[Am-info] Microsoft Courted by Vivendi to Buy Music Unit

[Mitch Stone]

It's unclear whether this is a simple case of me-too-ism, a preemptive  
strike, an attempt to raise the cost to Apple, or genuine interest on  
Microsoft's part, but the timing is certainly suspicious.

Incidentally, I seriously doubt that Apple will buy UMG from Vivendi.  
If anything, they are more likely to take an equity share in a  
spin--off scheme involving other sources of capital. Significantly, it  
appears that Apple's already signed all of the major music companies  
onto their soon-to-be-announced digital music distribution scheme. If  
that is the case, owning one of the companies makes less sense, given  
the level of associated risk.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030414/tc_nm/ 
media_vivendi_report_dc_1

WSJ: Microsoft Courted by Vivendi to Buy Music Unit

NEW YORK (Reuters) -  Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) is among  
companies approached by Vivendi Universal Music Group (NYSE:V -  
news)(EAUG.PA) executives in their bid to find buyers for the unit, the  
Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

The report comes a day after a Paris-based source told Reuters that  
talks between Vivendi Universal and Apple Computer Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL -  
news) had entered a crucial phase which could make or brake a deal for  
the world's largest record company.

[...]

...noting also the jarring usage error in the above paragraph!

   -----------
   Mitch Stone
   mitch@accidentalexpert.com

   In America you can go on the air and kid the politicians, and
   the politicians can go on the air and kid the people.
   -- Groucho Marx