Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH) has entered into a transaction agreement alongside Actis to jointly acquire 100% of independent owners, operators and developers of mast and tower infrastructure Swiftnet from Telkom South Africa, with RMB acting as financial adviser to RBH on the transaction.
With an enterprise value of R6.75-billion, it is one of the largest tower transactions in South Africa to date by deal value.
“The transaction marks a major milestone for RBH, as our first investment in towers. Digital connectivity plays an important role in driving growth for South Africa and has a strong, positive impact on society. The investment by RBH will help drive mobile connectivity across South Africa,” said RBH CEO Albertinah Kekana.
“We are pleased to have been able to advise RBH with a maiden transaction in the towers space. RMB has deep sector expertise both within the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) and African towers space, so we were able to bring that to bear in our advisory approach,” added RMB TMT cohead Arun Varughese, noting that the transaction would help RBH further its goals of investing in attractive digital infrastructure in Africa and expanding its infrastructure portfolio on the continent.
The transaction represents a mutually beneficial arrangement that enables Telkom to de-gear its balance sheet and help unlock value for shareholders, while at the same time supporting the Royal Bafokeng Nation, through RBH, in its strategic focus on investing in infrastructure development that will create sustainable growth and prosperity.
The deal will guarantee access and ensure seamless continuity for Telkom and other mobile operators that rely on the tower infrastructure.