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Warner Music Group files for IPO
Recorded music behemoth Warner Music Group is preparing to go public, after nine years of trading as a private company
By Anna Grace on 07 Feb 2020
Len Blavatnik
image © Blavatnik School of Government
Label giant Warner Music Group (WMG), which owns a number of live assets in addition to its recorded music interests, has announced plans for an initial public offering (IPO).
The number of shares of common stock to be offered and the price of the offering have not yet been disclosed.
The announcement signals WMG’s return to the stock market, where it traded until 2011, before being bought by British billionaire Len Blavatnik through his company Access Industries for US$3.3 billion.
The news comes after the recent valuation of rival Universal Music Group at over US$30 billion, following Chinese entertainment giant Tencent’s acquisition of a 10% stake in the company.
The announcement signals WMG’s return to the stock market, where it traded until 2011
The Warner Music Group includes the records labels Warner, Atlantic, Elektra and Parlophone, publishing and global music distribution arms and is home to artists including Ed Sheeran, Cardi B, Dua Lipa and Bruno Mars.
WMG’s live music interests include concert discovery platform Songkick, Finnish promoter Warner Music Live and management company Umbrella Artists Productions, which it owns with promoter FKP Scorpio.
Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs are managing the flotation.
WMG’s filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) can be read here.
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