The French media group Canal+ has officially announced that it has entered into exclusive talks with the cinema chain UGC. The initial aim is to acquire a minority stake of 34 % in the long-established cinema provider. In the long term, Canal+ could take full control of UGC from 2028 - provided that the shareholders approve the transaction.

UGC is one of the largest cinema chains in France and currently operates 55 cinemas, including the popular UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles in Paris. With this investment, Canal+ aims to further expand its presence in the cinema sector and create synergies with StudioCanal, the company's production and distribution arm. CEO Maxime Saada emphasises that the partnership should accelerate StudioCanal's growth and strengthen Canal+'s European market position.

Before the agreement can be finally signed, it still has to go through the planned information and consultation procedures with employee representatives. Canal+ is thus pursuing its strategic expansion in the European entertainment market, which recently included increasing its stake in the streaming service Viu and the planned acquisition of the South African pay-TV group MultiChoice.

With this step, Canal+ is once again signalling that cinema experiences and film distribution will remain central components of the company's strategy.