Groupe Canal+ S.A. (Canal+), the media arm of Vivendi and a part of French billionaire Vincent Bollore’s Bollore Group, mentioned Monday that every one circumstances tied to its R35 billion ($2.02 billion) supply for MultiChoice have been met, making the transaction unconditional.
The deal offers Canal+ efficient management of the South African pay-TV big. As of Sept. 19, the corporate held roughly 46 % of MultiChoice shares, with one other 2.2 % tendered in its favor since then.
Regulatory hurdles cleared
MultiChoice lately reorganized its South African operations to adjust to circumstances set by the Competition Tribunal in July, following earlier approval from the Competitors Fee in Could. The Tribunal’s clearance was key to transferring the deal ahead, which Canal+ initially launched in June 2024.
The ultimate timetable is now locked in: shareholders who tendered their inventory will obtain preliminary funds on Oct. 1, whereas the closing of the supply is scheduled for Oct. 10 at midday. Outcomes shall be revealed on the Johannesburg Inventory Change on Oct. 13, with final funds anticipated Oct. 17. The Takeover Regulation Panel nonetheless must concern a compliance certificates, which each corporations described as imminent.
Shaping Africa’s pay-TV market
The transaction cements Canal+’s place in Africa, the place it is going to mix forces with MultiChoice and China’s StarTimes to regulate roughly 90 % of the continent’s pay-TV enterprise, in line with Digital TV Analysis.
But the market dominance comes as MultiChoice faces persistent subscriber losses, with 3.7 million clients leaving between 2023 and 2025. The broadcaster has already bought non-core property equivalent to its SuperSport United soccer membership and is beneath strain to comprise prices whereas investing extra in digital platforms like Showmax.
Canal+ has steadily raised its stake in MultiChoice over the previous few years, whereas additionally boosting native programming by means of ventures equivalent to Senegal’s Marodi TV. Business analysts say the takeover is central to Canal+’s plan to deepen its attain in fast-growing markets the place international gamers like Netflix and Amazon Prime are increasing.
Bollore’s lengthy recreation
For Vincent Bollore, who stays one in every of France’s wealthiest males with an estimated fortune above $9.6 billion, the acquisition underscores his enduring affect over Africa’s media panorama. The Bollore household maintains strategic management of Vivendi, and the MultiChoice deal gives each scale and visibility at a time when streaming and pay-TV competitors is reshaping international leisure.
