Warner Music joins with KKR to bid for EMI
LONDON, March 14, 2010 (AFP) — US firm Warner Music has joined forces with private equity giant KKR to consider a bid for British music company EMI, which would break the company up, a newspaper reported Sunday.
Warner and the private equity firm met in recent weeks to discuss the bid for EMI, which has been hit by financial problems and may be put up for sale in summer, said Britain’s Sunday Times, without citing a source.
Warner has long coveted rival EMI’s recorded music division, and a tie-up would bring together EMI’s stable of artistes including Coldplay and Robbie Williams with groups such as Red Hot Chili Peppers from the Warner camp.
KKR is reportedly keen to acquire EMI’s music publishing arm, which owns the rights to songs such as Over the Rainbow and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.