MTN Secures Conditional Approval for $6.2B IHS Deal

MTN Group has secured conditional approval from Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for its proposed $6.2 billion acquisition of IHS Holding Limited. This approval, disclosed in MTN Group’s half-year 2026 financial results, is part of the regulatory approval processes for one of Africa’s largest telecommunications infrastructure transactions.

The FCCPC's approval is contingent upon MTN gradually reducing its ownership in part of the acquired business. This follows the approval from IHS Holding Limited's shareholders for the takeover.

The acquisition is a strategic priority for MTN in the second half of 2026, expected to enhance the Group’s long-term earnings, revenue growth, and free cash flow. Historically, MTN has engaged in sale-and-leaseback agreements with IHS, selling thousands of telecom towers, which this acquisition would reverse by bringing key assets back under MTN’s control.

If completed, this deal would rank among the largest telecom infrastructure acquisitions in Africa.