Avusa Limited

During the fourth quarter of 2007, Mvelaphanda Group acquired 25.5% interest in Avusa. Avusa is a strategic holding for Mvelaphanda Group and provides a platform for participation in the growth and development of a range of assets that cannot be easily replicated.

Avusa is a diversified media and entertainment company with leading brands in its sectors. Its media business comprises more than 20 national, regional and community newspapers, over 25 magazines in consumer, business and specialist fields, as well as digital and broadcast enterprises. Its media brands include the flagship Sunday Times, The Times, Sowetan, Sunday World, Business Day, Financial Mail, Daily Dispatch, The Herald and Airport Media. Magazine brands include SA Home Owner, Longevity, Elle, Elle Decoration and Soccer Life. The digital and broadcast businesses include I-Net Bridge, Career Junction, Summit TV and Learning Channel.

The entertainment business of Avusa comprises NuMetro Theatres, Popcorn Cinema Advertising and NuMetro Home Distribution which hold prestigious distribution licences for 20th Century Fox, Disney, Warner, the BBC, Universal and various independent studios. In addition, Avusa has other value adding business units such as:

• Retail, which operates Exclusive Books and Van Schaik Bookstores;
• Books and maps, which operates major publishing imprints like Struik, Struik Christian Books, Zebra, Oshun and Two Dogs, as well as Map Studio (the biggest compiler and publisher of maps in Africa) and digital mapping business, MAPIT; and
• Music and manufacturing, which operates Gallo Music Group (producer, publisher and distributor of recorded music) and CDT, a manufacturer of CD and DVD products.

More information on Avusa can be obtained from the company’s website: www.avusa.co.za.