Standard Bank has acted as Joint Financial Adviser and Transaction Sponsor to CANAL+ on its secondary inward listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), enabling the company's shares to trade on both the JSE and the London Stock Exchange.

The listing allows CANAL+ shares to trade on the JSE while maintaining a single, fully fungible pool of shares with the company's primary listing on the London Stock Exchange. No new shares were issued as part of the transaction, but the move is expected to improve liquidity and broaden the company's shareholder base over time.

The deal follows CANAL+’s acquisition of MultiChoice and further aligns the group's capital markets presence with its growing operational footprint across Africa.

“This is a milestone transaction for the JSE and for South Africa’s equity capital markets more broadly. The listing brings a globally recognised media and entertainment business to the local market, expands the investable universe for domestic investors and reflects continued international confidence in the depth, sophistication and relevance of our exchange,” said Richard Stout, Head of Equity Capital Markets, South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa at Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking.

Stout said the transaction also highlights Standard Bank’s advisory capabilities in African capital markets.

“We are proud to have supported CANAL+ on a transaction that also reinforces Standard Bank’s position as a leading advisor on complex equity capital markets transactions across Africa,” he said.

CANAL+ operates in more than 70 countries and serves over 42 million subscribers globally. The company has identified Africa as a strategic growth market, supported by investments in local content, distribution networks and digital platforms.

The inward secondary listing is also significant for the JSE, introducing one of the world's largest media and entertainment groups to the local market and reinforcing Johannesburg's role as a gateway for global companies seeking access to African capital.

The transaction underscores the role of Standard Bank in arranging cross-border equity capital markets activity between international issuers and African exchanges.

“We are proud to become the first French company ever to list in Johannesburg and the only global media and entertainment company listed on the exchange. Following our listing on the London Stock Exchange 18 months ago, this dual listing reinforces our ambition to be a bridge between Europe and Africa,” said Maxime Saada, Chief Executive Officer of CANAL+.

Saada said the listing strengthens the company's long-term positioning across both continents.

“This milestone anchors our dual-continental approach, consolidating our unique position in the global media and entertainment industry,” he said.

The company said the listing complements its long-term ambitions in Africa, where growing connectivity, rising demand for premium and local content, and an expanding digital consumer base continue to create opportunities for media and entertainment providers.