MTN Group will acquire 60% of the fintech activities of its subsidiary MTN Nigeria for approximately 60 million USD, as part of an internal reorganization aimed at redistributing risks and supporting the growth of digital financial services.
The operation concerns MoMo Payment Service Bank and Y’ello Digital Financial Services, which respectively provide mobile payment banking services and a network of agents for deposits, withdrawals, and payments.
According to MTN Nigeria, the transaction will be carried out through its subsidiary MTN Group Fintech, through a combination of issuance of new shares and partial buyback of existing securities, based on a valuation of 95.5 billion nairas (60 million USD). The operation involves a capital injection of approximately 152 billion nairas (95 million USD), settled in cash, assets, or a mix of both. At the end of this first phase, MTN Nigeria will retain 40% of the entities.
A second phase involves the creation of a holding company, Fintech HoldCo, owned 60% by MTN Group Fintech and 40% by MTN Nigeria. Subject to approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria, this structure will ultimately hold 100% of both companies.
For MTN Nigeria, this reorganization aims to limit its direct exposure to still deficit fintech activities, by sharing future capital needs, regulatory constraints, and operational risks with its parent company.
The group had already strengthened its position in MoMo in 2024 by increasing its stake to 100% after buying back shares held by a minority investor.
