4 posts and columns on Guy Hands

News Byte

Citigroup Wins, Guy Hands Loses and EMI Moves Closer to Warner

in Media on November 4, 2010 at 2:35 pm PT

As of today four big music labels dominate the industry, but a court ruling just increased the chances that the number will shrink to three. A New York jury has ruled against Guy Hands, whose Terra Firma private equity shop owns EMI Music Group, in a suit he brought against Citigroup. Details here, but the only one you care about is that this makes it that much more likely that Citi will end up owning EMI, then selling it, most likely to rival Warner Music Group.

Saved! Terra Firma Keeps EMI Out of Citigroup’s Grasp (For Now).

in Media on May 11, 2010 at 8:30 am PT

Breathing room for Guy Hands and company. Bigger question: Does it matter whether a private equity group or a bank owns one of the big music labels?

From Google to Gone: EMI Boots Digital Boss Douglas Merrill

in Media on March 23, 2009 at 1:06 pm PT

Douglas Merrill, the Google vet tapped by struggling record label EMI to run its digital operations a year ago, is out. He doesn’t have a formal replacement, but the company’s top digital exec will now be Cory Ondrejka, whom Merrill brought in as his number two. Merrill’s hire in April 2008 was supposed to represent EMI’s willingness to break free from its old CD-based businesses, and a breath of fresh air. Merrill, who had formerly been Google’s CIO, cheerfully admitted that he had no background in the music business.
douglas-merrill

EMI’s Owners Suffer a $1.6 Billion Case of Buyer’s Remorse

in Media on March 2, 2009 at 5:04 pm PT

A lot of people couldn’t understand why Guy Hands, the private equity guy who bought EMI in the summer of 2007, was willing to pay so much for the music company. Now he says he agrees with them–his Terra Firma buyout firm has written off half the $3.2 billion he paid for the company. He may have to write off more before he’s done.
victrola