Universal Catalogs Said to Draw Interest From Providence

Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group received interest from companies including Providence Equity Partners and Bertelsmann AG for music-publishing catalogs it’s selling, according to three people familiar with the situation.

Among the parties that requested more information about the assets are independent music companies and other private-equity companies, the people said, declining to be named as the talks are private. Universal Music, which is divesting the catalogs to help finance its purchase of EMI Group, plans to reduce the number to about 20 to 30 candidates in the next two to three weeks, one of the people said.