Brands
Anime meets cricket as Crunchyroll backs Proteas
MUMBAI: Cricket just got an animated twist as Cricket South Africa has brought Crunchyroll on board as associate team sponsor for the Proteas Men’s series in India, running from 14 November to 19 December.
The partnership places Crunchyroll’s branding on the team’s jerseys across all formats, including Test, ODI and T20 matches. For Crunchyroll, it marks a bold step into global sport, placing the anime platform front and centre in one of world cricket’s most-watched tours.
The association highlights how anime and cricket share a spirited fandom powered by emotion, drama and storytelling, creating a cultural bridge between India, South Africa and a rapidly growing global audience.
CSA chief executive officer Pholetsi Moseki said, “CSA takes pride in welcoming Crunchyroll as the official team sponsor for the upcoming India series. With anime becoming one of the world’s most dominant entertainment forces, soon to have over a billion viewers, we see this partnership as a celebration of shared values and a drive to connect with global audiences.”
Crunchyroll senior vice president, growth and planning Kartik Gandhi added, “We’re thrilled to partner with Cricket South Africa for this exciting series with India. Cricket and anime both capture the intensity of competition and the joy of shared fandom. This partnership strengthens our ongoing focus on bringing together the worlds of sports and anime, combining the spirit of anime with cricket across two dynamic markets with growing anime fandoms: India and South Africa.”
As the Proteas prepare for a high-voltage tour, their jerseys will carry a fresh pop of culture, proving that on this field, passion plays well across languages, nations and genres.
Brands
Magnum Ice Cream Netherlands takes control of Kwality Wall’s India from Unilever
61.9 per cent stake transfer reshapes ownership as Unilever exits promoter role
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited has entered a new chapter, with The Magnum Ice Cream Company HoldCo 1 Netherlands B.V. acquiring a controlling 61.9 per cent stake from a clutch of Unilever PLC-led entities, marking a significant shift in ownership.
The transaction, completed on March 30, 2026, follows a share purchase agreement signed in June 2025. The incoming promoter picked up over 145 crore equity shares, effectively taking control of the company and being formally classified as its new promoter under regulatory norms.
As part of the deal, the outgoing promoter group, including Unilever Group Limited and its affiliated entities, has fully exited its shareholding in the company. They have now been reclassified from promoter to public shareholders, closing a long-standing association with the ice cream business in India.
The board of Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited took note of the ownership change and approved a series of leadership updates alongside it. Ritesh Tiwari stepped down as director, while Abhijit Bhattacharya was appointed as chairperson and additional non-executive director. Tahir Toloy Tanridagli also joined the board as an additional non-executive director.
The reshuffle signals a broader strategic reset as the Magnum-led entity looks to steer the brand’s next phase of growth in India. The transition has been carried out in line with regulatory requirements, including disclosures tied to the open offer and reclassification norms under market regulations.
With Unilever stepping back and Magnum stepping in, Kwality Wall’s India is effectively getting a fresh scoop of leadership and direction. The coming months will reveal how the new promoter plans to scale the brand in one of the world’s most competitive ice cream markets.
