MTN confirms talks to acquire rest of IHS towers company

MTN Group says it is in advanced talks to buy the remaining 75 percent of IHS Holdings, the towers company in which it is already a major shareholder. The deal would give MTN full control of IHS’s passive infrastructure portfolio, including thousands of towers across several African and other emerging markets.

The operator has been pushing for more influence over IHS in recent years, clashing with the company over governance and strategy. MTN’s move to acquire full ownership would bring the towers business onto its own balance sheet, but the talks may still change or fall through, and any transaction would depend on regulatory and shareholder approvals.