Talking of Vivendi's business dealings, the French firm formally asked the European Commission for permission to take over BMG Music Publishing on Friday. As previously reported, Universal are the preferred bidder of German based Bertelsmann to buy the BMG publishing company, something Bertelsmann is selling off to help fund a recent shareholder buyout.
Because Universal already own a not insubstantial music publishing firm, the takeover needs EC approval. But bosses there say the takeover should be given the go ahead because the combined BMG Universal Music Publishing would be only ever so slightly bigger than current market leader in all things music publishing, EMI, meaning that the market would remain competitive. With that in mind, a spokesman for Universal said: "We're hoping that it is going to be a relatively straightforward process given that we're creating a market leader which still leaves lots of scope for competition".
As previously reported, the pan-European body for independent music, IMPALA, doesn't agree on that, and has said it will oppose the takeover. They are, of course, still on a bit of a high on all things to do European competition regulations (or they are in as much as anyone could be) following their court win earlier this year that ruled that another major music business deal involved Bertelsmann, the creation of SonyBMG, should not have been given approval.
The Commission is expected to consider Universal's proposals for about a month before reaching a decision or ordering a more in-depth four month investigation.