HMV stalls on takeover approach

Private equity company Permira said today it was disappointed by the reaction of British music store chain HMV to its proposal…

Private equity company Permira said today it was disappointed by the reaction of British music store chain HMV to its proposal for a £762 million (€1.1 billion) takeover offer.

Permira said in a statement it believed "the 190 pence cash per share proposal made is attractive to the shareholders of HMV".

Permira also said it might increase its proposed offer price. "However, there can be no certainty at all that any offer will ultimately be forthcoming".

At 10am HMV shares were up 1.6 per cent at 187 pence. On Tuesday HMV confirmed it had recevied a conditional takeover from Permira but rejected it saying: "The board has concluded that the proposal undervalues HMV Group. As such, HMV Group will not be entering into any discussions with Permira".

READ MORE

HMV had said last week it had received an approach without saying from whom. Some analysts had been surprised by the possible deal, given HMV's struggle against digital music downloading and a slowdown in the DVD market.

Shares in HMV tumbled early in January on news of falling sales during the key Christmas period. HMV itself is planning to buy British bookseller Ottakar's Plc.

Britain's Competition Commission said last month it would report provisional findings on HMV's planned purchase by the end of March.