Last checked at 
10 Dec 2019 07:00
10 December 2019
Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited ("Hipgnosis" or the "Company")
Acquisition of Music Catalogue
The Board of Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited and its Investment Adviser, The Family (Music) Limited, are pleased to announce that the Company has acquired a music catalogue by the English indie band, the Kaiser Chiefs from B-Unique.
The Kaiser Chiefs' 2005 debut album 'Employment', which won the Ivor Novello Award for "Best Album", is certified 6x platinum in the UK and includes the platinum certified 'I Predict a Riot', 'Oh My God' which reached the Top 10 on the UK Singles Chart and the UK Top 10 'Everyday I Love You Less and Less'. With 'Employment' the Kaiser Chiefs won three Brit Awards in 2006, an NME Award for "Best Album" and were shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.
The Band's second album 'Yours Truly Angry Mob' released in 2007 reached Number 1 in the UK Album Charts and is certified as 2x platinum in the UK and included the UK Number 1 and platinum certified lead single 'Ruby'.
The Catalogue also includes the UK Top 5 single 'Never Miss a Beat' off the Band's 2008 Number 2 album 'Off With Their Heads'.
The Catalogue consists of 100% of the worldwide ownership of the master rights to the Kaiser Chiefs' first four studio albums, 'Employment', 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob', 'Off With Their Heads' and The Future is Medieval', as well as their greatest hits album 'Souvenir' and their live audiovisual release 'Live at Elland Road'. This Catalogue will be allocated to the C Shares.
Merck Mercuriadis, Founder of The Family (Music) Limited and Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited, said:
"The Kaiser Chiefs have been one of the most successful English bands of the last 15 years and it's no secret that it's down to great songs, great albums and a terrific live show. They follow the very English tradition of The Who and Madness and incredible hits like I Predict a Riot and Ruby just get better with time. I'm delighted that Mark, Martin, James, Nick, Ricky and the band have entrusted us with this special catalogue."
Mark Lewis & Martin Toher of B-Unique said:
"We are delighted to be part of the Hipgnosis story, Merck managed the first band signed to B-unique, we know he is a proper music man. This deal will allow us to continue working with the Kaisers and James to keep this great catalogue growing.
Martin and I shared such a commonality with the band, we both had a real underdog spirit and the fact that they are still having top 3 albums and selling more tickets than ever is a testament to their continued hunger."
James Sandom at Red Light Management said:
"It's great to be in business with Merck and Hipgnosis. We're excited by the potential and fresh focus on Kaiser Chiefs classic catalogue in this new chapter, Hipgnosis' modern thinking and resource will add value and presence to a catalogue that's engrained in British culture."
For further information, please contact:
The Family (Music) Limited Merck Mercuriadis
| Tel: +44 (0)1481 742742 |
N+1 Singer - Joint Corporate Broker James Maxwell / James Moat (Corporate Finance) Alan Geeves / James Waterlow / Sam Greatrex (Sales)
| Tel: +44 (0)20 7496 3000 |
J.P. Morgan Cazenove - Joint Corporate Broker William Simmonds / Ed Murray / Jérémie Birnbaum (Corporate Finance) James Bouverat / Eddie Nissen (Sales)
| Tel: +44 (0)20 7742 4000 |
The Outside Organisation Alan Edwards / Nick Caley | Tel: +44 (0)7711 081 843 |
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited
(www.hipgnosissongs.com)
Hipgnosis, which was founded by Merck Mercuriadis, is a Guernsey registered investment company established to offer investors a pure-play exposure to songs and associated musical intellectual property rights. The Company has raised a total of over £625 million (gross equity capital) through its Initial Public Offering on 11 July 2018, and subsequent issues in April 2019, August 2019 and October 2019. In September 2019, Hipgnosis transferred its entire issued share capital to the Premium listing segment of the Official List of the FCA and to the London Stock Exchange's Premium segment of the Main Market.
About The Family (Music) Limited
The Company's Investment Adviser is The Family (Music) Limited, which was founded by Merck Mercuriadis, former manager of globally successful recording artists, such as Elton John, Guns N' Roses, Morrissey, Iron Maiden and Beyoncé, and hit songwriters such as Diane Warren, Justin Tranter and The-Dream, and former CEO of The Sanctuary Group plc. The Investment Adviser has assembled an Advisory Board of highly successful music industry experts which include award winning members of the artist, songwriter, publishing, legal, financial, recorded music and music management communities, all with in-depth knowledge of music publishing. Members of The Family (Music) Limited Advisory Board include Nile Rodgers, The-Dream, Giorgio Tuinfort, Starrah, Nick Jarjour, David Stewart, Bill Leibowitz, Ian Montone, and Jason Flom.