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        <title><![CDATA[Live Nation stock surges as Saudia Arabia buys $500M stake]]></title>
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            <media:title type="html">Live Nation stock surges as Saudia Arabia buys $500M stake</media:title>
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        <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Saudi Arabia has taken a $500 million stake in promoter Live Nation, whose shares have been slammed as the coronavirus has brought this year&#8217;s schedule of concerts and sporting events across the country to a virtual standstill.</p><p>Shares of Live Nation, which had recently fallen nearly 50 percent from all-time highs they reached in February before the coronavirus hit, were recently up up 11 percent at $42.45 on Monday.</p><p>The Persian Gulf state&#8217;s sovereign wealth fund acquired more 12.3 million shares amounting to a 5.7-percent stake in Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Live Nation, according to a securities filing Monday.</p><p>Live Nation has been <strong>particularly hard hit</strong> by the mass shut downs of concerts and public events. Its portfolio includes Ticketmaster and other ticketing services, venues, talent management and <strong>music festivals like Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo</strong>.</p><p>Earlier this month, the company announced furloughs, cost cuts and a new $120 million revolving loan facility to provide a cash cushion during the coronavirus crisis. Chief Executive Michael Rapino is forgoing his 2020 salary.</p><p>Live Nation and Ticketmaster were sued last week in a Northern California federal court as they have been reluctant to offer full refunds to customers, though they have since amended refund rules to address those complaints.</p><p>Prior to the pandemic, firms have been reluctant to take an investment from Saudi Arabia following the <strong>murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi</strong> in October 2018. Ari Emanuel&#8217;s Endeavor returned a $400 million investment it received from the fund last year.</p><p>Many notable names from the world of media and entertainment also canceled an appearance at a major conference to be hosted in Riyadh called the Future Investment Initiative.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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