by Thinus Ferreira
France's Groupe Canal+ has dramatically increased its shareholding of MultiChoice, gobbling up more than a quarter of the South African pay-TV company by increasing its stake yet again to now stand at 26.26%, and with MultiChoice notifying the Takeover Regulation Panel.
This is a further increase in shareholding from Canal+'s shareholding acquisition of MultiChoice which by July this year stood at 20.1%.
While speculation grows that Vivendi could be looking at taking over MultiChoice, MultiChoice keeps issuing the same repeat holding statement, again saying that "MultiChoice remains committed to acting in the best interests of all shareholders and to create sustainable, long-term shareholder value".
"While the group regularly engages investors and maintains an open dialogue with the investment community, its policy is not to comment on its individual shareholders nor on its interactions with them."
MultiChoice says it has "filed the required notice with the Takeover Regulation Panel".
Vivendi kicked the tyres on MultiChoice Africa in 2017 but Naspers which used to own MultiChoice turned down the deal of $1 billion at the time.
Canal+ started buying MultiChoice shares in 2020, acquiring 6.5% in October 2020, upping it to 15.4% in November 2021 and acquiring further MultiChoice shares in 2022.
