MultiChoice Group (MCG) has introduced sweeping board adjustments and a shift in its monetary year-end, following the finalisation of the $3 billion acquisition by French media big Canal+.
The restructuring comes after Canal+ secured efficient management of the African pay-TV operator, marking the most important transaction in its historical past and creating one of many world’s largest media and leisure corporations.
In a discover to shareholders issued on Monday, Multichoice disclosed that as of the shut of enterprise on September 19, 2025, Canal+ immediately owned 200,030,591 shares of MultiChoice, representing 46% of the group’s shares (excluding treasury shares).
The acquisition cements the mixed group’s place as a worldwide media powerhouse serving over 40 million subscribers throughout almost 70 international locations in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Collectively, the businesses will make use of about 17,000 individuals. Canal+ mentioned it could present an in depth strategic replace, together with synergies from the mixing, within the first quarter of 2026. For now, MultiChoice subscribers will see no adjustments to billing or subscription preparations.
New board and management construction
To replicate the brand new possession construction, MultiChoice has reconstituted its board. Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+, now chairs the board, whereas Elias Masilela has been appointed lead unbiased director.
- David Mignot has taken over as chief government officer, with Nicolas Dandoy as chief monetary officer. Jacques du Puy has additionally joined the board as an government director.
- The brand new board features a majority of unbiased administrators, Masilela, Kgomotso Moroka, Louisa Stephens, Deborah Klein, and James du Preez, who beforehand served as non-executive administrators.
- The reshuffle signifies that former CEO Calvo Mawela, former CFO Timothy Jacobs, Christine Sabwa, Dr Fatai Sanusi, and Andrea Zappia have stepped down.
- Going ahead, Mignot and Dandoy will oversee Canal+’s African operations, together with MultiChoice. Mawela, although stepping down as MultiChoice CEO, will chair these African operations, whereas Jacobs will proceed in a senior finance position inside the mixed group.
Shift in monetary year-end
Along with governance adjustments, MultiChoice has introduced that it’ll align its monetary year-end with Canal+’s December 31 cycle, shifting away from its earlier March 31 year-end. This adjustment signifies that MultiChoice will:
- Publish interim outcomes for the six months ending September 30, 2025, inside three months thereafter.
- Launch audited outcomes for the 9 months ending December 31, 2025, inside three months.
- Subject an built-in annual report and see of annual normal assembly, with audited monetary statements for the 9 months ending December 31, 2025, inside 4 months.
This variation is geared toward harmonising monetary reporting throughout the mixed group and making certain higher operational effectivity.
A worldwide leisure powerhouse
Commenting on the mixing, Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada described the acquisition as a landmark step in constructing a “true world media and leisure powerhouse.”
He highlighted that the mix would strengthen the corporate’s presence in Africa, one of many fastest-growing pay-TV markets, whereas reinforcing its management in Europe.
“This mix will increase our potential to spend money on artistic and sporting content material all through Europe, Africa, and Asia,” Saada mentioned.
“We’ll leverage the varied expertise throughout the group to convey compelling native and worldwide tales to life, supported by STUDIOCANAL and our world platforms. We at the moment are positioned to ship higher worth for all stakeholders,” he added.
The transaction marks a major shift in Africa’s media panorama, positioning Canal+ because the dominant pay-TV participant within the area whereas giving MultiChoice entry to deeper assets and worldwide attain.
Backstory
Earlier in July, Nairametrics reported that the French media big Canal+ had acquired last approval from South Africa’s Competitors Tribunal to accumulate pay-TV heavyweight MultiChoice, bringing one in every of Africa’s largest media mergers a step nearer to completion.
In a joint assertion launched on the time, each corporations mentioned they had been on observe to conclude the transaction earlier than the long-stop date of October 8, 2025.
Canal+ triggered the deal earlier this 12 months after surpassing the 35% possession threshold that mandates a buyout below South African firm regulation.
Be First to Comment