Private Equity Cools On EMI

Private equity firms reportedly interested in bidding for EMI have gone cool to the idea, according to Financial Times.

Only days before the Oct. 5 deadline for second-round bids, Alec and Tom Gores, who control Gores Group and Platinum Equity, and private equity group Apollo were said to be among those backing off because banks are becoming reluctant to lend in such a turbulent market.

Ron Burkle, the U.S. billionaire who bid for Warner Music, is another of the private investors who will likely hold fire on EMI.

American billionaire and corporate raider Ronald Perelman is believed to be standing his ground, although he too is said to be looking for a bidding partner.

The FT reckons his opposition will come from four major music companies – BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony ATV, Sony’s publishing joint venture with Michael Jackson’s estate.

Warner, which was purchased for $3.3billion in May by Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries, is reportedly mulling over whether it should bid for the whole company or only EMI’s recorded music division.

Perelman appears to be the only bidder that wouldn’t run the risk of regulatory intervention, making it more likely that the music companies would bid for only part of EMI.

Although EMI chief exec Roger Faxon has made it clear he’d rather see the company sold in one piece, the odds are shortening on it being cut up into two or more parts.

Citigroup, which backed Terra Firma’s ill-fated buyout of EMI in 2007, is predicted to get bids ranging from $1.1billion to $1.5 billion for its recorded music business and $2 billion to $2.5 billion for its publishing arm.

The bank, which seized control of EMI in February, is expected to name the winning bidder within a couple of weeks.

It may also decide to hang on to the company if the offers don’t match its expectations.