“Vivendi’s top institutional shareholders have been pressing for a selection of decades for a break up or the distribution of Universal New music Group,” it stated.

A listing stock sector existence could give Universal additional financial clout to contend with rivals Warner New music and Sony New music. It could also slender the discount that some investors consider is used to Vivendi shares owing to its keeping framework.

“The complete transaction is aimed at freeing up the hidden value of Vivendi, whose sector value has been inferior to that of Universal’s alone lately,” a source shut the make a difference stated.

The company’s other belongings variety from films and Television creation to publishing and marketing.

“In 2022, Vivendi should be refocused on all its other main models (predominantly Groupe Canal+, Editis and Havas) along with its minority holdings including UMG as effectively as Lagardere, Prisa and Spotify,” stated Paris brokerage OddoBHF.

In December, Universal surprised the business by purchasing the legal rights to Bob Dylan’s total again catalogue in a offer reportedly worth additional than $300m (£216m).