Due to the challenges it currently faces in South Africa and Nigeria, especially with the N330 billion fine from the Federal Government, the MTN Group expects to a negative financial report for the outgone year. Consequently, the anxiety had crashed the firm’s shares to a two-month low at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
Eight analysts polled by Reuters had expected the company to post a 39 per cent fall in headline earnings per share to 455 cents.The group agreed last June to Nigeria a N330 billion ($1.05 billion at the time) fine for missing a deadline to delist unregistered SIM cards from its network.The fine, which was originally set at $5.2 billion, shaved off 474 cents from headline earnings per share, a primary profit gauge that strips out certain one-off items.
Already, MTN had cough out N80 billion to the coffers of government after an agreement was reached for a staggered payment plan. The balance of N250 billion is to be made in six tranches not later than May 31, 2019.
By the terms of agreement, the telecoms firm is to pay N30 billion to the Federal Government by March 31, 2017. In March 31, 2018, it is also to pay another N55 billion and on December 31, 2018, it will part with another N55 billion. Subsequently, on March 31, 2019, it will pay yet a tranche of N55 billion while the balance of N55 billion is to be defrayed on May 31, 2019.
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