📺 Canal+ unveils new Africa team

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Today’s Menu ☕️

📺 Canal+ unveils executive team for newly merged African media giant
💵 South African startup Contactable secures $13.5M to scale digital identity solutions across Africa
💰ALCB Fund secures $45M investment from FMO to strengthen African local currency bond markets
🏦 Access Bank Ghana appoints Pearl Nkrumah as first female Managing Director
💵 New GX Capital secures $28M in funding from Nedbank for clean-tech expansion
🏦 Revolut applies for full banking licence in South Africa, marking its first step into Africa
📰 Moniepoint Named Among UK’s Top Fintech Companies by CNBC

📺 MEDIA

Canal+ unveils executive team for newly merged African media giant

Canal+ has finalized its takeover of MultiChoice and immediately reshaped leadership across Africa—putting the South African pay-TV pioneer under foreign ownership for the first time. The integrated African business will be led by David Mignot as CEO, while former MultiChoice chief Calvo Mawela becomes Chairman of Canal+ Africa, signaling continuity.

A blended executive bench from both companies—spanning seven nationalities—will run three divisions: Operations (TV and fibre), Content, and Corporate Functions. Key roles include Nicolas Dandoy (CFO), Byron du Plessis (CEO, Pay TV South Africa), Fhulu Badugela (CEO, Pay TV Rest of Africa), Jean-François Duboy (CEO, GVA fibre), and Nomsa Philiso/Rendani Ramovha leading English/Portuguese content. The revamp aims to build a pan-African media powerhouse, counter global streamers, and address MultiChoice’s churn by unlocking synergies and accelerating innovation..........…continue reading

💵 FUNDING

South African startup Contactable secures $13.5M to scale digital identity solutions across Africa

South African digital identity and eKYC platform Contactable has raised US$13.5 million in growth funding to expand across Africa and enhance its onboarding, identity verification, and fraud prevention solutions. The round was led by Venture Capitalworks, with participation from Fireball Capital, Ke Nako Capital, and Mavovo.

The funding will support advancements in Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) tracking, AI, self-sovereign identity, and payments integration, strengthening Africa’s digital infrastructure. CEO Shaun Strydom highlighted the investment as key to scaling into underserved markets, while Venture Capitalworks stressed digital identity’s central role in financial inclusion and transformation.........…continue reading

💰INVESTMENTS

ALCB Fund secures $45M investment from FMO to strengthen African local currency bond markets

The African Local Currency Bond Fund (ALCB Fund), managed by Cygnum Capital, has secured a $45 million investment from Dutch development finance institution FMO, with additional backing from FMO Investment Management (FMO IM). The capital will strengthen the fund’s mission to develop local currency corporate bond markets across Africa, reducing FX risks and fostering macroeconomic resilience.

This marks FMO’s third investment in the ALCB Fund, underscoring its long-term commitment to African financial systems, while FMO IM makes its first fund investment, signaling institutional investor confidence..........…continue reading

🏦 BANKING

Access Bank Ghana appoints Pearl Nkrumah as first female Managing Director

Access Bank Ghana has appointed Pearl Nkrumah as its new Managing Director, effective October 1, 2025, making her the first woman to lead the bank since its establishment 16 years ago. She succeeds Olumide Olatunji, who moves to a senior executive role at Access Bank Nigeria.

Nkrumah, with over 25 years of banking experience spanning retail, digital, commercial banking, and risk management, previously served as Executive Director for Retail and Digital Banking, overseeing operations across 15 Access Africa subsidiaries. Her appointment is seen as a landmark for gender representation in West African banking and reflects Access Bank’s commitment to diversity and inclusion......…continue reading

💵 FUNDING

New GX Capital secures $28M in funding from Nedbank for clean-tech expansion

South Africa’s New GX Capital secured US$28 million (R488 million) from Nedbank CIB for Airnergize Capital Fund I, its clean-tech investment vehicle launched in April 2025. The raise brings total commitments to US$161 million (R2.8 billion), alongside the fund’s initial US$111 million from RMB Ventures. Led by CEO Khudusela Pitje, Airnergize targets scalable infrastructure across renewable energy, gas, and water in Africa.

A core portfolio asset is Sustainable Power Solutions—formerly Mettle Solar—now a leading commercial and industrial solar and storage platform positioned for expansion in South Africa and selected African markets. Executives say Nedbank is a long-term, like-minded partner whose backing will help scale clean-tech projects that address energy access, water security, and environmental resilience. Deal executive Tebatso Modiba emphasized alignment to build a continent-wide platform under the Airnergize umbrella..........…continue reading

 🏦 BANKING

Revolut applies for full banking licence in South Africa, marking its first step into Africa

Revolut will apply for a full banking licence in South Africa, its first step into Africa, announced on 23 September at the opening of its new London HQ. The 2015-founded fintech serves 65m+ customers and targets 100m by mid-2027 and entry into 30+ markets by 2030. Shifting from e-money models, Revolut will now seek full licences or acquire banks to deliver accounts, loans and investments.

In South Africa, CEO Jacques Meyer says the market is primed for disruption. Rivals include TymeBank (valued R26.7bn), Discovery Bank (1m users by Sept 2024) and Bank Zero (being acquired by Lesaka for R1.1bn). Globally, Revolut gained a UAE payments licence, is exploring a U.S. bank purchase, is fundraising at a $75bn valuation, plans $13bn investment over five years, and expects to add 10,000 jobs......…continue reading

 OTHER STORIES

• Prosus-owned OLX to acquire French auto classifieds platform La Centrale for €1.1 billion...continue reading

• AfricInvest reaches €50M first close for third French-African Fund......…continue reading

• Trump signs executive order finalizing TikTok ownership deal……continue reading

• Global contender eyes Checkers Sixty60’s market share in South Africa…..continue reading

• Ilara Health initiates layoffs amid financing delays and market headwinds…..continue reading

• Moniepoint Named Among UK’s Top Fintech Companies by CNBC…..continue reading

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