Imagem for sale

BREAKING NEWS—IMAGEM ON THE BLOCK: Netherlands-based Imagem Music, which bills itself as “the world’s largest independent publisher,” is up for sale, according to inside sources. The pubco’s owners, pension fund ABP and publisher/media company CP Masters BV, have quietly been putting out feelers, but there may not be a buyer because Imagem’s sheer size will make any deal with a major problematic from a regulatory standpoint. Ownership is said to be looking for $650 million, but they’ll more likely get $400-500 million, assuming a sale goes through. Founded in 2008, Imagem started by picking up catalogs from UMPG, including Rondor, Zomba, BBC and 19 Music, as well as Rogers & Hammerstein and jazz/classical pubco Boosey & Hawkes. The diverse roster includes Daft Punk, Phil Collins, Genesis, Ludacris, M.I.A., Mark Ronson, George Gershwin, Sammy Cahn, Stephen Sondheim and Elvis Presley. (6/26p)