U.S. and European regulators said Friday they would allow the $1.9 billion USD purchase of EMI’s recorded music business by Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group to go through, after Universal promised Europe’s competition watchdog it would sell several assets. Vivendi SA (VIV)’s Universal Music Group won approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for its purchase of the recorded-music business of EMI Group, best known as the record label of the Beatles. The FTC closed its review of the transaction, which allows the merger to go forward, following approval earlier today from European competition authorities after Universal Music agreed to sell about one-third of EMI assets to cut the combined group’s market share.
Featured News
ICE’s $6 Billion MarketAxess Takeover Advances After US Antitrust Clearance
Oct 25, 2026 by
CPI
McCormick’s $44.8 Billion Unilever Food Deal Clears Key US Antitrust Hurdle
Oct 25, 2026 by
CPI
EU Launches Antitrust Probe Into Key Paper-Making Material
Oct 25, 2026 by
CPI
UK Seeks Exemption From EU Technology Rules as Trade Tensions Grow
Oct 25, 2026 by
CPI
Live Nation Reveals Trump Attended White House Antitrust Settlement Meeting
Oct 25, 2026 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – EU Merger Guidelines
Oct 19, 2026 by
CPI
In Praise of Theories of Benefits
Oct 19, 2026 by
Cyril Hariton & Pierre Regibeau
Closing the Efficiencies Gap
Oct 19, 2026 by
Kasia Czapracka & Marika Harjula
Analysis of Dynamic Trade-Offs Under the New Guidelines: Would Cases Like Amazon/Irobot Turn Out Differently?
Oct 19, 2026 by
Oliver Latham, Sam Marden, Saul Mendelsohn & Serge Moresi
Exploitative Portfolio Effects In EU Merger Control: From Mars/Kellanova to the Draft Merger Guidelines
Oct 19, 2026 by
Niels Baeten, Danette Chan & Elizabeth Malik