RMB funds 25% of a R3.5bn debt raise for IHS Towers

Client challenge

IHS Towers is one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world (by tower count) and the largest independent multinational tower company solely focused on emerging markets. The company has nearly 39,000 towers across 11 markets, including Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Kuwait, Nigeria, Peru, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia.

To continue its infrastructural growth and operations, the company needed a financial partner to raise crucial operating capital.

RMB's solution

Acting as one of the mandated lead arrangers, RMB funded 25% of the debt raise of a landmark R3.5bn transaction for IHS Towers to complete the acquisition of 5,701 towers in South Africa from Mobile Telephone Networks Proprietary Limited (MTN SA) – one of South Africa’s leading mobile telecommunications operators. Under the agreement, IHS Towers is also providing power management services to MTN SA on approximately 13,000 sites, including the acquisition portfolio across South Africa.

Client enablement

IHS Towers will own 70% of the South African towers business with the remaining 30% to be owned by a B-BBEE consortium. With this acquisition, IHS now has an operational footprint in 11 emerging markets with seven in Africa, in addition to four in Latin America and the Middle East, as well as a global tower count of nearly 39,000 towers.