iWorld
Planetcast launches content production facility in Mumbai
Mumbai: Planetcast Media Services has announced the launch of a content production facility in Mumbai to offer best-in-class content services to the film industry, production houses, and all the media content-intensive industries.
Planetcast aims to offer services across the media value chain through its Mumbai facility to India, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Its Mumbai facility is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure to offer, post-production, and distribution services to the entire range of content owners, the company said in a statement on Monday.
The facility has large studios to execute live & recorded shows also include the latest augmented reality facilities, video walls, and presenting sets along with editing suites to ensure timely delivery of content to the end-user. It provides various post-production-related services along with S&P edit to various broadcasters & OTT platforms. Planetcast links and powers the whole media supply chain, from procuring to creating video.
Planetcast’s VP – business development, Suresh Varghese, said, “Planetcast has a rich experience of over two decades in handling content flow for reputed global and Indian broadcasters. We have poured our experience and legacy into this facility which makes this facility the most experienced center for content-related services in India. Our talented technical staff and experienced editors are capable of delivering broadcast-ready content in a matter of hours after the shoot. We welcome the content owners to experience the superior services of our Mumbai center.”
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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.
