Vivendi will sell up to 50% of Universal Music Group and acquire Editis

The media giant Vivendi announced on Monday to sell up to 50% stake in Universal Music Group (UMG). At the same time, he entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire the Editis publishing group. Regarding Universal, Vivendi wants to find "one or more strategic partners" to "allow UMG to boost its valuation," he said in a statement on the sidelines of its half-year results.

The group, which had considered for a time the IPO of UMG, finally dismissed this possibility because of its "complexity" and gives itself 18 months, after the launch of the operation in the autumn, to find the ideal partners.

Editis, the second French publishing group

In parallel, the media giant wants to gain a foothold in publishing by getting its hands on 100% of the capital of Editis, the second largest French publishing group which owns houses such as Nathan, Robert Laffont, Plon or Bordas and Le Cherche Midi.

The group has announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with the Spanish Grupo Planeta for an badignment, which could be based on a retained enterprise value of 900 million euros. "The acquisition of Editis would be a major step in building an integrated group focused on media, content and communication," said Vivendi in its statement. These two transactions were announced at the same time as a net profit down 6.3% to 165 million euros in the first half, where Vivendi notably depreciated its stake in Telecom Italia.

Universal Music Group represented more than 40% of turnover

The group chaired by Yannick Bolloré, son of the largest shareholder
Vincent Bolloré, achieved a turnover of 6.46 billion euros in the first half, up 18.3% but slightly lower than the average forecasts of badysts surveyed by the financial services provider Factset

UMG accounted for just over 40% of the group's turnover, generating 2.63 billion euros between January and June, a decrease of 1.4% (+ 6.8%). at constant scope and exchange rates).