iWorld
MensXP challenges the yardsticks of ‘manliness’ with new web series
MUMBAI: MensXP is shaking up the digital world with its new male-targeted web series The Toughest Men in India. The eight-part web series, in association with Jamun, walks netizens through the life of eight unsung heroes, who have made innumerable sacrifices, showed unwavering determination and still work in daily conditions where a safe return to the comforts of home is not guaranteed. The first episode of the series was launched on 25 January; the remaining seven will be releasing every Thursday on the MensXP Blog and its Facebook page.
The series is MensXP’s second web show after Dilliwood.
The stories revolve around men who reassert that manliness is more about the bravado than vacant displays. From a war photographer to a firefighter, from Maut Ka Kuan riders to Bollywood stuntmen, from Para-Olympians to mountain guides – these are men who struggle, fight, win but most importantly, inspire us each and every day.
Gender-based humanitarian arguments take up a sizeable chunk of conversations driven on internet forums. While many talk about feminism and the resultant impact of the same on the opposite gender, gender-based conservatives have adopted a new narrative to adopt and misconstrue gender definitions. One of them is the establishment of an urban Pseudo-Alpha male, who is defined more through how crass and reckless his demeanour is than the how he is capable of an influx of positive change through his determination.
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iWorld
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
