HMV shares placed overnight

Thirty million shares in HMV Group PLC were placed on behalf of Advent Venture Capital firm by UBS and Citigroup Smith Barney overnight, a spokesperson for HMV said.

The shares were placed at £1.53 (€2.18), a discount from HMV's closing level last night of £1.61 (€2.30).

Following HMV's listing on the London Stock Exchange in May 2002, Advent, a founder shareholder of HMV -- held a 7.8% stake in the music and books retailer.

The buyers of the stock have not been named by HMV sources.

At 9.49 am, HMV shares were trading £0.09 (€.13) lower at £1.52 (€2.17) on volume so far of 20.39 million shares.