Credit Crunch Seen Hurting WMG, EMI Plans

Lack Of Sales Have Companies Hurting

Credit market turmoil is hampering plans by EMI GROUP and WARNER MUSIC to issue billions of dollars in debt backed by revenue from their publishing catalogues, the FINANCIAL TIMES reported in its online edition.

The newspaper said both companies have been mulling this move as they deal with an industry-wide collapse in compact disc sales and the transition to digital distribution. The proceeds from such a transaction could have been used to refinance outstanding debt, pay a dividend to disgruntled shareholders and reinvest in core operations, FT said.

But given the distressed state of the credit markets, neither company is expected to press ahead soon. "In the current debt markets, it just isn't going to happen," a person close to EMI told the newspaper.

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