Audio By Carbonatix
MTN Group Ltd is on track to meet a divestment target set in March after raising $140 million from asset sales that will slim down Africa’s largest mobile phone operator and refocus it on high-growth markets.
MTN is reviewing a raft of investments under a three-year, 15 billion rand ($996 million) divestment plan that includes shedding loss-making e-commerce assets and exiting countries where it has no prospect of reaching first or second place by market share.
In the first half through June it sold its shareholder loan in ATC Ghana to American Tower Corp for 900 million rand and its interests in investment fund Amadeus and booking website Travelstart for 1.2 billion rand.
It has cut its stake in newly-listed Jumia Technologies to 18.9% from 29.7% after the listing and is in the process of redeeming MTN Nigeria preference shares for $315 million.
“So we’re well on track for our 15 billion rand (target),” Chief Executive Rob Shuter told reporters on Thursday.
The South African firm’s plan to dispose of its minority stake in Mascom Wireless Botswana for $300 million should be concluded in the second half.
MTN shares, which rose on Wednesday to their highest in a year, were down 2.1% by 1331 GMT against a 1% rise in Johannesburg’s Top 40 index.
In the six months through June, group service revenue rose 9.7% to 67.8 billion rand in constant currency terms, led by voice, data and financial services.
Headline earnings per share (HEPS), the main profit measure in South Africa, fell to 195 cents from 215 cents a year earlier, hurt by factors including new accounting standards, interest on fines and foreign exchange moves.
Using the previous accounting standard, HEPS grew 8.8% to 234 cents, while adjusted HEPS grew 12.1%.
Like peers, MTN has been broadening from a mobile player to offering digital and financial services in major markets while still growing its 39.7 billion rand revenue voice business.
Shuter said MTN will launch its music streaming service MusicTime in Nigeria, one of the biggest markets for music streaming, in the second half.
It has also launched its messaging app ayoba in three smaller West African markets and will expand it to other markets such as Nigeria and Ghana.
“For many years we built a network for voice consumers. We’re (now) repurposing it for mobile internet and we’re also repurposing it to service both enterprise and wholesale customers,” Shuter said.
Latest Stories
-
Apinto chiefs demand equity stake in Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine as lease renewal talks continue
2 minutes -
IJM Ghana trains child protection and justice professionals in trauma-informed care
7 minutes -
Aggrieved assembly members to pass vote of no confidence against Ejisu MCE
12 minutes -
Military reaffirms commitment to peace and national unity ahead of Teshie Homowo celebration
13 minutes -
WAFCON 2026: Black Queens name final 25 players for tournament
22 minutes -
Immigrants contribute 9% to South Africa’s GDP despite making up 6.5% of population — Report
34 minutes -
Komfo Anokye Blood Bank appeals for more donors amid fears of blood shortage due to rising road crashes
35 minutes -
Hollard Insurance launches ‘We Cover You’ campaign to boost Insurance awareness
35 minutes -
DVLA to pilot new digital system in August to end illegal number plate embossing and cloning – CEO
39 minutes -
Dominic Nitiwul admits he took on Mahama based on misinformation
41 minutes -
“He never let the trappings of power distance him from the people he served” – Bagbin honours Mills’ legacy
42 minutes -
DVLA working to reduce reliance on ‘Goro Boys’ by expanding access to services – CEO
42 minutes -
Experts urge gov’t to harmonise FDA regulations, expand access under herbal medicines list
50 minutes -
NBA star LeBron James to join Philadelphia 76ers
52 minutes -
Ghana must stop fighting floods only after they occur
58 minutes