Activist investor Independent Franchise Partners takes 3% stake in Universal Music, filing shows

Vivendi SE

13/02/2026 08:06

Feb 13 (Reuters) - Activist investor Independent Franchise Partners has taken a stake in Universal Music Group UMG.AS and owned 3.01% of the world's biggest music label as of Monday, a filing by Dutch financial watchdog showed on Friday.

It will be the sixth largest shareholder in Universal Music Group, according to LSEG data.

Independent Franchise Partners also has a 5.37% stake in Vivendi VIV.PA, which together with its top shareholder, the Bolloré family, own more than 30% of Universal Music Group, LSEG data showed. The activist investor also holds a 5.86% stake in British real estate company Rightmove RMV.L.

Founded in 2009, London-based Independent Franchise Partners says on its website its focus is on high-quality franchises with intangible assets that create a durable competitive advantage.

Universal Music Group did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

(Reporting by Alessandro Parodi, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)

((Alessandro.Parodi@thomsonreuters.com;))