No be small matter o! MTN don agree to buy IHS Holding Limited for big money wey be $6.2 billion. Na di largest digital infrastructure deal wey don happen for Africa! E mean say MTN go stop to be tenant wey dey collect lease, instead, dem go own di whole IHS matter!
For di deal wey dem announce on Tuesday, IHS shareholders go get $8.50 per share, and dis offer na 239% premium to di share price wey dey ground since March 2024. So, dem wey hold IHS shares go gbadun am well well!
Dis merger na big shift for MTN because for past ten years, many African telecom firms dey sell dem tower assets to independent companies. But now, as data demand dey increase for Africa, MTN wan regain control. Ralph Mupita, di CEO of MTN, talk say dis deal go help dem strengthen dem position for future growth.
IHS don become one of di largest independent tower companies wey dey operate for 11 countries, wey don collect about 40,000 towers at dem peak. Di board of IHS don approve di agreement, and dem dey recommend make shareholders vote in favor. E mean say, with long-term shareholder Wendel support, dem don collect over 40% majority already!
Di transaction go fit complete for 2026, but e need shareholders and regulators approval first. Na combination of MTN own stake, cash from dem side, and IHS balance sheet go finance di deal. E go make sense if dem fit sell dem Latin American tower operations wey dey pending.
As e be, dis acquisition go create di largest standalone tower company under MTN. Wetin dis mean be say, dem go tie network operations tightly with di physical structure wey remain very important for Nigeria’s connectivity. Na so dem dey notice sey naija telecom market dey change, and everyone dey open eye for dis new twist wey fit change di game!
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