Renewals Cover Approximately 13,500 Tenancies
Through to End of 2032
Reaffirms Long-Term Partnership with MTN and
Criticality of IHS Infrastructure in Enabling Mobile
Connectivity
IHS in Nigeria, a subsidiary of IHS Holding Limited (NYSE:IHS)
("IHS Towers"), one of the largest independent owners, operators,
and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world
by tower count, and MTN Nigeria (NGX:MTNN), a subsidiary of
Africa’s largest mobile network operator MTN Group (JSE:MTN), today
announced an agreement to renew and extend all Nigerian tower
Master Lease Agreements until December 2032, covering approximately
13,500 tenancy contracts.
With regards to the approximately 2,500 MTN Nigeria tenancies
that had been due to expire at the end of 2024 and in 2025, under
the new terms IHS Towers will renew 1,430 tenancies (including new
colocations).
The renewed and extended contracts include new financial terms
that provide what the parties believe to be a more sustainable
split between local and foreign currency, as well as a new
diesel-linked component. The arrangement is testament to the
criticality of IHS Towers’ infrastructure and the strong
operational links between IHS Towers and MTN, Nigeria’s largest
mobile network operator, with approximately 79 million
subscribers.
Under the new terms, there is a USD component that will continue
to benefit from annual escalators linked to US Consumer Price
Index, a NGN component that will benefit from escalators linked to
Nigerian Consumer Price Index, and a new component indexed to the
cost of providing diesel power, introduced to act as a hedge
against diesel prices and FX fluctuations.
This marks a significant milestone for IHS Towers as it has now
completed the renewal of all tower MLAs in Nigeria, a testament to
the deepened relationship between the two companies.
Sam Darwish, Chairman & CEO, IHS Towers, said, “We
are delighted to announce the renewal and extension of our
agreement with our largest customer, MTN Nigeria. This marks a
significant milestone for IHS Towers as it has completed the
renewal of all tower MLAs in Nigeria, a testament to the deepened
relationship between the two companies. We are cognizant of the
challenges faced in emerging markets and are proud to extend our
relationship into the next decade, working together to navigate
global and local macro conditions while broadening mobile
connectivity in Nigeria through our critical infrastructure.”
About IHS Towers: IHS Towers is one of the largest
independent owners, operators and developers of shared
communications infrastructure in the world by tower count and is
solely focused on the emerging markets. The Company has nearly
40,000 towers across its 10 markets, including Brazil, Cameroon,
Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Kuwait, Nigeria, Rwanda, South
Africa and Zambia. For more information, please email:
communications@ihstowers.com or visit:
https://www.ihstowers.com
Cautionary statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. We
intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by relevant
safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements (or their
equivalent) of any applicable jurisdiction, including those
contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other
than statements of historical facts contained in this press release
may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify
forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,”
“should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,”
“targets,” “projects,” “contemplates," “believes,” “estimates,”
“forecast,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative
of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking
statements contained in this press release include, but are not
limited to statements regarding our future results of operations
and financial position, industry and business trends, business
strategy, plans, market growth, position and our objectives for
future operations, our ability to maintain relationships with
customers and continue to renew customer lease agreements, the
potential benefit of the terms of such renewals, the ongoing impact
of currency and exchange rate fluctuations, and the impact
(illustrative or otherwise) of the new agreements with MTN Nigeria
(including certain rebased fee components) on our financial
results. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on
our current expectations and projections about future events and
financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations. Forward-looking statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important
factors that may cause our actual results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: we may
not successfully execute our business strategy and operating plans
or manage our growth; competition in the tower infrastructure
industry could have a material and adverse effect on our business;
we may become party to disputes and legal, tax and regulatory
proceedings or actions; and increased costs and obligations
incurred as a result of operating as a public company; and the
other important factors discussed in the section titled “Risk
Factors” in IHS Towers’ Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2023. The forward-looking statements in
this press release are based upon information available to us as of
the date of this press release, and while we believe such
information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such
information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should
not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive
inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant
information. These statements are inherently uncertain and
investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
You should read this press release and the documents that we
reference in this press release with the understanding that our
actual future results, performance and achievements may be
materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our
forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. These
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press
release. Except as required by applicable law, we do not assume,
and expressly disclaim, any obligation to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statements contained in this press release,
whether as a result of any new information, future events or
otherwise. Additionally, references to our website and other
documents contained in this press release are provided for
convenience only, and their content is not incorporated by
reference into this press release.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240805482809/en/
Giles Bethule / Akash Lodh FGS Global
Giles.Bethule@fgsglobal.com / Akash.Lodh@fgsglobal.com +44 207 251
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