Universal Music Group's proposed acquisition of EMI is headed for a conclusion on either Thursday or Friday (September 20/21), according to reports.
Sources say that the European Commission will put the deal and the concessions package to vote before full college of EU commissioners at the end of next week - it then has until September 27 to make its decision known and issue a written report.
Meanwhile, things are also said to be coming to a head in the US , where the Federal Trade Commission has been reviewing the deal and is expected to reveal a decision during the week beginning September 24.
As previously reported, the deal is likely to be approved by both the EU and the FTC if Universal offloads assets, worth around a rumoured sixth of the asking price, in order to win antitrust approval from EU regulators.
Assets currently said to be on the chopping block include Parlophone - heavily linked with an interest from BMG - as well as Co-Op and EMI Classic.
Source: Billboard
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