American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT) and MTN Group Limited ("MTN
Group”) (JSE: MTN) today announced that they have entered into a
definitive agreement to establish a joint venture in Ghana ("TowerCo
Ghana”). TowerCo Ghana, which will be managed by American Tower, will be
owned by a holding company of which a wholly owned American Tower
subsidiary will hold a 51% share and a wholly owned MTN Group subsidiary
will hold a 49% share. The transaction involves the sale of up to 1,876
of MTN Ghana’s existing sites to TowerCo Ghana for an agreed purchase
price of up to approximately $428.3 million, of which American Tower
will pay up to approximately $218.5 million for its 51% stake in the
holding company. MTN Ghana will be the anchor tenant, on commercial
terms, on each of the towers being purchased. American Tower also
expects that TowerCo Ghana will build at least an additional 400 sites
for both MTN Ghana and other wireless operators in Ghana over the next
five years. The transaction is expected to close by early 2011, subject
to customary closing conditions.
"We are pleased to announce the launch of our operations in Ghana in
partnership with MTN, Africa’s largest mobile operator,” said Jim
Taiclet, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of American
Tower Corporation. "Creating an independent tower company in Ghana
reflects the execution of our strategy to invest in selected African
markets with strong wireless growth potential and a positive investment
climate. As a partner, MTN’s stature, vision and operational experience
in Africa are highly complementary. Combined with our tower leasing
expertise, we believe TowerCo Ghana is exceptionally well placed to
maximize the market opportunity in Ghana.”
Group President and CEO of MTN Group, Phuthuma Nhleko, added that
"Infrastructure sharing makes absolute sense for MTN and was a key
aspect of the updated strategy outlined to MTN shareholders on 15 July
2010. We have in the recent past looked at various permutations to
reduce our infrastructure roll-out costs as well as the on-going costs
of operating our passive infrastructure in our key markets. Because
market conditions in each of the markets are unique, we have resolved to
evaluate infrastructure sharing opportunities on a market by market
basis. The Ghanaian market has presented us with an opportunity to
partner with a leading independent global tower operator. We have
already established a good working relationship with the team at
American Tower, who have demonstrated their extensive experience in
operating towers in both the developed world and in emerging markets,”
concluded Nhleko.
About American Tower
American Tower is a leading independent owner, operator and developer of
broadcast and wireless communications sites. American Tower currently
owns and operates over 33,000 communications sites in the United States,
Latin America and India. For more information about American Tower,
please visit www.americantower.com.
About MTN Group
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications
group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa
under the share code: "MTN.” As of 30 September 2010, MTN recorded 134.4
million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin,
Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea
Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville),
Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia.
Visit us at www.mtn.com
and www.mtnfootball.com.
