Nine groups in line to snap up Parlophone Warner Music and a joint venture led by industry impresario Simon Fuller are among nine groups to have registered interest in buying Parlophone from Vivendi's Universal Music Group as bidding starts for the venerable British label that is home to Kylie Minogue and Eliza Doolittle. Industry sources said Universal had received nine "preliminary non-binding proposals" for the label, which it is being forced to sell to satisfy regulators" concerns about its €1.2bn takeover of the recorded music business of EMI. As well as the interest from Warner and Blackwell Fuller, a venture backed by Lord Jacob Rothschild's RIT Capital Partners and including Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, Parlophone has also received a proposal from Ronald Perelman's investment company MacAndrews & Forbes, they said. BMG, a joint venture between Bertelsmann and KKR, and Sony Music are also expected to take part in the bidding process. They have signed non-disclosure agreements but have not yet submitted non-binding proposals, these people said. People involved in the talks said Warner, Blackwell Fuller and Mr Perelman were also interested in the other Universal assets on the block, including the Sanctuary and Mute labels and the Now compilations. Vivendi will hope that the high level of early interest will let it recoup as much as £400m-£500m from the disposals, although some would-be bidders queried this valuation. A person involved in the talks said early indications were that the sale proceeds could achieve similar multiples to that paid by Universal for EMI. Universal has so far received 12 approaches for the non-Parlophone assets, including some from former EMI executives such as Jason Flom, ex-boss of Capitol Records. It is not clear whether it will seek to sell all the EMI assets in one parcel or entertain offers for separate labels. Of the assets for sale, Parlophone is by far the biggest, accounting for £260m of a combined £300m of sales in 2011. Universal made information about the assets available to potential buyers this week. Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs are advising on the sale. Mr Blackwell, founder of Island Records, and Mr Fuller, founder of the American Idol television series, are said to be keen to develop the "franchise rights" of the artists. Mr Blackwell developed Bob Marley into a global superstar and now owns hotels and a rum brand, while Mr Fuller managed the Spice Girls in the 1990s. Warner is exploring a deal because it wants to build a stronger position in Europe, while Mr Perelman is said to be interested in building up the "artist and repertoire" new music side of the business. Binding offers are due at the end of January. Additional reporting by Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson in New York