Africa Digital Media Awards

Global site navigation

Local editions

Canal+ clears final hurdle to acquire S.Africa's MultiChoice
Economy

Canal+ clears final hurdle to acquire S.Africa's MultiChoice

by  AFP
2 min read
The deal will see the creation of the leader in pay TV offerings in Africa
The deal will see the creation of the leader in pay TV offerings in Africa. Photo: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP/File
Source: AFP

Don't miss out! Join Legit.ng's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now!

France's Canal+ said Wednesday it had cleared the final regulatory hurdle for the buyout of Africa's largest pay TV enterprise MultiChoice and further expand its footprint on the continent.

The company said in a statement that the South African Competition Tribunal had given its approval for Canal+ to acquire the approximately 55 percent of MultiChoice shares it does not already own.

The approval "clears the way for us to conclude the transaction in line with our previously communicated timeline" by October 8 at the latest, Canal+ chief executive Maxime Saada said in a statement.

"I’m excited about the potential this transaction unlocks for all stakeholders... the combined Group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies," he added.

Canal+ is present in 25 African countries through 16 subsidiaries and has eight million subscribers, according to the French group.

MultiChoice operates in 50 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and has 14.5 million subscribers, it says. It includes Africa's premier sports broadcaster, SuperSport, and the DStv satellite television service.

Read also

Equinor takes $1 bn hit from US wind farm regulations, tariffs

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app!

"It is a hugely positive step forward in our journey to bring together two iconic media and entertainment companies and create a true champion for Africa," Saada said about combining Canal+'s French language offerings with the English and Portuguese content on MultiChoice.

Canal+ hopes that the acquisition will allow it to grow to 50 to 100 million subscribers in a few years, from 27 million currently.

The mandatory share offer of 125 rand (6 euros) per share values MultiChoice values the company at $3.0 billion (2.6 billion euro).

The approval came with several public-interest conditions worth about 26 billion rand over three years and keeping MultiChoice's headquarters in South Africa.

Shares in Canal+ climbed 1.3 percent in trading in London, and are up 12.8 percent this year.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.

Hot: