IHS Holding (NYSE: IHS) posts Q1 2026 profit and agrees $8.50-per-share MTN buyout
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
IHS Holding Limited reported stronger first-quarter 2026 results and detailed major strategic transactions. Revenue from continuing operations rose to $415.4m from $392.1m, while income from continuing operations increased to $67.1m. Including discontinued operations, income reached $77.0m, with basic income per share of $0.23.
Net cash from operating activities improved to $228.6m, lifting cash and cash equivalents to $966.5m as of March 31, 2026, against total borrowings of $3,241.6m. The Latam tower and fiber businesses are classified as discontinued operations and held for sale, with related assets of $1,504.9m and liabilities of $513.4m.
The company signed agreements to sell its 51.0% stake in I-Systems to TIM S.A. and its Latam tower operations to Macquarie Asset Management, with the tower sale reflecting an enterprise value of about $952m. It also entered into a merger agreement under which MTN Group will acquire IHS for $8.50 per share in cash, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and completion of the Latam disposals.
Positive
- Improved profitability and cash generation: Income for the period rose to $77.0m from $30.7m, basic income per share increased to $0.23, and net cash from operating activities reached $228.6m, strengthening liquidity with cash and cash equivalents of $966.5m.
Negative
- High leverage and transaction execution risk: Total borrowings of $3,241.6m remain substantial, and completion of the MTN cash merger depends on meeting cash and indebtedness conditions and successfully closing large Latam asset sales subject to regulatory and financing approvals.
Insights
Q1 profitability is solid and the MTN cash merger would fundamentally change IHS’s equity story.
IHS generated income of $77.0m for the quarter, up from $30.7m a year earlier, with basic income per share rising to $0.23. Operating cash flow of $228.6m supported a cash balance of $966.5m against total borrowings of $3,241.6m, indicating meaningful leverage but also strong cash generation.
Strategically, the company is exiting Latin America through the agreed sale of its tower operations to Macquarie Asset Management at an enterprise value of approximately $952m and the completed disposal of its 51.0% I-Systems stake to TIM S.A. These moves simplify the footprint and are tied directly to the announced all-cash merger with MTN Group at $8.50 per share.
The merger and disposals are interdependent: completion of the MTN transaction requires specified cash and indebtedness levels, which depend on successfully closing the Latam sales. Termination fees of $104.29m for IHS or $148.98m for MTN under certain scenarios underline the transaction’s significance. Subsequent disclosures will show whether regulatory approvals, shareholder approval and capital-raise conditions are satisfied.
Key Figures
Key Terms
Adjusted EBITDA financial
discontinued operations financial
non-deliverable forwards financial
going concern financial
merger agreement financial
disposal groups financial
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of May, 2026
Commission File Number: 001-40876
IHS Holding Limited
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
1 Cathedral Piazza
123 Victoria Street
London SW1E 5BP
United Kingdom
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐
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Exhibit Index
Exhibit | | Description |
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99.1 | | Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements of IHS Holding Limited for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
| | IHS Holding Limited | |
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Date: May 12, 2026 | | By: | /s/ Steve Howden |
| | | Steve Howden |
| | | Executive Vice President and Chief |
| | | Financial Officer |
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Exhibit 99.1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION | |
Item 1. Interim Financial Statements | 8 |
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income/(Loss) and Other Comprehensive (Loss)/Income (Unaudited) | 9 |
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position (Unaudited) | 10 |
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (Unaudited) | 11 |
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited) | 12 |
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements | 13 |
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 33 |
Key Financial and Operational Performance Indicators | 42 |
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Form 6-K contains forward-looking statements. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by relevant safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements (or their equivalent) of any applicable jurisdiction, including those contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Form 6-K may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “targets,” “commits,” “projects,” “contemplates," “believes,” “estimates,” “forecast,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this Form 6-K include, but are not limited to statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, future organic growth, industry and business trends, business strategy and plans, the consummation of the transactions that we have announced, including the transactions contemplated by the recent stock purchase agreement with TIM S.A., the recent stock purchase agreement with Latam Towers Infrastructure, LLC and the merger agreement with MTN Group Limited, and the funding and timing of the anticipated transactions, shareholder value creation (including productivity enhancements and cost reductions, as well as our ability to refinance or meet our debt obligations), our market growth, position and our objectives for future operations, including our ability to maintain relationships with customers, the potential benefit of the terms of our contract renewals, the impact (illustrative or otherwise) of the renewed agreements with MTN Nigeria (including certain rebased fee components) on our financial results, the impact of currency and exchange rate fluctuations (including the fluctuations of the Naira) and other economic and geopolitical factors on our future results and operations, our objectives for future operations, and the timing of any of the foregoing.
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:
| ● | non-performance under or termination, non-renewal or material modification of our customer agreements; |
| ● | volatility in terms of timing for settlement of invoices or our inability to collect amounts due under invoices; |
| ● | a reduction in the creditworthiness and financial strength of our customers; |
| ● | the business, legal and political risks in the countries in which we operate; |
| ● | general macroeconomic conditions in the countries in which we operate and the wider global economy, including any impact of potential tariffs imposed by foreign governments; |
| ● | changes to existing or new tax laws, rates or fees; |
| ● | foreign exchange risks, particularly in relation to the Nigerian Naira, and/or ability to hedge against such risks in our commercial agreements or to access U.S. dollars in our markets; |
| ● | the effect of regional or global health pandemics, geopolitical conflicts and wars and acts of terrorism including, but not limited to, or as a result of, political instability, religious differences, ethnicity and regionalism in emerging and less developed markets, as well as recent hostilities involving Iran and related developments in the Middle East, which may affect oil productions, trade routes and global energy markets; |
| ● | our inability to successfully execute our business strategy and operating plans, including our ability to increase the number of Colocations and Lease Amendments on our Towers and construct New Sites or develop business related to adjacent telecommunications verticals (including, for example, relating to our fiber businesses in Latin America and elsewhere) or deliver on our sustainability or environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and initiatives under anticipated costs, timelines, and complexity, such as our Carbon Reduction Roadmap (and Project Green); |
| ● | our inability to successfully execute our business strategy and operating plans, and manage our growth; |
| ● | our reliance on third-party contractors or suppliers, including failure, underperformance or inability to provide products or services to us (in a timely manner or at all) due to sanctions regulations, supply chain issues or for other reasons; |
| ● | our estimates and assumptions and estimated operating results may differ materially from actual results; |
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| ● | increases in operating expenses, including fluctuating costs for diesel or ground leases; |
| ● | failure to renew or extend our ground leases, or protect our rights to access and operate our Towers or other telecommunications infrastructure assets; |
| ● | loss of tenancies or customers; |
| ● | risks related to our indebtedness; |
| ● | changes to the network deployment plans of mobile operators in the countries in which we operate; |
| ● | a reduction in demand for our services; |
| ● | the introduction of new technology reducing the need for tower infrastructure and/or adjacent telecommunication verticals; |
| ● | an increase in competition in the telecommunications tower infrastructure industry and/or adjacent telecommunication verticals; |
| ● | our failure to integrate recent or future acquisitions; |
| ● | the identification by management of material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, which could affect our ability to produce accurate financial statements on a timely basis or cause us to fail to meet our future reporting obligations; |
| ● | potential uncertainty and contingencies related to consummation of the transactions contemplated by the recently announced stock purchase agreements with TIM S.A. and Latam Towers Infrastructure, LLC, respectively, and the merger agreement with MTN Group Limited; |
| ● | increased costs, harm to reputation, or other adverse impacts related to increased intention to and evolving expectations for environmental, social and governance initiatives; |
| ● | our reliance on our senior management team and/or key employees; |
| ● | failure to obtain required approvals and licenses for some of our sites or businesses or comply with applicable regulations; |
| ● | inability to raise financing to fund future growth opportunities or operating expense reduction strategies; |
| ● | environmental liability; |
| ● | inadequate insurance coverage, property loss and unforeseen business interruption; |
| ● | compliance with or violations (or alleged violations) of laws, regulations and sanctions, including but not limited to those relating to telecommunications regulatory systems, tax, labor, employment (including new minimum wage regulations), unions, health and safety, antitrust and competition, environmental protection, consumer protection, data privacy and protection, import/export, foreign exchange or currency, and of anti-bribery, anti-corruption and/or money laundering laws, sanctions and regulations; |
| ● | disruptions in our supply of diesel or other materials, as well as related price fluctuations; |
| ● | legal and arbitration proceedings; |
| ● | our reliance on shareholder support (including to invest in growth opportunities) and related party transaction risks; |
| ● | risks related to the markets in which we operate, including but not limited to local community opposition to some of our sites or infrastructure, and the risks from our investments into emerging and other less developed markets; |
| ● | injury, illness or death of employees, contractors or third parties arising from health and safety incidents; |
| ● | loss or damage of assets due to security issues or civil commotion; |
| ● | loss or damage resulting from attacks on any information technology system or software; |
| ● | loss or damage of assets due to extreme weather events whether or not due to climate change; |
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| ● | failure to meet the requirements of accurate and timely financial reporting and/or meet the standards of internal control over financial reporting that support a clean certification under the Sarbanes Oxley Act; |
| ● | risks related to our status as a foreign private issuer; and |
| ● | the important factors discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. |
The forward-looking statements in this Form 6-K are based upon information available to us as of the date of this Form 6-K, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements. You should read this Form 6-K and the documents that we reference in this Form 6-K with the understanding that our actual future results, performance and achievements may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Additionally, we may provide information herein that is not necessarily “material” under the federal securities laws for SEC reporting purposes, but that is informed by various ESG standards and frameworks (including standards for the measurement of underlying data), and the interests of various stakeholders. Particularly in the ESG context, materiality is subject to various definitions that often differ from, and are generally more expansive than, the definition under US federal securities laws. Much of this information is subject to assumptions, estimates or third-party information that is still evolving and subject to change. For example, we note that standards and expectations regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting and the processes for measuring and counting GHG emissions and GHG emissions reductions are evolving, and it is possible that our approaches both to measuring our emissions and any reductions may be at some point, either currently or in future, considered by certain parties to not be in keeping with best practices. In addition, our disclosures based on any standards may change due to revisions in framework requirements, availability of information, changes in our business or applicable government policies, or other factors, some of which may be beyond our control. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Form 6-K. Except as required by applicable law, we do not assume, and expressly disclaim, any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this Form 6-K, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, references to any website or other documents contained in this Form 6-K are provided for convenience only, and their content is not incorporated by reference into this Form 6-K.
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CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS
Unless the context provides otherwise, references herein to:
| ● | “2026 Notes” refers to our $500 million 5.625% Senior Notes due 2026. |
| ● | “2027 Notes” refers to our $940 million 8.000% Senior Notes due 2027. |
| ● | “2028 Notes” refers to our $500 million 6.250% Senior Notes due 2028. |
| ● | “2030 Notes” refers to our $550 million 7.875% Senior Notes due 2030. |
| ● | “2031 Notes” refers to our $650 million 8.250% Senior Notes due 2031. |
| ● | “Airtel Nigeria” refers to Airtel Networks Limited, a subsidiary of Airtel Africa. |
| ● | “Articles” refers to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, adopted by special resolution dated June 28, 2024. |
| ● | “Brazilian Real”, “BRL” and “R$” refers to the lawful currency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. |
| ● | “Carbon Reduction Roadmap” refers to our strategy for decreasing our emissions, including a goal to reduce the Scope 1 and Scope 2 kilowatt-hour emissions intensity of our tower portfolio by 50% by 2030, using 2021 emissions data as the baseline. |
| ● | “CBN” refers to the Central Bank of Nigeria. |
| ● | “Churn” refers to the loss of tenancies when services provided by us are terminated, a Tenant does not renew its contract or we have ceased recognizing revenue for sites under a customer’s contract in any particular period, adjusted for the reintegration of previously lost tenancies. When we decommission a site and move a customer from one of our sites to another site to rationalize our portfolio, this is not included in Churn. |
| ● | “Colocation” refers to the installation of equipment on existing towers for a new tenant alongside current Tenants. |
| ● | “Colocation Rate” refers to the average number of Tenants per Tower across our portfolio at a given point in time. We calculate the Colocation Rate by dividing the total number of Tenants across our portfolio by the total number of Towers across our portfolio at a given time. |
| ● | “Contracted Revenue” refers to lease fees to be received from the existing Tenants of Key Customers for the remainder of each Tenant’s current contractual site lease term, lease fees to be received from the existing Lease Amendments of Key Customers for the remainder of each Lease Amendment’s current contractual term and lease fees to be received from Key Customers where we provide fiber access to an OLT for the remainder of the relevant contractual term, as of a specified date. In aggregating Contracted Revenue, we have taken the average lease rate for our Key Customers as of March 31, 2026, which is applied to the remaining term of the tenancies, lease amendments and fiber access of each Key Customer, assuming constant foreign exchange rates, no escalation of lease rates despite contractual provisions in our MLAs in that regard, no new Tenants, new Lease Amendments or new access to fiber, no amendments to our existing MLA terms and no Churn. See “Risk Factors — Our Contracted Revenue is based on certain estimates and assumptions and actual results may differ materially from such estimated operating results.” |
| ● | “euro” or “€” refer to the currency introduced at the start of the third stage of European economic and monetary union pursuant to the treaty establishing the European Community, as amended. |
| ● | “IFRS” refers to International Financial Reporting Standards which have been developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). |
| ● | “IHS Nigeria” refers to IHS (Nigeria) Limited, one of our operating subsidiaries in Nigeria. |
| ● | “INT Towers” refers to INT Towers Limited, one of our operating subsidiaries in Nigeria. |
| ● | “I-Systems” refers to I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A., one of our operating subsidiaries in Brazil. |
| ● | “Key Customers” refers to key customers during the period, being the MTN Customers, Orange Cameroun S.A., or Orange Cameroon, Orange Côte d’Ivoire S.A., or Orange Côte d’Ivoire, T2 (until the third quarter of |
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| 2025), Airtel Nigeria, Airtel Networks Zambia PLC, or Airtel Zambia, Airtel Rwanda Limited, or Airtel Rwanda (until October 2025), Claro S.A., or Claro Brazil, TIM Cellular S.A., or TIM Brasil, Telefonica Brasil S.A., or Vivo Brazil, Colombia Móvile S.A. E.S.P., or Tigo Colombia, COMSEL S.A., or Claro Colombia, Oi S.A., or Oi Brazil and Telkom South Africa. |
| ● | "Latam” refers to our business segment that includes our markets in Latin America, which currently are Brazil and Colombia, but historically included Peru prior to the completion of the sale in April 2024. |
| ● | “Lease Amendments” refers to the installation of additional equipment on a site or the provision of certain ancillary services for an existing Tenant, for which we charge our customers a recurring lease fee. |
| ● | “LTE” refers to long-term evolution, a standard for high-speed wireless communication for mobile devices and data terminals. We refer to LTE and 4G interchangeably in this Report. |
| ● | “Managed Services” refers to when MNOs outsource the day-to-day operations of their owned towers or other towers on which they are present, including maintenance, security and power supply. |
| ● | "MENA” refers to our business segment that included our markets in the Middle East and North Africa region, which were Egypt and Kuwait. |
| ● | “MLA” refers to the long-term lease agreements we enter into with our customers, including but not limited to master lease agreements, master services agreements, infrastructure sharing agreements, master tower space use/license agreements and MLL agreements. |
| ● | “MLL” refers to towers we manage with a license to lease for a defined period. Where there is an MLL agreement, we have the right to lease out space on the tower to other MNOs and provide services, generating further revenue for ourselves. The site owner typically reduces its operating costs and eliminates capital expenditures. |
| ● | “MNOs” refers to mobile network operators. |
| ● | “MTN Customers” refers to MTN Nigeria, MTN Côte d’Ivoire S.A., or MTN Côte d’Ivoire, MTN Cameroon Limited, or MTN Cameroon, MTN Zambia Limited, or MTN Zambia, MTN Rwandacell Limited, or MTN Rwanda (until October 2025), or MTN South Africa. |
| ● | “MTN Group” refers to MTN Group Limited and its subsidiaries, one of which is one of our shareholders as well as a related party of certain MTN operating entities that are our customers in the countries in which we currently operate. In each African market in which we currently operate, one of the MTN operating entities is a customer of ours. |
| ● | “MTN Nigeria” refers to MTN Nigeria Communications PLC. |
| ● | “MTN SA Acquisition” refers to the acquisition of 5,691 towers from MTN South Africa in May 2022. We signed a shareholding agreement with a consortium of B-BBEE parties in September 2024 which received regulatory approval in December 2024 and completed on January 14, 2025, following which IHS Towers owns 69.93% of the South African Towers business with the remaining 30.07% owned by the B-BBEE consortium. |
| ● | “MTN South Africa” refers to Mobile Telephone Networks Proprietary Limited. |
| ● | “NAFEM”, refers to the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market introduced by the CBN in October 2023 to rename the Investors’ and Exporters’ foreign exchange trading window implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria in April 2017. |
| ● | “Naira”, “NGN” and “₦” refers to the lawful currency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. |
| ● | “New Sites” refers to Towers owned and operated by the Group constructed through build-to-suit arrangements for the initial Tenant. |
| ● | “NFEM”, refers to the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market which was introduced in December 2024 to replace NAFEM. The pricing of all foreign exchange transactions in the NFEM are required to be undertaken on the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (“EFEMS”). |
| ● | “OLT” refers to an optical line terminal or optical line termination, which is a device which serves as the service provider endpoint of a passive optical network. |
| ● | “Project Green” refers to the current phase of our Carbon Reduction Roadmap. |
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| ● | “Rwanda Disposal” refers to the disposal of our 100% interest in IHS Rwanda Limited to Paradigm Tower Ventures. The transaction completed in October 2025. |
| ● | “Senior Notes” refers to the 2026 Notes, the 2027 Notes, the 2028 Notes, the 2030 Notes and the 2031 Notes, collectively. |
| ● | “South African Rand” and “ZAR” refers to the lawful currency of the Republic of South Africa. |
| ● | “sites” refers to towers that are owned or operated by us. |
| ● | “SSA” refers to our business segment that includes our markets in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa, which currently are Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa and Zambia. Until October 9, 2025 this business segment also included Rwanda. |
| ● | “subscribers” refers to the number of active subscriber identification module, or SIM, cards in service rather than the number of services provided (excluding machine to machine connections). For example, if a subscriber has both a data and voice plan on a smartphone this would equate to one subscriber. Alternatively, a subscriber who has a data and voice plan for a smartphone and a data plan for a tablet would be counted as two subscribers. |
| ● | “T2” refers to Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited, which was previously known as 9mobile and Etisalat Nigeria. |
| ● | “Tenants” refers to the number of distinct customers who have leased space on each Tower across our portfolio. For example, if one customer had leased tower space on five of our Towers, we would have five Tenants. |
| ● | “Towers” refers to ground-based towers, rooftop and wall-mounted towers, cell poles, in-building solutions, small cells, distributed antenna systems and cells-on-wheels, each of which is deployed to support wireless transmission equipment. We measure the number of Towers in our portfolio at a given time by counting the number of Towers that we own or operate with at least one Tenant. The number of Towers in our portfolio excludes any towers for which we provide managed services. |
| ● | “U.S dollar”, “USD” or “$” refer to U.S. dollars. |
| ● | “ZedMobile” refers to the trading name of Beeline Telecom Limited. |
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PART I ‒ FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Interim Financial Statements
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)/INCOME (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2026, AND 2025
Three months ended | ||||||
| | March 31, | | March 31, | ||
2026 | 2025(a) | |||||
Notes | $’m | $’m | ||||
Continuing operations | ||||||
Revenue |
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Cost of sales |
| 6 | ( | ( | ||
Administrative expenses |
| 7 | ( | ( | ||
Other income |
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Operating income |
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Finance income |
| 8 | | | ||
Finance costs |
| 9 | ( | ( | ||
Income before income tax |
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Income tax expense |
| 10 | ( | ( | ||
Income from continuing operations | | | ||||
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations | 20 | | ( | |||
Income for the period |
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Attributable to: |
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Owners of the Company |
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Non‑controlling interests |
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Income for the period |
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Income/(loss) attributable to owners arises from: | ||||||
Continuing operations | | | ||||
Discontinued operations | | ( | ||||
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Income per share from continuing operations | ||||||
Income per share ($) - basic |
| 11 | | | ||
Income per share ($) - diluted |
| 11 | | | ||
Income per share | ||||||
Income per share ($) - basic | 11 | |||||
Income per share ($) - diluted | 11 | |||||
Other comprehensive (loss)/income: |
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Items that may be reclassified to income or loss |
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Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations |
| | ( | | ||
Other comprehensive (loss)/income for the period, net of taxes |
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Total comprehensive income for the period |
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Attributable to: |
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Owners of the Company |
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Non‑controlling interests |
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Total comprehensive income for the period |
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Total comprehensive income for the period attributable to owners arises from: |
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Continuing operations |
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Discontinued operations |
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| (a) |
The notes on pages 13 to 32 form part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (UNAUDITED)
AT MARCH 31, 2026, AND DECEMBER 31, 2025
| | March 31, | | December 31, | ||
2026 | 2025 | |||||
Notes | $'m | $'m | ||||
Non‑current assets |
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Property, plant and equipment |
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Right-of-use assets |
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Goodwill |
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Other intangible assets |
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Deferred income tax assets |
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Derivative financial instrument assets |
| 12 |
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Trade and other receivables |
| 13 |
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Current assets |
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Inventories |
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Income tax receivable |
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Trade and other receivables |
| 13 |
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Cash and cash equivalents(a) |
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Assets held for sale | 20 | | | |||
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TOTAL ASSETS |
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Non‑current liabilities |
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Trade and other payables |
| 14 | |
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Borrowings |
| 15 | |
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Lease liabilities |
| 16 | |
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Provisions for other liabilities and charges |
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Deferred income tax liabilities |
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Current liabilities |
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Trade and other payables |
| 14 |
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Provisions for other liabilities and charges |
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Derivative financial instrument liabilities |
| 12 |
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| — |
Income tax payable |
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Borrowings |
| 15 |
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Lease liabilities |
| 16 |
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Liabilities held for sale | 20 | | | |||
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TOTAL LIABILITIES |
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Stated capital |
| 17 | |
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Accumulated losses |
| | ( |
| ( | |
Other reserves |
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Equity attributable to owners of the Company |
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| ( | |
Non‑controlling interests |
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TOTAL EQUITY |
| | ( |
| ( | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |
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| (a) |
The notes on pages 13 to 32 form part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2026, AND 2025
Attributable to owners of the Company | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
| Non‑ |
| ||||||
Stated | Accumulated | Other | controlling | Total | ||||||||
capital | losses | reserves | Total | interests | equity | |||||||
$'m | $'m | $'m | $'m | $'m | $'m | |||||||
At January 1, 2025 |
| | ( | | ( | | ( | |||||
Exercise of share options |
| | — | ( | — | — | — | |||||
Share‑based payment expense | — | — | | | — | | ||||||
Total transactions with owners |
| | — | ( | | — | | |||||
Income/(loss) for the period |
| — | | — | | ( | | |||||
Other comprehensive income |
| — | — | | | | | |||||
Total comprehensive income |
| — | | | | | | |||||
At March 31, 2025(a) |
| | ( | | ( | | ( | |||||
| ||||||||||||
At January 1, 2026 | | ( | | ( | | ( | ||||||
Exercise of share options | | — | ( | — | — | — | ||||||
Share‑based payment expense |
| — | — | | | — | | |||||
Total transactions with owners |
| | — | | | — | | |||||
Income for the period |
| — | | — | | | | |||||
Other comprehensive (loss)/income |
| — | — | ( | ( | | ( | |||||
Total comprehensive income/(loss) |
| — | | ( | | | | |||||
At March 31, 2026 |
| | ( | | ( | | ( | |||||
| (a) |
The notes on pages 13 to 32 form part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2026, AND 2025
Three months ended | ||||||
| | March 31, | March 31, | |||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | ||
Note | $'m | $'m | ||||
Cash flows from operating activities | | | | |||
Cash from operations | 18 | | | |||
Income taxes paid | ( | ( | ||||
Net cash from operating activities | | | ||||
Cash flow from investing activities | | | ||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | ( | ( | ||||
Payment in advance for property, plant and equipment | ( | ( | ||||
Purchase of software and licenses | — | ( | ||||
Proceeds from sale of subsidiaries | | — | ||||
Net proceeds relating to disposal of property, plant and equipment | | | ||||
Insurance claims received | — | | ||||
Interest received | | | ||||
Deposit of short-term deposits | ( | ( | ||||
Refund of short-term deposits | | | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ( | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities | | | ||||
Repayment of borrowings | ( | ( | ||||
Fees on borrowings and derivative instruments | ( | ( | ||||
Interest paid | ( | ( | ||||
Payment for the principal portion of lease liabilities | ( | ( | ||||
Interest paid for lease liabilities | ( | ( | ||||
Interest paid on derivative instruments | — | ( | ||||
Net cash used in financing activities | ( | ( | ||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | | | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | | | ||||
Exchange differences | ( | ( | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period(a) | | | ||||
The notes on pages 13 to 32 form part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
| (a) |
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.General Information
The financial statements are the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements (hereafter “financial statements”) of IHS Holding Limited (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together hereafter referred to as the “Group”). IHS Holding Limited is incorporated in the Cayman Islands under the Companies Act (as amended) as an exempted company with limited liability. The Company is domiciled in the Cayman Islands and the address of its registered office is 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, Cayman Islands.
IHS is principally involved in providing infrastructure for the telecommunications industry. The financial period presented comprises the three months ended March 31, 2026, along with its comparative prior period. The financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars ($) in millions, except where otherwise indicated. Certain columns and rows in financial tables within management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations may not add due to rounding. Percentages have been calculated from the underlying whole-dollar amounts for all periods presented.
2.Summary of material accounting policies
2.1Basis of preparation
The financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2026, have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, ‘Interim Financial Reporting’ (“IAS 34”), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS® Accounting Standards”).
The condensed financial statements do not amount to full financial statements and do not include all of the information and disclosures required for full consolidated annual financial statements. These should be read in conjunction with the consolidated annual financial statements of the Group for the year ended December 31, 2025, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRS® Accounting Standards as issued by the IASB, as noted within note 2.1 of the consolidated annual financial statements.
In management’s opinion, the accompanying financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the Group’s financial position as of March 31, 2026, and its results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and 2025, cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and 2025, and statement of changes in equity for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and 2025. The condensed consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2025, was derived from audited consolidated annual financial statements but does not contain all of the footnote disclosures from the consolidated annual financial statements.
2.2Approval
These condensed consolidated interim financial statements were authorized and approved for issue on May 11, 2026.
2.3Income tax
Income tax expense for the interim period is recognized based on the Group’s estimated annual effective income tax rate expected for the full financial year on an entity basis, applied to profit before tax for the interim period. The estimated annual effective tax rate is calculated separately for each entity, incorporating the expected statutory tax rates, tax incentives and non-deductible items across the countries in which the Group operates.
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
2.4Changes in accounting policies and disclosures
The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year and corresponding interim reporting period, except the new standards, amendments and interpretations adopted by the Group during the period.
The Group has applied the following standards, amendments and interpretations for its reporting period commencing January 1, 2026:
| ● | Amendments to the Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments (Amendments to: IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (“IFRS 9”) and IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures (“IFRS 7”)); |
| ● | Annual Improvements to IFRS Accounting Standards – Volume 11; and |
| ● | Contracts Referencing Nature-dependent Electricity (Amendments to: IFRS 9 and IFRS 7). |
The above did not have a material impact on the Group’s financial statements. However, in applying the Amendments to the Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments, the Group has elected the accounting policy option in IFRS 9 to derecognize financial liabilities settled in cash using an electronic payment system when it loses the practical ability to access the cash used to discharge the liability, which is generally when the related payment instruction is irrevocably processed.
Certain new standards and amendments have been published that are not yet effective for March 31, 2026 reporting period and have not been early adopted by the Group. These are as follows:
| ● | Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements (IFRS 18 Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements (“IFRS 18”)); |
| ● | Translation to a Hyperinflationary Presentation Currency (Amendments to: IAS 21); and |
| ● | Subsidiaries without Public Accountability: Disclosures (Amendment to IFRS 19). |
The Company is in the process of analyzing the impact of the above.
When the number of shares under share-based payment arrangement, or an estimated liability under an employee long-term benefit arrangement (excluding post-employment and termination benefits) changes, and/or the service period for either is reduced, this results in accelerated expense recognition in the current period, by way of updating the cumulative expense recognized up to the reporting date. The expense for the revised remaining vesting period is recognized prospectively.
This accounting policy has been applied in the current period to certain management incentive schemes, following the February 2026 announcement by the Group that it had entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by MTN Group Limited (see note 7 for further details). The expense recognized includes an estimated charge for the service period to date for a discretionary long-term incentive scheme under which certain employees may become eligible to receive one-time cash payments in connection with the completion of merger and Latam disposal transactions for a discretionary amount that is no greater than $
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
3.Critical accounting estimates and judgments
The preparation of interim financial statements requires management to make certain judgments, accounting estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for the assets and liabilities as of the end of the reporting period and the amounts reported for revenues and expenses during the period. The nature of the estimation means that actual outcomes could differ from those estimates.
In preparing these condensed consolidated interim financial statements, the significant judgments made by management in applying the Group’s accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those that applied to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025.
(a)Going Concern
As part of their regular assessment of the Group’s liquidity and financing position, the Directors have prepared detailed forecasts for a period which extends beyond 12 months after the date of approval of these financial statements. In assessing the forecasts, the Directors have considered:
| ● | the current economic conditions in the operating markets and the impact on trading performance; |
| ● | the impact of macroeconomic factors, particularly interest rates and foreign exchange rates and the ongoing impact of geopolitical conflicts and wars; |
| ● | the status of the Group’s financial arrangements and recent activities (see also note 15); |
| ● | mitigating actions available should business activities fall behind current expectations; and |
| ● | additional sensitivity analysis under a stressed scenario to assess the impact of a severe but plausible downside case. |
In addition, the Directors have considered the following:
| ● | the Group had cash and cash equivalents of $ |
| ● | the Group has assessed its current cash reserves and the availability of undrawn facilities and continues to monitor available liquidity in the context of ongoing operational requirements and planned capital expenditure; |
| ● | all of the Group’s operations are cash generative; and |
| ● | our IT team monitors the risk of fraud, data or security breaches, loss of data and the potential for other cyber-related attacks and utilizes security measures to mitigate such risks. |
In the quarter, the Group signed agreements to dispose of its Latam tower and fiber operations. The fiber disposal completed in May 2026, generating significant cash inflows and improving the Group’s liquidity, while the Latam tower disposal is expected to complete within the Group’s going concern assessment period, and is anticipated to generate significant cash inflows and improved liquidity.
During the quarter, the Group signed a merger agreement to be acquired by MTN Group for cash consideration of $
Having carefully considered the factors noted above, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least 12 months from the date of issuance of these financial statements and to operate within the covenant levels of its current debt facilities. The Directors therefore continue to consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these financial statements.
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
4.Capital risk management and fair value measurements
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks including market risk (foreign exchange risk and interest rate risk), credit risk and liquidity risk.
The financial statements do not include all financial risk management information and disclosures required in consolidated annual financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with the Group’s consolidated annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025.
There have been no changes in any risk management policies since December 31, 2025.
Fair value hierarchy
The different levels have been defined as follows:
| ● | Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1); |
| ● | Inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices) (level 2); and |
| ● | Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (that is unobservable inputs) (level 3). |
The Group’s financial instruments held at fair value all had a level 2 classification. These instruments comprise foreign exchange swaps, contingent BRL/USD non-deliverable forwards and options embedded in the Group’s bonds (see note 12 for further details). Their fair values are determined based on mark-to-market values provided by the counterparty financial institutions or valuation techniques using observable market data.
Fair value estimation
At March 31, 2026 | At December 31, 2025 | |||||||
Carrying | Fair | Carrying | Fair | |||||
| value | | value | | value | | value | |
$'m | $'m | $'m | $'m | |||||
Financial liabilities | ||||||||
Borrowings (note 15) |
| | |
| |
| | |
The fair values of total borrowings presented above are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and are based on discounted cash flows using a current borrowing rate.
Amounts at March 31, 2026 include $
Other than borrowings, the fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities are not materially different from their carrying values.
5.Segment reporting
The Group’s Executive Committee is identified as the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) that reviews the Company’s internal reporting to assess performance and allocate resources. Management has determined the operating segments based on these reports.
The CODM has identified
| ● | Nigeria; |
| ● | SSA; and |
| ● | Latam (discontinued operations – see note 20) |
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
From January 1, 2025 MENA, which was comprised of the Middle East and North Africa, is not a reportable segment as we no longer have operations there. The basis of segmentation and measurement of segment financial information is consistent with that of the previous financial year.
The CODM primarily uses a measure of Adjusted EBITDA (including by segment) as income/(loss) for the period, before income tax expense/(benefit), finance costs and income, depreciation and amortization, net (reversal of impairment)/ impairment of withholding tax receivables, impairment of goodwill, business combination transaction costs, net impairment/(reversal of impairment) of property, plant and equipment, right-of-use assets, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent, reversal of provision for decommissioning costs, net (gain)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets, share-based payment (credit)/expense, insurance claims, gain on disposal of subsidiary and certain other items that management believes are not indicative of the core performance of our business. The most directly comparable IFRS measure to Adjusted EBITDA is our income/(loss) for the period. The CODM also regularly receives information about the Group’s revenue, assets and liabilities. The Group has additional corporate costs which do not meet the quantitative thresholds to be separately reported and therefore are not allocated to operating segments. Segment Adjusted EBITDA represents Adjusted EBITDA excluding unallocated corporate expenses.
There are
The additions to property, plant and equipment, right-of-use assets, and intangible assets within segment assets are based on the operations of the segment and the physical location of the assets, and are measured in the same way as in the consolidated financial statements.
Summarized financial information is as follows:
Nigeria | | SSA | | Latam | | Total | ||
| $'m | | $'m | | $'m | | $'m | |
Three months ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||
Revenues from external customers - continuing operations | | | — | | ||||
Revenues from external customers - discontinued operations | — | — | | | ||||
Revenues from external customers | | | | |||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA | | | | | ||||
Three months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||
Revenues from external customers - continuing operations | | | — | | ||||
Revenues from external customers - discontinued operations | — | — | | | ||||
Revenues from external customers | | | | |||||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA | | | | |
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Each segment's Adjusted EBITDA above includes the following items:
Continuing operations | Discontinued operations | |||||||||
Nigeria | | SSA | | Unallocated items | | Total | Latam | |||
| $'m | | $'m | | $'m | | $'m | $'m | ||
Three months ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||
Power generation |
| |
| |
| — |
| | | |
Staff costs |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
Tower repairs and maintenance |
| |
| |
| — |
| | | |
Three months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||
Power generation |
| |
| |
| — |
| | | |
Staff costs |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
Tower repairs and maintenance |
| |
| |
| — |
| | | |
Reconciliation of information on reportable segments to the amounts reported in the financial statements:
Three months ended | ||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||
| 2026 | | 2025 | |
$'m | $'m | |||
Segment Adjusted EBITDA | | | ||
Unallocated corporate expenses(a) | ( | ( | ||
Finance costs | ( | ( | ||
Depreciation and amortization | ( | ( | ||
Share‑based payment expense | ( | ( | ||
Other costs(b) | ( | ( | ||
Net impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent(c) | ( | ( | ||
Business combination costs (note 7) | ( | ( | ||
Insurance claims | — | | ||
Net gain/(loss) on disposal of property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets | | ( | ||
Net (impairment loss)/reversal of withholding tax receivables (note 7) | ( | | ||
Finance income | | | ||
Exclude: (income)/loss before tax from discontinued operations | ( | | ||
Income before tax | | | ||
| (a) | Unallocated corporate expenses primarily consist of costs associated with centralized Group functions including Group executive, finance, HR, IT, legal, tax and treasury services. |
| (b) | Other costs for the three months ended March 31, 2026, included $ |
| (c) | Includes impairment of held for sale non-current assets of $ |
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Additions to segment assets are as follows:
Nigeria | | SSA | | Latam | | Total | ||
| $'m | | $'m | | $'m | | $'m | |
Additions of property, plant and equipment, right-of-use assets and intangible assets: | ||||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||
- Segments | | | | | ||||
- Unallocated items | — | |||||||
| ||||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||
- Segments | | | | | ||||
- Unallocated items | | |||||||
|
Revenue from
Three months ended | ||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||
| 2026 | | 2025 | |
Customer A | ||||
Customer B | ||||
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
6.Cost of sales
Three months ended | ||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||
| 2026 | | 2025(a) | |
$'m | $'m | |||
Power generation | | | ||
Depreciation | | | ||
Amortization | | | ||
Tower repairs and maintenance | | | ||
Staff costs | | | ||
Regulatory fees | | | ||
Security services | | | ||
Travel costs | | | ||
Net impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent | | | ||
Insurance | | | ||
Short-term rental | | | ||
Vehicle maintenance and repairs | | | ||
Professional fees | | | ||
Other | | | ||
| | |||
| (a) | The result for the period ended March 31, 2025 has been re-presented to reflect that the result of the Latam segment is now reported as a discontinued operation. See note 20.1 for more information. |
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
7.Administrative expenses
Three months ended | ||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||
| 2026 | | 2025(a) | |
$'m | $'m | |||
Staff costs(b) | | | ||
Net loss allowance on trade receivables | | | ||
Professional fees | | | ||
Facilities, short-term rental and upkeep | | | ||
Travel costs | | | ||
Depreciation | | | ||
Amortization | | | ||
Net gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets | ( | ( | ||
Business combination costs | | | ||
Net impairment loss/(reversal) of withholding tax receivables(c) | | ( | ||
Other | | | ||
| | |||
| (a) | The result for the period ended March 31, 2025 has been re-presented to reflect that the result of the Latam segment is now reported as a discontinued operation. See note 20.1 for more information. |
| (b) | Includes amounts related to key management personnel (excluding Non-Executive directors) and share-based payment expense. The amount for the period ended March 31, 2026 includes accelerated charges of $ |
| (c) | Withholding tax receivables are assessed for recoverability based on a |
8.Finance income
Three months ended | ||||
| March 31, | | March 31, | |
| 2026 | | 2025(a) | |
$'m | $'m | |||
Net foreign exchange gain arising from financing - unrealized |
| |
| |
Interest income - bank deposits |
| |
| |
Other interest income(b) | | — | ||
Fair value gain on embedded options |
| — |
| |
Net foreign exchange gain arising from derivative instruments - unrealized |
| — |
| |
| |
| | |
| (a) | The result for the period ended March 31, 2025 has been re-presented to reflect that the result of the Latam segment is now reported as a discontinued operation. See note 20.1 for more information. |
| (b) | Other interest income relates to the accrued interest on the vendor loan notes issued on the disposal of IHS Rwanda (see note 13). |
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
9.Finance costs
Three months ended | ||||
| March 31, | | March 31, | |
| 2026 | | 2025(a) | |
$'m | $'m | |||
Interest expense - third party borrowings |
| |
| |
Fair value loss on non-deliverable forwards (note 12) |
| |
| — |
Interest and finance charges for lease liabilities |
| |
| |
Fair value loss on embedded options |
| |
| — |
Interest expense - withholding tax on interest | | | ||
Net foreign exchange loss arising from financing - realized |
| |
| |
Fees on borrowings and financial derivatives |
| |
| |
Unwinding of discount on decommissioning liability |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| (a) | The result for the period ended March 31, 2025 has been re-presented to reflect that the result of the Latam segment is now reported as a discontinued operation. See note 20.1 for more information. |
10.Taxation
Three months ended | ||||
| March 31, | | March 31, | |
2026 | 2025(a) | |||
$'m | $'m | |||
Current taxes |
| |
| |
Deferred income taxes |
| ( |
| |
Total taxation expense |
| |
| |
| (a) | The result for the period ended March 31, 2025 has been re-presented to reflect that the result of the Latam segment is now reported as a discontinued operation. See note 20.1 for more information. |
Income tax expense is recognized in each interim period based on tax computations for each group entity. In 2026, the forecast annual effective tax rate was determined and applied to the income or loss before tax in the period. In the prior period, tax was computed by applying adjustments for material temporary and permanent differences by reference to the relevant tax rules to the year to date income or loss before tax.
The income tax expense for the three month period ended March 31, 2026 was $
The effective tax rate was higher in the prior comparative period due to the non-recognition of deferred tax, in that period, on finance costs in Nigeria.
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
11.Income/(loss) per share
Basic income/(loss) per share is calculated by dividing the income/(loss) for the period attributable to owners of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted income/(loss) per share is calculated by dividing the income/(loss) for the period attributable to owners of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period plus the weighted average number of ordinary shares that would be issued on conversion of all the dilutive potential ordinary shares into ordinary shares.
The reported basic and diluted income/(loss) per share were as follows:
Three months ended | ||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||
| 2026 | | 2025 | |
$ | $ | |||
Income per share from continuing operations | ||||
Basic | | | ||
Diluted | | | ||
Income/(loss) per share from discontinued operations | ||||
Basic | | ( | ||
Diluted | | ( | ||
Income per share | ||||
Basic |
| |
| |
Diluted |
| |
| |
The following tables set out the data used in the basic and diluted income/(loss) per share calculations:
Three months ended | ||||
| March 31, | | March 31, | |
2026 | 2025 | |||
$'m | $'m | |||
Income from continuing operations | ||||
Income for the period | | | ||
Exclude: loss for the period attributable to non-controlling interests | | — | ||
Income for the period attributable to owners of the Company | | | ||
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations | ||||
Income/(loss) for the period | | ( | ||
Exclude: (income)/loss for the period attributable to non-controlling interests | ( | | ||
Income/(loss) for the period attributable to owners of the Company | | ( | ||
Income for the period | | | ||
Exclude: (income)/loss for the period attributable to non-controlling interests |
| ( |
| |
Income for the period attributable to owners of the Company |
| |
| |
Three months ended | ||||
| March 31, | | March 31, | |
2026 | 2025 | |||
'000 | '000 | |||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding |
| |
| |
Weighted average number of potential ordinary shares |
| |
| |
Potential ordinary shares relate to options granted under the Group’s share-based compensation schemes. Under IAS 33 Earnings per Share (“IAS 33”), potential ordinary shares are treated as dilutive when, and only when, their conversion into ordinary shares would decrease earnings per share or increase loss per share.
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
12.Derivative financial instruments
The Group’s derivative instruments have been classified as fair value through profit or loss. The instruments are measured at fair value with the resultant gains or losses recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of income and other comprehensive (loss)/income. The related net foreign exchange gain/(loss) is included in finance income (note 8) and finance costs (note 9).
The underlying contractual notional amounts for the derivative instruments as of March 31, 2026, and as of December 31, 2025, are as follows:
| March 31, | | December 31, | |
2026 | 2025 | |||
$'m | $'m | |||
Derivative instruments | ||||
Embedded options within listed bonds(a) |
| |
| |
Non-deliverable forwards(b) |
| |
| — |
| |
| |
| (a) | This relates to early redemption clauses within the Group’s Senior Notes (see note 15 - Borrowings). On or after November 29, 2025, the 2026 Notes may be redeemed (in whole or in part) at a price of |
| (b) | This relates to the deal-contingent BRL/USD non-deliverable forwards entered into by the Group to hedge the Brazilian real-denominated portion of the expected sales proceeds relating to the disposal of our Latam towers and fiber operations. These derivatives are entirely foreign exchange forward contracts which are valued using quoted market inputs for forward foreign exchange rates (i.e. level 2 instruments). The instruments are deal-contingent, which allows the Company to settle the derivatives at the point of closing of the related disposal transaction, rather than on a fixed maturity date, and if the relevant disposal does not close for reasons outlined in the derivatives terms and conditions then the settlement is waived. |
The fair value asset/(liability) amounts of the derivative instruments are as follows:
| March 31, | | December 31, | |
2026 | 2025 | |||
$'m | $'m | |||
Derivative instruments | | | ||
Embedded options within listed bonds |
| |
| |
Non-deliverable forwards | ( | — | ||
| |
| |
The change in fair value of the derivative instruments recorded in the condensed consolidated statement of income and other comprehensive (loss)/income is:
| Three months ended | |||
March 31, | | March 31, | ||
2026 | 2025 | |||
$'m | $'m | |||
Derivative instruments |
| |
| |
Embedded options within listed bonds |
| ( |
| |
Foreign exchange swaps |
| — |
| |
Non-deliverable forwards | ( | — | ||
| ( |
| | |
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
13.Trade and other receivables
| March 31, | | December 31, | |
2026 | 2025 | |||
$'m | $'m | |||
Non‑current |
| |
| |
Accrued revenue and lease incentive |
| |
| |
Payment in advance for property, plant and equipment |
| |
| |
Deferred consideration(a) | | | ||
Withholding tax receivables(b) | | | ||
| |
| | |
Current | | | ||
Trade receivables(c) |
| |
| |
Less: allowance for expected credit losses | ( |
| ( | |
Net trade receivables(d) |
| |
| |
Other receivables(e) |
| |
| |
Prepaid land rent |
| |
| |
Other prepaid expenses |
| |
| |
Advance payments |
| |
| |
Withholding tax receivables(b) |
| |
| |
VAT receivables |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| (a) | Deferred consideration relates to vendor loan notes issued on the disposal of IHS Rwanda and comprised a |
| (b) | Withholding tax receivables are assessed for recoverability based on a |
| (c) | Included in trade receivables is $ |
| (d) | The fair value is equal to their carrying amount. |
| (e) | Included in other receivables are short-term fixed deposits which are not classified as cash and cash equivalents as these exceed the three month maturity period. |
Payment in advance for property, plant and equipment relates to the future supply of tower and tower equipment and fiber assets. All non-current receivables are due within from the end of the reporting period. All current trade and other receivables are due within the 12 months from the end of the reporting period. The Group does not secure any collateral for its trade receivables.
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
14.Trade and other payables
| March 31, | December 31, | ||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||
| $'m | | $'m | |
Non‑current | | | ||
Deferred revenue | | | ||
Other payables | | | ||
| | |||
Current | | | ||
Trade payables | | | ||
Deferred revenue | | | ||
Withholding tax payable | | | ||
Payroll and other related statutory liabilities | | | ||
VAT payables | | | ||
Other payables | | | ||
| |
Non-current deferred revenue includes payments received in advance from customers for long-term lease arrangements of fiber network infrastructure.
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
15.Borrowings
Borrowings comprised the following:
| March 31, | | December 31, | |
2026 | 2025 | |||
$’m | $’m | |||
Non‑current | ||||
Senior Notes | | | ||
Bank term loans | | | ||
| | |||
Current | | | ||
Senior Notes | | | ||
Bank term loans | | | ||
Letters of credit | | | ||
| | |||
Total borrowings | | | ||
Borrowings classified as held for sale (see note 20.2) | | | ||
| |
Refer to the next page for an analysis of our borrowing facilities and related covenants:
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Analysis of borrowings
Borrowings comprised the following:
Principal | ||||||||||||||
amount | Carrying amount | |||||||||||||
March 31, | Issue | Maturity | March 31, | December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2026 | | Currency | | date | | date | | Interest rate | | 2026 | | 2025 | |
$'m | $'m | |||||||||||||
Senior Notes | ||||||||||||||
IHS Holding Limited | USD | Nov'21 | Nov'26 | | | |||||||||
IHS Holding Limited | USD | Nov'21 | Nov'28 | | | |||||||||
IHS Holding Limited | USD | Nov'24 | May'30 | | | |||||||||
IHS Holding Limited | USD | Nov'24 | Nov'31 | | | |||||||||
IHS Mauritius NG Holdco Limited | USD | Sep'19 | Sep'27 | | | |||||||||
Debentures | | |||||||||||||
I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A.(a) | BRL | Jun'24 | May'32 | | | |||||||||
Bank Term Loans | | |||||||||||||
IHS Côte d’Ivoire S.A. | XOF | Dec'23 | Dec'28 | | | |||||||||
IHS Côte d’Ivoire S.A. | EUR | Dec'23 | Dec'28 | | | |||||||||
IHS Holding Limited | USD | Jun'25 | Dec'27 | | | |||||||||
IHS Holding Limited | USD | Oct'24 | Oct'29 | | | |||||||||
IHS Holding Limited | ZAR | Oct'24 | Oct'29 | | | |||||||||
IHS Towers South Africa Proprietary Limited | ZAR | May'22 | May'29 | | | |||||||||
IHS Zambia Limited | USD | Dec'20 | Dec'27 | | | |||||||||
I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A.(a) | BRL | Oct'22 | Oct'30 | | | |||||||||
Revolving Credit Facilities and Overdraft(b) | | |||||||||||||
IHS Holding Limited | USD | Jun'25 | Sep'28 | — | — | |||||||||
IHS Nigeria Limited | NGN | Jan'26 | Mar'29 | — | — | |||||||||
IHS Cameroon S.A. | XAF | Sep'25 | Aug'26 | — | — | |||||||||
IHS Cameroon S.A. | XAF | Oct'25 | Sep'26 | — | — | |||||||||
Letters of Credit(b) | ||||||||||||||
IHS Nigeria | USD | Feb'22 | Jun'26 | | | |||||||||
| | |||||||||||||
Exclude: Borrowings classified as held for sale (see note 20) | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
Borrowings | | | ||||||||||||
| (a) | On February 11, 2026, IHS Fiber Brasil – Cessão de Infraestruturas Ltda. entered into a share purchase and sale agreement with TIM S.A., pursuant to which IHS Fiber Brasil – Cessão de Infraestruturas Ltda. agreed to sell its |
| (b) | Principal amount for revolving credit facilities, overdrafts and letters of credit are the available facilities at March 31, 2026. |
Group borrowings (except letters of credit) typically contain customary affirmative and negative covenants, events of default and financial covenant ratios (generally tested either quarterly or on an incurrence basis, depending on the financing type and with some exceptions). The borrowing entity may also voluntarily prepay its utilizations and/or cancel all or part of the available commitments on its term loans and facilities by giving notice. Mandatory cancellation and full or partial prepayment may be required in certain circumstances including events of default. The majority of borrowings are supported by intercompany guarantees or secured by pledges over certain assets.
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
16.Lease liabilities
| March 31, | | December 31, | |
2026 | 2025 | |||
$'m | $'m | |||
Non‑current |
| |
| |
Current | | | ||
Total lease liabilities |
| |
| |
Lease liabilities represent the net present value of future payments due under long-term leases for leasehold land on which our towers are located and for other leasehold assets such as warehouses and offices. During the three month period ended March 31, 2026, payments of $
The undiscounted contractual payments under the lease liabilities, are as follows:
| Total | |||||||||||
Carrying | contractual | Within | 1 ‑ 3 | 3 ‑ 5 | Over 5 | |||||||
value | | cash flows | | 1 year | | years | | years | | years | ||
$'m | $'m | $'m | $'m | $'m | $'m | |||||||
At March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||
Lease liabilities | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
At December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
Lease liabilities |
| |
| |
| | | | |
Cash flows presented above use renewal expectation assumptions consistent with those used for the application of IFRS 16. The weighted average remaining lease term remaining as of March 31, 2026, is
17.Stated capital
Ordinary Shares | ||||||||||
| | | Share capital | | | Share premium | ||||
Number of | net of | net of | ||||||||
shares | Share capital | issue costs | Share premium | issue costs | ||||||
| 000’s | $'m | $'m |
| $'m | $'m | ||||
At December 31, 2025 |
| | | |
| | | |||
Shares issued on exercise of options | | | | | | |||||
At March 31, 2026 |
| | | |
| | | |||
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
18.Cash from operations
| Three months ended | |||
March 31, | March 31, | |||
2026 | 2025 | |||
| $'m | | $'m | |
Reconciliation: | ||||
Income from continuing operations before taxation | | | ||
Adjustments: | | | ||
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations before taxation | | ( | ||
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | | | ||
Amortization of intangible assets | | | ||
Amortization of prepaid site rent | | | ||
Net impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent | | | ||
Impairment of assets held for sale | | — | ||
Net impairment loss/(reversal) of withholding tax receivables | | ( | ||
Impairment of inventory | | | ||
Net (gain)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets | ( | | ||
Share‑based payment and long-term employee benefit expenses | | | ||
Net loss allowance on trade receivables | | | ||
Finance income | ( | ( | ||
Finance costs | | | ||
Insurance claim income | — | ( | ||
Operating income before working capital changes | | | ||
Changes in working capital | | | ||
Decrease/(increase) in inventory | | ( | ||
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables | ( | | ||
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables | | ( | ||
Net movement in working capital | ( | ( | ||
Cash from operations | | | ||
19.Capital commitments and contingent liabilities
Capital commitments
The Group was committed to the purchase of property, plant and equipment of approximately $
Contingent liabilities
Note 32, ‘Capital commitments and contingent liabilities’, in the Group’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, outlines the Group’s capital commitments and contingent liabilities as of that date. There have been no material changes to the contingent liabilities during the reporting period.
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
20.Discontinued operations and disposal groups
During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Group progressed its plan to exit the Latam region through the disposal of both its tower businesses in Brazil and Colombia (Latam towers) and its fiber business in Brazil (I-Systems) and by the end of December 2025 the plans for each disposal were sufficiently progressed for management to conclude that it was highly probable that the sale of each business would complete within 12 months. Therefore, these businesses have been classified as two separate disposal groups and the assets and liabilities of both disposal groups are presented as held for sale in the condensed consolidated statement of financial position.
Depreciation and amortization is no longer recognized from this date forwards and the non-current assets are impaired with reference to the agreed sales consideration.
The Latam region is a major geographical area of operations for the Group. Accordingly, the disposal groups together have been classified as a discontinued operation and their results presented as a discontinued operation in the condensed consolidated statement of income and other comprehensive (loss)/income.
On February 11, 2026, the Group announced it had agreed to sell its
20.1Discontinued operations
Financial performance and cashflow information in relation to discontinued operation was as follows:
Three months ended | ||||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||
| | $’m | | $’m | ||
Revenue | | | ||||
Cost of sales | ( | ( | ||||
Administrative expenses | ( | ( | ||||
Impairment of held for sale non-current assets | ( | — | ||||
Other income | — | | ||||
Operating income/(loss) | | ( | ||||
Finance income | | | ||||
Finance costs | ( | ( | ||||
Income/(loss) before tax from discontinued operations | | ( | ||||
Income tax benefit: | ||||||
Related to pre tax income from the ordinary activities | | | ||||
Related to remeasurement to fair value less costs to sell | | — | ||||
Income/(loss) from discontinued operation | | ( | ||||
Other comprehensive income: | ||||||
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations | | | ||||
Other comprehensive income for the period, net of taxes | | | ||||
Total comprehensive income for the period | | | ||||
Net cash from operating activities | | | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ( | ||||
Net cash used in financing activities | ( | ( | ||||
Net increase/(decrease) in cash by the discontinued operation | | ( | ||||
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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
20.2Assets held for sale and liabilities held for sale
March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||
Tower businesses | I-Systems | Total | Tower businesses | I-Systems | Total | |||||||
$’m | | $’m | | $’m | $’m | | $’m | | $’m | |||
Non‑current assets | ||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment | | | | | | | ||||||
Right-of-use assets | | | | | | | ||||||
Other intangible assets | | | | | | | ||||||
Deferred income tax assets | | | | | | | ||||||
Trade and other receivables | | | | | | | ||||||
Current assets | ||||||||||||
Trade and other receivables | | | | | | | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | | | | | | | ||||||
Assets held for sale | | | | | | | ||||||
Non‑current liabilities | ||||||||||||
Trade and other payables | - | ( | ( | - | ( | ( | ||||||
Borrowings | - | ( | ( | - | ( | ( | ||||||
Lease liabilities | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Provisions for other liabilities and charges | ( | - | ( | ( | - | ( | ||||||
Deferred income tax liabilities | ( | - | ( | ( | - | ( | ||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||||||
Trade and other payables | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Borrowings | - | ( | ( | - | ( | ( | ||||||
Lease liabilities | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
Liabilities held for sale | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||
The foreign exchange translation reserve loss in relation to Latam as of March 31, 2026 was $
21.Events after the reporting period
Sale of I-Systems
In May 2026, the Group completed the disposal of its
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this report. The following discussion is based on our financial information prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Where appropriate this discussion is based on non-IFRS measures which are reconciled to an IFRS measure (refer to the Key Financial and Operational Performance Indicators).
This discussion contains forward-looking statements and involves numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors” section of our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025 (the “2025 Annual Report”), dated March 16, 2026, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
Overview
We are one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world, providing our customers, most of whom are leading MNOs, with critical infrastructure that facilitates mobile communications coverage and connectivity for approximately 647 million people in emerging markets, across two regions and seven countries. We are the largest independent multinational emerging-market-only tower operator and one of the largest independent multinational tower operators globally, in each case by tower count. As of March 31, 2026, we operated 37,641 Towers across five countries in Africa and two countries in Latin America. We are the largest independent tower operator in five of the seven markets in which we operate and we are the only independent tower operator of scale in three of these markets.
We have a well-defined organic growth strategy designed to expand in existing markets with our existing and new customers and, given the significant global emerging market opportunities in communications infrastructure, we have historically also grown inorganically, entering into carefully selected growth-oriented markets with compelling underlying fundamentals. Historically, our business was predominantly focused on the African continent. However, in 2020, we started to invest in other regions and adjacent communications infrastructure offerings, by entering into Latin America via Brazil and Colombia. These investments supported our inorganic growth strategy of expanding into additional regions that met our investment criteria, which opened up new markets that we believed would provide future organic and inorganic growth opportunities. Our investment criteria now suggest that inorganic growth opportunities will be limited for the foreseeable future, as we believe inorganic investment is just one of the various forms of capital allocation which are available to us.
Our core business is providing shared communications infrastructure services to MNOs and other customers, who in turn provide wireless voice, data and fiber access services to their end users and subscribers. We provide our customers with opportunities to lease space on existing Towers alongside current Tenants, known as Colocation, to install additional equipment on a Tower or request certain ancillary services, known as Lease Amendments, or to commission the construction of new Towers to the customer’s specifications, known as New Sites. Additionally, we lease space to our customers in secure locations within large building complexes, such as shopping malls, stadiums and airports, which we refer to as in-building solutions, or IBS, or distributed antenna systems, or DAS, as well as provide fiber connectivity. In certain strategic instances, we may also provide Managed Services, such as maintenance, security and power supply for Towers owned by third parties. As of March 31, 2026, our owned and operated tower portfolio supported 54,854 Tenants, with a Colocation Rate of 1.46x.
Our primary customers are the leading MNOs in each of our markets. We also provide infrastructure and services to a number of other communications service providers. Our success in establishing deep customer relationships and operational excellence has enabled us to grow both organically and through 22 transactions. Our footprint currently covers Nigeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Zambia, Brazil and Colombia. Until October 9, 2025 our footprint also covered Rwanda.
Recent Developments
On February 11, 2026, IHS Fiber Brasil – Cessão de Infraestruturas Ltda. entered into a share purchase and sale agreement with TIM S.A., pursuant to which IHS Fiber Brasil – Cessão de Infraestruturas Ltda. agreed to sell its 51.0% stake in I-Systems. The disposal was completed in May 2026, refer to note 20.2 of our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for further details including the assets and liabilities held for sale as at March 31, 2026.
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On February 17, 2026, IHS Mauritius BR Limited entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Latam Towers Infrastructure, LLC to sell all equity interests in IHS Brasil - Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A., Centennial Towers Brasil Cooperatief U.A., and Centennial Towers Colombia S.A.S., reflecting an enterprise value of approximately $952 million (being cash consideration of BRL3,550 million (approximately $683 million), plus the net impact of borrowings and lease liabilities less cash and cash equivalents aggregating to approximately $269 million), subject to adjustment for leakage and accrued interest. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approvals and a successful capital raise by one or more investment funds managed or advised by Macquarie Asset Management.
In connection with the disposal of our Latin American tower and fiber operations, we entered into BRL2,415 million (approximately $459 million) of foreign exchange derivative instruments to hedge the components of the Brazilian Real-denominated sale prices not fixed to U.S. dollars directly in the sales agreements.
On February 17, 2026, IHS Holding Limited (the "Company") entered into an agreement and plan of merger with MTN Group Limited ("MTN"), Mobile Telephone Networks (Netherlands) B.V. ("Holdings"), and Sub-Merger Co, a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings. Pursuant to this merger agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company surviving as a privately held company. At the effective time, each outstanding ordinary share (other than certain excluded shares) will be cancelled in exchange for $8.50 in cash per share, and the ordinary shares will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. The Company's board of directors has unanimously approved the merger and recommended that shareholders vote in favor of the transaction. Completion of the merger is subject to certain closing conditions, including shareholder approval, regulatory approvals and the Company maintaining specified cash and indebtedness levels. The Company's ability to satisfy the cash requirements is dependent upon the successful completion of the sales of both its Latin American tower and fiber operations. Under specified circumstances, termination of the merger agreement may result in the payment of a termination fee by the Company ($104,290,000) or MTN ($148,980,000).
Effective April 29, 2026, the Company appointed William Saad as an executive director, succeeding Mr. Bashir El-Rufai. Mr. Saad is one of the Company’s co-founders and currently serves as its Executive Vice President and Group Chief Operating Officer.
Reportable Segments
Our operations are organized into three segments, which reflect the way our chief operating decision maker, or CODM, is provided with financial information which aligns to internal regional management organizational reporting lines and responsibilities and the way in which the CODM analyzes performance and allocates resources. Our three operating segments are Nigeria, which comprises our operations in Nigeria; Sub Saharan Africa, or SSA, which comprises our operations in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Zambia (and, until October 9, 2025, Rwanda); and Latin America, or Latam, which comprises our operations in Brazil and Colombia. Latam became a discontinued operation but it continues to be reported to our CODM as a segment.
We use revenue and segment Adjusted EBITDA to assess the performance of our reportable segments. Segment Adjusted EBITDA is our principal segment measure of profitability.
Our Revenue
We measure revenue in three categories, namely (i) organic, (ii) inorganic and (iii) non-core.
Organic revenue captures the performance of our existing business without the impact of new tower portfolios or businesses acquired since the beginning of the prior year period (except as described as inorganic below). Specifically, organic revenue captures the impact of (i) new Colocation and Lease Amendments; (ii) changes in pricing including from contractual lease fee escalation, power indexation and foreign exchange resets; (iii) New Site construction; (iv) fiber connectivity and (v) any impact of Churn and decommissioning. In the case of an acquisition of new tower portfolios or businesses, the impact of any incremental revenue after the date of acquisition from new Colocation and Lease Amendments or changes in pricing on the Towers acquired, including from contractual lease fee escalation, foreign exchange resets and power indexation, is also captured within organic revenue.
Inorganic revenue captures the impact on revenue from existing Tenants of new tower portfolios or businesses that we have acquired, or tower portfolios or businesses that we have disposed of, since the beginning of the prior period (except as described above). Where tower portfolios or businesses were acquired during the current period under review, inorganic revenue is calculated as the revenue contribution from those acquisitions in their “at acquisition” state (measured as the local currency revenue generated during the first full month following the acquisition) in the current period. Where tower portfolios or businesses were disposed during the period under review, inorganic revenue impact is calculated as the revenue contribution from those tower portfolios or businesses in their reported state (measured in U.S. dollars) in the period. This treatment continues for 12 months following acquisition or disposal.
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Non-core captures the impact of movements in foreign exchange rates on the translation of the results of our local operations from their local functional currency into U.S. dollars, which is measured by the difference in U.S. dollars between (i) revenue in local currency converted at the average foreign exchange rate for that period and (ii) revenue in local currency converted at the average foreign exchange rate for the prior period. This foreign currency impact is then partially compensated for in subsequent periods by foreign exchange reset mechanisms, which are captured in organic revenue.
The organic and non-core components of our revenue cannot be considered independently from each other in assessing, for instance, what the impact on organic revenue would have been in the absence of a change in the foreign exchange rate. In fact, the periodic (monthly and quarterly) nature of our reset mechanisms is such that there is a delay between the period during which a change in foreign exchange rate occurs and the next contractual reset occurs.
Foreign exchange resets are generally included in MLAs where lease fees are linked to currencies other than the local currency (for example, MLAs in Nigeria with U.S. dollar components). MLAs with foreign exchange resets typically contain a mechanism for determining the foreign exchange rate for a set period at which the lease fee linked to the non-local currency (such as U.S. dollar) is translated into local currency and invoiced to the customer. In such cases, the foreign exchange rate determined by this mechanism is reset monthly and quarterly.
The foreign exchange resets function such that the portion of lease fees that is linked to U.S. dollars and the portion of lease fees that is linked to local currency are fixed in local currency for the contractual period between reset dates (for example, for a period of one year if the reset is annual). As a result, in the event of a devaluation, there is a delay between the timing of the devaluation and the next contractual reset.
During the period between the date of the devaluation and the date of the reset, all of our revenue (i.e., both revenue that is contractually linked to the U.S. dollar and revenue that is contractually linked to local currency) would reflect the new, devalued foreign exchange rate and is therefore lower for that period. When the reset is effected, the amount relating to the portion of the lease fees linked to the U.S. dollar, which is invoiced in local currency, is adjusted upward at the relevant time which is reflected in increased revenue for that period that partially offsets the decrease in the prior period due to the devaluation. We experience the same type of effect on our Adjusted EBITDA of currency devaluation in one period followed by a reset in our dollar linked revenue in a subsequent period.
In addition, the conversion rates included in our MLAs may also be different from the rates at which our financial results are translated into U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. For further discussion, please refer to “Multiple foreign exchange markets with different exchange rates” below.
While a number of the MLAs with our customers are deemed automatically renewed if not canceled by the stated expiration date, we regularly keep upcoming renewal or expiry dates under review, and engage in discussions with customers from time-to-time regarding such matters. For instance, our MLA with MTN in Zambia was renewed in March 2024, and extended for 10 years through to 2034. Our MLAs with MTN Nigeria that were up for renewal in 2024 and 2029 were renewed in August 2024, and extended through 2032. No assurance can be given that our customers will renew their customer lease agreements upon expiration of those agreements or that customers will not request unfavorable amendments to existing agreements, or that we will be successful in negotiating favorable terms with these customers.
The renewed and extended contracts with MTN Nigeria include new rebased financial terms, and now include a combination of a Naira component (that benefits from semi-annual escalators linked to the Nigerian Consumer Price Index), a U.S. dollar component (that continues to benefit from annual escalators linked to the U.S. Consumer Price Index and has quarterly foreign exchange resets), and/or a new component indexed to the cost of providing diesel power, introduced to act as a hedge against diesel prices and potentially foreign exchange fluctuations. Prior to the new terms agreed with MTN Nigeria, we did not have a direct hedge on power prices in our use fees with MTN Nigeria, which has now been introduced.
In the second quarter of 2024 we concluded agreements with MTN South Africa to unwind the power Managed Services agreement and to amend the existing MLA with a revised fee structure, extended by two years through to 2034. The operational impact of the unwind since that time is that the South African business is no longer responsible for providing diesel or alternative power to tower sites other than electricity costs which are fully passed through to customers. The new agreement resulted in an ongoing reduction in gross revenue and cost of sales. Additionally, continuing power pass-through activities in South Africa are no longer recognized on a gross basis. None of these updates to gross revenue and cost of sales have a net impact on Adjusted EBITDA.
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Factors Affecting Our Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Our financial condition and results of operations have been, and will continue to be, affected by a number of important factors, including the following:
New Colocation and Lease Amendments
Colocation and Lease Amendments are key drivers of incremental organic revenue in communications infrastructure sharing. Colocation involves adding new tenants to existing sites, where the addition of an incremental tenant to an existing site can introduce a full additional lease fee. Lease Amendments involve adding additional equipment or providing certain ancillary services at existing sites for existing Tenants and for a recurring lease fee. Examples of Lease Amendments include an existing customer taking more space on a tower, adding equipment for new technologies, such as 3G, 4G/LTE or 5G, adding additional microwave transmission or fiber infrastructure services, or certain ancillary services. A Lease Amendment typically increases revenue by a proportionally lower amount than a Colocation given such equipment typically consumes less space and power than a Colocation. However, the gross margin contribution of a Lease Amendment is generally comparable to a Colocation.
Colocation and Lease Amendments improve overall gross margins, operating margins and cash flow given the limited incremental cost to deliver such services. Additionally, in our African markets, the main incremental ongoing cost for Colocation and Lease Amendments is power cost for the additional equipment or services. We continually seek to increase Colocation and Lease Amendments for our existing sites through an active sales and marketing process. Our sites that are either at or near structural capacity can also be strengthened to meet future leasing capacity with relatively minor capital investments.
The demand for Colocation and Lease Amendments from MNOs is driven by multiple communications industry characteristics within our individual markets. These characteristics include the MNOs’ need for greater network coverage and network density due to existing capacity-constrained networks, a desire to improve quality-of-service, increasing subscriber demand for wireless voice and data services that require a denser network than is the case for voice services, as well as changes in and the development of technologies in those markets.
Contractual lease fee escalation and foreign exchange resets
Our MLAs generally contain inflation-linked escalation provisions under which the underlying lease fees, and therefore our revenue, may increase each year. These contractual escalators are typically linked to the consumer price index, or CPI, of the country of operation and/or the United States, depending on the underlying currency denomination of the lease fee. Lease fee components priced in local currency typically have escalators linked to local CPI applied annually or semi-annually for the subsequent 12 months or 6 months, respectively. Lease fee components priced in U.S. dollars typically have escalators linked to U.S. CPI applied annually for the subsequent 12 months. Our MLAs with certain customers are subject to fixed, capped or floored escalators.
Our MLAs may also contain a portion of lease fees which may be linked to power indexation metrics including diesel and electricity prices. This indexation is typically linked to local power prices and updated quarterly.
Foreign exchange resets are generally included in MLAs where lease fees are linked to currencies other than the local currency (for example, MLAs in Nigeria with U.S. dollar components). For further discussion on these foreign exchange resets, please refer to “— Our Revenue.”
New Site construction
New Site construction is a key driver of incremental organic revenue through the customer revenue we invoice from the date the New Site becomes ready for service. New Site construction is also a component of discretionary capital expenditure. Building New Sites requires capital expenditure, principally including materials for the tower, power equipment, land lease fees or land purchase fees, tower construction activities, including civil work, transportation and labor, as well as ongoing operational expenditures for site operation and maintenance. Therefore, construction of New Sites increases our capital expenditure and cost of sales. We pursue construction of New Sites as a key strategy in growing our tower portfolio and providing future capacity for Colocation and Lease Amendments. We do not engage in speculative building and only construct New Sites after obtaining a commitment for a long-term lease with an initial tenant and, in general, if we are aware of, or believe there is, commercial potential for Colocation.
Demand for New Sites from MNOs is typically driven by multiple communications industry characteristics within our individual markets. These characteristics include the MNOs’ need for greater network coverage and network density due to existing capacity-constrained networks, a desire to improve quality-of-service, increasing subscriber demand for wireless voice and data services that require a denser network than is the case for voice services, as well as changes
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in and the development of technologies in those markets. For example, we often see an increase in demand for New Sites as new technology is rolled out in markets, such as 3G or 4G.
New Sites are primarily ground-based towers, but can also include in-building solutions/distributed antenna systems, rooftop towers and cells-on-wheels. These New Sites always begin operations with at least a single Tenant, with Colocation and Lease Amendments expected at future dates.
Consequently, the construction of New Sites generally has a positive effect on revenue, and as Colocation and Lease Amendments occur on the tower, we expect this to drive incremental organic revenue and have a positive effect on gross margins and operating margins.
Churn
Churn refers to the loss of tenancies when services provided by us are terminated, a Tenant does not renew its contract or we have ceased recognizing revenue on a site in any particular period, adjusted for the reintegration of previously lost tenancies. For example, a Tenant may Churn if the relevant MLA or SLA is not renewed at the end of its term, the customer ceases operations or switches to a competing tower company. Other than a customer Churning at the end of the term of its MLA or SLA, our MLAs generally contain limited termination clauses. Certain of our customer agreements also contain a contractual right to Churn a limited number of sites each year without penalty.
Decommissioning
In connection with the acquisition of portfolios of sites, we rationalize our portfolio where we have multiple towers in close proximity to each other. Where economically and commercially viable, we migrate Tenants from one tower onto a nearby tower as an additional Colocation and then subsequently decommission the empty site. Decommissioning spend is a component of discretionary capital expenditure. While the decommissioning of towers offsets our overall growth in the number of towers, it allows us to eliminate cost of sales and ongoing maintenance capital expenditure at the decommissioned towers. The retained sites benefit from lease fees relocated from the decommissioned site and generally only experience a marginal increase in cost of sales due to increased power consumption.
Acquisitions/Disposals of tower portfolios and businesses
The acquisition of tower portfolios and businesses from MNOs and independent tower companies results in incremental inorganic revenue during the period in which the acquisitions occur. Acquisitions of tower portfolios and businesses result in an immediate increase in the size of our overall tower portfolio and help expand our footprint in existing and new markets. Once towers are acquired, we receive revenue from the Tenants and Lease Amendments on such sites and we are responsible for future capital expenditure and costs of sales related to the sites. As we acquire new portfolios of towers, we may incur additional administrative expenses, particularly from acquisitions in new markets, which may impact our operating margins.
The disposal of tower portfolios and businesses will reduce revenue going forward from the period in which the disposal occurs, shown through inorganic revenue movements.
Currency exchange rate
Our operations are conducted by subsidiaries in Nigeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, South Africa, Brazil and Colombia, and the functional currency of our operating subsidiaries are the Nigerian Naira (₦), Central African CFA Franc (XAF), West African CFA Franc (XOF), Zambian Kwacha (ZMW), South African Rand (ZAR), Brazilian Real (BRL) and Colombian Peso (COP), respectively. A foreign currency transaction is translated into the functional currency using the exchange rate prevailing at the date of the transaction (or the date of valuation where an item is re-measured). The foreign exchange gain or loss resulting from (i) the settlement of such transaction or (ii) the translation of a monetary asset or liability denominated in a foreign currency is recognized at the exchange rate at period end in the statement of income/(loss) and other comprehensive (loss)/income.
