MTN Group Limited (“MTN”) (JSE: MTN) announced today that it has agreed to sell its tower portfolios in Rwanda and Zambia to IHS Holding Limited (“IHS”). MTN will sell a total of 1,228 mobile network towers to IHS’s subsidiaries in Rwanda and Zambia, comprised of 524 and 704 towers respectively, for undisclosed amounts.
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MTN announces sale of mobile network towers to IHS in Rwanda and Zambia
1. MTN announces sale of mobile network towers to IHS in
Rwanda and Zambia
December 20th
, 2013: MTN Group Limited (“MTN”) (JSE: MTN) announced today that it has
agreed to sell its tower portfolios in Rwanda and Zambia to IHS Holding Limited (“IHS”). MTN
will sell a total of 1,228 mobile network towers to IHS’s subsidiaries in Rwanda and Zambia,
comprised of 524 and 704 towers respectively, for undisclosed amounts.
The sale of the towers is in line with MTN’s asset optimization strategy which is encompassed in
MTN’s new strategic framework and builds on two previous deals with IHS in Cameroon and
Côté d’Ivoire, for a total of 1,758 towers. “In addition to unlocking value in our passive
infrastructure, we remain cognizant of the need to contain and efficiently manage our cost
structures across the Group as our markets mature and become more competitive. We are
confident these transactions are a positive step towards freeing up management time to focus
on products and services, thereby fulfilling our mission of ‘making our customers’ lives a whole
lot brighter’” said Sifiso Dabengwa, Group President and CEO of MTN Group. Mr. Dabengwa
added, "MTN is pleased to be broadening our partnership with IHS, a leading tower operator
with proven expertise across Africa, to our operations in Rwanda and Zambia."
Issam Darwish, Group CEO of IHS commented: “We are delighted to be extending our
relationship with MTN in Rwanda and Zambia. These latest deals are testament to our
commitment to client service, enabling the most efficient, effective and reliable networks for our
clients. Our strong and trusted relationship with MTN is important to us and we remain
committed to reinforcing their focus on customer service excellence.”
Under the agreements, IHS will acquire and operate the towers and related passive
infrastructure and will invest in a build-to-suit program to support MTN’s future requirements in
both countries. MTN Rwanda and MTN Zambia will become the respective anchor tenants on
the towers for an initial term of ten years.
2. The transactions bring the total number of towers in IHS’s portfolio to 10,500 extending its
leadership in the African market. IHS will market services on the towers in Rwanda and Zambia,
promoting tower sharing and colocation to help drive network improvements, better service to
subscribers and economic growth.
Each transaction is expected to close independently during the first half of 2014, subject to
customary closing conditions.
---ENDS---
3. About MTN Group:
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 22
countries in Africa and the Middle East. MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in
South Africa under the share code: “MTN”. As of 30 June 2013, MTN recorded 202 million
subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo-
Brazzaville, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Iran, Liberia,
Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and
Zambia. For more information visit: www.mtn.com
MTN contact:
Xolisa Vapi
GM: Group Communications
+27 83 200 4363
xolisa.vapi@mtn.com
About IHS Towers:
IHS Towers is Africa’s leading independent mobile telecommunications infrastructure provider.
Founded in 2001, IHS provides services across the full tower value chain – managed services,
deployment, site ownership and colocation. IHS Towers has operations in Nigeria, Cameroon
Côté d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Zambia, Sudan and South Sudan. IHS has 10,500 towers in its tower
portfolio. For more information visit: www.ihstowers.com
IHS Contact:
Will Anderson
Brunswick Group
+44 (0) 20 7396 3594
ihs@brunswickgroup.com