One Man Can Kill Bill Ackman’s $64 Billion Bid for Universal Music Group— and No One Knows What He’ll Do The music industry's biggest deal in years has triggered a high stakes game of musical chairs, with billionaire activist investor Bill Ackman making a bold bid to acquire Universal Music Group (UMG).
The proposal involves a merger between UMG and Ackman's special purpose acquisition company, which would create a new entity with a $64 billion equity value.
However, the deal faces significant hurdles, not least of which is the opposition from Vincent Bolloré, UMG's controlling stakeholder.