG's strong performance since listing in 2021, including 60% revenue growth and 70% EBITDA growth, while announcing expanded buyback programs and plans to monetize half of its Spotify equity stake.

05/29/2026, 1:45 PM • Benzinga

Bill Ackman's $64 Billion Push To Take Over Universal Music Group Just Hit A Wall As Key Shareholder Says 'The Price Is Not There At All'

Bill Ackman's $64 billion unsolicited takeover bid for Universal Music Group faces significant opposition from key shareholder Cyrille Bolloré, CEO of Bolloré SE. Bolloré publicly criticized the proposal as undervalued and noted that Ackman is using the company's own cash rather than his own money. With the Bolloré family and Vivendi controlling over 31% of UMG combined, they have enough power to block the deal. Ackman acknowledged that without Bolloré's support, the transaction cannot proceed.

05/28/2026, 4:10 AM • Benzinga

Spotify Bets On Remix Economy, Audiobooks And Ads Fuel Growth

Spotify announced strong growth initiatives at its investor day, including capturing 20% of the U.S. audiobook market and a new AI-driven licensing deal with Universal Music Group enabling fan-made remixes and covers. The company reported 10% growth in streaming hours per subscriber and over 500 million video podcast viewers. Management reaffirmed long-term targets of 35-40% gross margins and 20%+ operating margins by 2030, with a goal of reaching 1 billion subscribers. The stock surged 10.89% on the positive announcements.

05/21/2026, 12:06 PM • Benzinga

Universal Music Group N.V. Announces Results of its 2026 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

Universal Music Group held its 2026 Annual General Meeting where all resolutions were approved by shareholders. The company approved a final dividend of EUR 0.28 per share, bringing the total 2025 dividend to EUR 0.52 per share. Key appointments and the 2025 financial statements were also ratified.

05/13/2026, 11:56 AM • Benzinga

Breaking Down Jamie Dimon’s Investing Letter

The Motley Fool discusses Jamie Dimon's annual shareholder letter for JPMorgan Chase, highlighting his warnings about private credit markets and criticism of Basel III regulations. The episode also covers Bill Ackman's latest attempt to acquire Universal Music Group for $60 billion and examines whether following famous investors' stock picks is a viable strategy. Additionally, the hosts analyze covered call ETFs like JEPQ, noting their high yields come with tax headwinds and capped upside potential.

04/13/2026, 8:15 PM • The Motley Fool

Billionaire Bill Ackman Thinks This Entertainment Giant Is "Dramatically Underperforming." Here's His $64 Billion Plan to Fix It This Year

Bill Ackman's Pershing Square has made a $64.3 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group, which Ackman believes is underperforming despite strong business fundamentals. The offer includes 9.4 billion euros and 0.77 shares per existing share, representing a 78% premium. Ackman aims to turn Universal into a cornerstone investment for his vision of transforming Pershing Square into a modern-day Berkshire Hathaway, with the music label providing permanent capital and cash flow.

04/07/2026, 6:09 PM • The Motley Fool

Stock Market Today, April 7: Apple Slides Against Muted Market Backdrop

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq edged up slightly on April 7, 2026, while the Dow slipped amid geopolitical tensions over Iran's ceasefire deadline. Apple declined on foldable iPhone delay concerns, while health insurers and Broadcom surged on positive news. Market sentiment remained cautious as investors rotated toward safer assets like U.S. Treasuries.

04/07/2026, 5:17 PM • The Motley Fool

Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Bids $64 Billion For Taylor Swift Label Universal Music— Stock Soars 11%

Bill Ackman's Pershing Square hedge fund has made a $64.4 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group, the world's largest music label representing artists like Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and Billie Eilish. The offer values UMG at €30.4 per share, a 78% premium to its April 2 closing price. UMG shares surged 11% on the news, with the deal expected to close by year-end and result in a NYSE listing for the merged entity.

04/07/2026, 7:30 AM • Benzinga

Real Music. Real Artists. Mini Size

MGA Entertainment introduced Miniverse Real Music, a new collectible line featuring fully playable miniature vinyl records and a working mini record player. The product includes songs from major artists like Britney Spears, The Beach Boys, Def Leppard, and others, licensed through Universal Music Group's Bravado division. Mystery blind ball sets (MSRP $11.99) and the record player (MSRP $21.99) will be available for preorder starting April 9, 2026, with shipments expected in June 2026.

04/02/2026, 4:45 PM • GlobeNewswire

Bill Ackman Files For Combined IPOs Of Pershing Square, New Fund

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman's Pershing Square filed for dual IPOs on the NYSE for both his hedge fund and a new fund called Pershing Square USA, aiming to raise $5-10 billion at $50 per share. Investors will receive 20 shares of Pershing Square Capital Management for every 100 shares purchased in the new fund. The fund has already secured $2.8 billion in commitments. This follows a failed $25 billion listing attempt in 2024.

03/10/2026, 8:28 AM • Benzinga

Streaming Shift Forces Paramount to Rethink Cable Networks' Future

Paramount is exploring strategies to revitalize aging cable networks like MTV, facing challenges with declining pay TV audiences and an aging viewer base, while seeking to attract younger demographics through digital content and strategic investments.

09/07/2025, 1:30 PM • Benzinga