Universal Music Group has won the qualified support of two North American artists' unions for its proposed $1.9bn (€1.44bn) acquisition of the recorded music division of the UK's EMI Group Ltd.

EU antitrust regulators opened an indepth investigation yesterday into a bid by Vivendi’s Universal Music to buy EMI’s recorded music unit for $1.9bn (€1.4bn), saying the proposed deal could reduce competition to the detriment of consumers.

ROYAL Bank of Scotland, Britain’s biggest government-owned bank, has received bids for its Dublin-based aircraft-leasing operation from commercial lender CIT and Jackson Square Aviation, according to sources.

DUBLIN based aircraft leasing companies RBS Aviation Capital and AWAS could be merged in a €4.5 billion deal.

NORTHERN Ireland’s main gas supplier is eyeing up Bord Gáis assets earmarked for sale.

The North's main gas supplier is eyeing up Bord Gais assets earmarked for sale.

EVER watch the Poirot re-runs on TV? Noticed the attention to detail?

The Odeon and UCI cinema group is being lined up for a potential £1bn (€1.13bn) sale by its private equity owner Terra Firma, according to reports today.

Investment bank Citigroup has seized control of record label EMI from beleaguered financier Guy Hands, it was announced today.

Warner Music Group’s search for a buyer of its publishing arm Warner/Chappell is partly intended to clear a path to buy all of British recording giant EMI, a person familiar with the matter said.

Citigroup did not fool a British private equity firm into buying music company EMI at an inflated price in 2007, a federal jury in New York City ruled today.

A US jury began deliberating whether Citigroup tricked a British private equity firm into buying music company EMI in 2007 at an inflated price.

EMI owner Guy Hands is demanding that £2bn is cut from the music group’s debt pile as the price for calling off his court case against the investment bank Citigroup, it was reported today.

Music group EMI today slashed annual losses by two-thirds but said it needs millions more in the years ahead to stay out of the hands of lenders.

EMI unified its music label and publishing arms under one boss today as part of a restructuring it hopes will boost returns from artists and songwriters.

The owner of music group EMI today pledged to inject more money into the business in order to prevent US bank Citigroup from taking control.

Music group EMI has named former ITV boss Charles Allen as executive chairman as the firm battles to improve its fortunes.

A LAST-minute deal finalised on the day of its British premiere ensures that Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland will make it to all Irish cinemas.

Musical supremo Andrew Lloyd Webber has joined the battle to save the historic Abbey Road studios, revealing he would like to buy it.

FORMER Beatle Paul McCartney told of his hopes that the famous Abbey Road Studios could be saved after reportedly being put up for sale by owner EMI.

Paul McCartney told of his hopes that the famous Abbey Road Studios could be saved after reportedly being put up for sale by owner EMI.

Music group EMI is preparing further cost-cutting plans to persuade investors to pump £120m (€137m) into the business, it was reported today.

A US bank is lining up potential buyers for EMI in a bid to put pressure on the indebted music firm’s owners to sell the company, it was reported today.

EMI Music today said earnings more than trebled after slashing costs and launching new releases from the likes of Lily Allen and Coldplay.

Lily Allen has blamed the delayed release of her second album on her record company, EMI.

An industry outsider was named as the new boss of private equity-owned EMI’s recorded music division today.

AWAS has finalised a $1.2 billion (€0.7bn) deal for the purchase of six Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

The FTSE 100 Index closed just shy of the key 6000 barrier today as strong gains from banks put the market on the front foot.

Takeover speculation and hopes of a dividend hike from Royal Bank of Scotland caused shares in the financial sector to surge today.

Lloyds TSB shares rose 4% today after the smallest of the “big-five” banks revealed in-line pre-tax profits of £3.9 billion for 2007.

Reports of the death of the record company may be exaggerated, but there is little doubt that the industry is facing a prolonged bout of ill-health.

GUY HANDS, the private equity owner of EMI, plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs at the ailing British music company, in a plan to rebuild the group that has sparked fury from some of its biggest acts.

Thousands of EMI workers were facing the prospect of redundancy tonight after the music giant’s private equity owners announced a “revolutionary” overhaul to the business.

Music giant EMI is to axe up to 2,000 jobs as part of a drive to save £200m (€264m) a year, its new private equity owner said today.

Staff at music giant EMI are today expected to discover how many jobs will be lost as part of a restructuring by the label’s new private equity owner.

Robbie Williams is going on strike in protest against the new owners of his record company, it was reported today.

The new owners of Boots, Stefano Pessina and private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, today said the group was trading "well ahead" of expectations after being taken private for £11.1 billion in July.

Top bosses at troubled music label EMI are to quit the group as the firm’s new private equity owners prepare to take the company private, it was announced today.

Financier Guy Hands today succeeded in his attempt to snap up EMI after shareholders at the music group finally gave their support to the bid.

The private equity group Terra Firma has gained control of British music firm EMI.

Growing concerns over the US economy sent UK blue chips plunging into negative territory today, with news of a raft of high profile potential takeovers unable to stem the losses.

Financier Guy Hands came a step closer to landing music group EMI today after US company Warner Music ruled out a bid for the firm.

US-based Warner Music Group says it has decided against making an offer to acquire British rival music company EMI.

US-based Warner Music Group says it has decided against making an offer to acquire British rival music company EMI.