The Ghana government will acquire 100% in AirtelTigo, Bharti Airtel’s ailing joint venture with Millicom International Cellular SA in the African country, along with customers, assets, and liabilities.
“The Government of Ghana, Bharti Airtel and Millicom International Cellular, through their respective subsidiaries, today announced they have executed the definitive agreement for the transfer of AirtelTigo to the Ghana government on a going concern basis,” Bharti Airtel said in an official statement Friday.
It added that under “the proposed agreement, the Government of Ghana would acquire 100% shares of AirtelTigo along with all customers, assets and liabilities.
Airtel said that the transaction would entail “a seamless takeover by the Ghana government, post which, AirtelTigo would become and operate as a state entity”.
On Friday, Airtel said it has “already written off its investment and provided for in the prior accounts,” which is why, “no further provisions of any material nature are envisaged”.
Bharti Airtel had merged its Ghana operations with Millicom back in 2017. The merger was then approved by the local regulator subject to the condition that the African country’s government would have the option to buy a stake in the new entity in future.
Original Article: ET Telecom