Our operating subsidiaries’ financial results are then translated into U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. Income and expenses are translated at the monthly average exchange rates (unless this average is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are translated at the rate on the dates of the transactions). Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rate at period end.
As a result of the translations described above, our results are impacted by fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
For further discussion on the impact of the Naira movements, please refer to “— Results of Operations.”
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Multiple foreign exchange markets with different exchange rates
From time to time in the markets in which we operate, there have existed situations where there are differing official exchange rates in the market. Accordingly, we regularly monitor and evaluate which exchange rate is most appropriate to apply in the translation of local operations books to U.S. dollars for our consolidated group reporting purposes, in accordance with the requirements of IFRS Accounting Standards.
In determining the appropriate rate, we assess factors such as access to those rates in the future in order to meet payments or make dividends in the appropriate currency. In determining whether it is appropriate to move from one official rate to another, we consider the available rates in official markets for settlement of transactions. The foreign exchange rate that we determined to be the most appropriate for the translation of our results for group reporting purposes may also have differed from the conversion rates contained within our contracts.
For example, as a result of the previous regime of multiple exchange rate “windows” for different purposes in Nigeria, we agreed with certain of our Key Customers in 2020 to update the reference exchange rate in our contracts to the prevailing market rate available on Bloomberg.
Should similar circumstances arise again where there is a divergence between the applicable market rate or translation rates for our financial results and the exchange rates reflected in our contracts with customers, or a divergence between the prevailing market rate on Bloomberg and other exchange rates in the market, there is no guarantee that we will be able to renegotiate these contracts or enter into new contracts to fully protect against such foreign exchange risks. In addition, other measures taken by the relevant authorities and/or the CBN may further impact the rates available in the market, and we may need to consider such measures for the purposes of our accounts. For further discussion on the impact of this change in exchange rates, please refer to “— Our Revenue.”
Hyperinflation
At present, none of our markets are considered to be hyperinflationary (as defined in IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies). The 3 year cumulative inflation rate for Nigeria has continued to decrease during the first quarter of 2026, but there is the potential for hyperinflation accounting to be applicable in future reporting periods if inflation increases.
Maintenance of sites
We incur capital expenditure in relation to the maintenance of our towers and fiber infrastructure, which is non-discretionary in nature and required for us to optimally run our portfolio and to perform in line with our service level agreements with customers. Maintenance capital expenditure includes the periodic repair and replacement of fixtures and fittings of existing sites, and fiber equipment and power equipment at existing sites. A large component of maintenance capital expenditure is the replacement and servicing of generators and batteries at our sites, although this may decrease if the grid availability in our markets improve.
In addition to this corrective maintenance capital expenditure, maintenance costs are also incurred in cost of sales where these relate to preventive maintenance that includes the replacement of parts and routine checks. Maintenance capital expenditure in Latin America is typically lower given the current scope of maintenance required on Towers.
When we acquire a tower portfolio, it may be necessary to refurbish the newly acquired Towers in order to bring them to the standard of the rest of our portfolio.
Refurbishment capital expenditure typically involves the deployment of a suitable power system for that site, repairs to the site or improvements to the site structure in order to be in line with our safety obligations, and adaptations to site security and monitoring abilities. Refurbishment capital expenditure is one-off in nature, following which the refurbishment sites should then have normalized maintenance capital expenditure requirements. Refurbishment capital expenditure is a component of discretionary capital expenditure since it is typically considered in conjunction with the acquisition of tower portfolios. The capital expenditure associated with refurbishment varies from market to market and tower to tower.
Carbon reduction roadmap
In October 2022, we announced our Carbon Reduction Roadmap which provides a comprehensive strategy for decreasing our operational emissions by reducing diesel usage on tower sites, including a goal to reduce the Scope 1 and Scope 2 kilowatt-hour emissions intensity of our tower portfolio by 2030, using 2021 emissions data as the baseline.
We believe that savings can be achieved by connecting more sites to the electricity grid and via the deployment and integration of battery storage and solar panel solutions. In scope for the Carbon Reduction Roadmap are our operations
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in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Zambia and, until October 9, 2025, Rwanda. However, our plans in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Zambia will only include connecting more sites to the grid.
Cost and consumption of diesel
Power is our largest single operating expense and, in particular, diesel pricing typically has the largest impact on changes in our operating expense. The largest impact is in our Nigerian operations due to low power grid availability and our South African operations where they are connected to the grid and experience significant load shedding. However, following the unwind of the power Managed Services agreement with MTN South Africa and the new diesel-linked component included in our renewed contracts with MTN Nigeria, we have significantly reduced our exposure to diesel price fluctuations. The operational impact of the unwind is that the IHS South African business is no longer responsible for providing diesel or alternative power to tower sites other than electricity costs which are fully passed through to customers, while in Nigeria, power indexation clauses limit the impact of diesel price fluctuations. Our overall diesel consumption is also being reduced through targeted investment in power system solutions to provide power to sites more efficiently, including the use of hybrid and solar.
Cost of ground leases
The majority of towers we own and operate are on land that we lease from individual landlords. Ground lease fees are generally paid in advance monthly or for a one, three, five, or ten-year portion of the overall duration of the lease (although in our South Africa business, we typically pay our ground lease fees monthly in advance), with typically pre-agreed lease fee increases of between 3% and 60% or variable increases for each subsequent one, three, five or ten-year period. As we roll out additional sites, we are often required to either enter into leases with new landlords, which we endeavor to do under similar terms to those of our existing leases, or acquire the land.
Customer concentration
A significant portion of our revenue in each of our markets is derived from a small number of customers who usually constitute some of the largest MNOs in those markets. In the quarter ended March 31, 2026, revenue from our top three MNO customers, considered in each of our individual markets of operation, collectively accounted for 99.1% of our consolidated revenue. Should there be any negative impact on the businesses of our major customers, including these key MNOs, this in turn could adversely affect their demand for tower space and/or ability to perform their obligations under their lease agreements with us.
Market volatility
We and our customers operate in various international markets, particularly in emerging markets such as in Africa. As a result, we are exposed to economic, political and other uncertainties prevailing in such markets, particularly Nigeria, which is our largest market of operation.
In November 2025, S&P affirmed Nigeria’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Credit Rating at B- and revised its outlook to positive from stable. In October 2025, Fitch affirmed Nigeria’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Credit Rating at B with a stable outlook.
In August 2025, S&P affirmed IHS Holding Limited’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Credit Rating and its unsecured debt at B+ with a stable outlook. In November 2025, Fitch affirmed IHS Holding Limited’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Credit Rating and its unsecured debt at B+ and revised its outlook to positive from stable.
There have been no upgrades, downgrades, or changes in outlook for Nigeria or IHS since then.
As a result of the currency exchange rate fluctuations, particularly with regard to the Naira as described further above, our strategic and operational plans need to be continually reassessed to meet the challenges and needs of our businesses in order for us to remain competitive. For instance, we have adopted a more balanced approach to revenue growth and cash generation to counterbalance the recent macroeconomic headwinds across the world, and particularly in Nigeria given the significant depreciations of the Naira in June 2023 and January 2024. As part of our heightened focus on cash generation, we are pursuing operational efficiencies through productivity enhancements, cost and capital expenditure reductions, and a review of our portfolio of markets and assets. See the “Risk Factors” section of our 2025 Annual Report for further details.
Macroeconomic Issues
Global deterioration in economic conditions could adversely and materially affect us and/or our customers through disruptions of, among other things, the ability to procure communications equipment or other supplies through the usual supply chains. For instance, shortages in shipping capacity, changes to global trade policies, the imposition of tariffs or
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the commencement of trade wars could affect the smooth flow of our and/or our customers’ supply chains, increase transportation costs and/or decrease reliability. Global deterioration in economic conditions could also adversely and materially affect the ability of us and/or our customers to maintain liquidity and deploy network capital, with potential decreases in consumer spending contributing to liquidity risks, or even through regulatory interventions or pressure on pricing and services offered that may reduce revenue for periods of time. Any resulting financial difficulties could result in uncollectible accounts receivable or reduced revenue, despite having provided increased services. Resulting supply chain or operational difficulties (including site access) may also result in us being unable to meet the service level agreement targets under our MLAs. The loss of significant Tenants, or the loss of all or a portion of our anticipated Contracted Revenue from certain Tenants, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and/or results of operations.
Diesel prices have fluctuated significantly over time, often in parallel to changes in oil prices, and may fluctuate in the future as a result of many factors, including the impact of geopolitical tensions, for example, in connection with the recent hostilities involving Iran and related developments in the Middle East, which may affect oil production, trade routes, and global energy markets. However, following the unwind of the power Managed Services agreement with MTN South Africa and the new diesel-linked component included in our renewed contracts with MTN Nigeria, we have significantly reduced our exposure to diesel price fluctuations. The operational impact of the unwind is that the IHS South African business is no longer responsible for providing diesel or alternative power to tower sites other than electricity costs which are fully passed through to customers, while in Nigeria, we benefit from power indexation clauses which limit the impact in relation to increased diesel prices and conversely falling diesel prices.
Through our international operations, we are also exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from currency exposures other than the U.S. dollar, such as the BRL, NGN, XAF, XOF, ZAR and ZMW currencies. Any fluctuations in these foreign currency exchange rates could result in a material adverse effect on the cash flow and future profits.
Outstanding balances and advances under certain of our existing credit facilities bear interest at rates which vary depending on certain underlying or reference rates, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) Term SOFR, the European interbank offered rate (“EURIBOR”), the Nigerian Monetary Policy Rate (“MPR”), the Johannesburg Interbank Average Rate (“JIBAR”), or the Brazilian interbank deposit rate (“CDI”). Increases in such reference rates increase our interest expense, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and/or results of operations. Such increases in interest rates could also have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and our ability to service our debt in the longer term.
In the past, governments have taken, and may in the future take, unprecedented actions in an attempt to address and rectify extreme market and economic conditions by providing liquidity and stability to financial markets. If these actions are not successful, adverse economic conditions may cause a significant impact on our ability and the ability of our customers to raise capital, if needed, on a timely basis, on acceptable terms or at all.
To the extent that any macroeconomic issues have a material adverse effect on our or our customers’ business, financial condition, results of operations and/or liquidity, it may also have the effect of heightening other risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of our 2025 Annual Report.
Explanation of key line items in the historical consolidated statements of income
Revenue
Our revenue is derived from fees paid by our customers for services from our Colocation business and its ancillary managed services. The Colocation business involves the lease of space on our owned and operated towers and our fixed copper and fiber network infrastructure, which are shared by various MNOs and other communications service providers. A portion of Colocation arrangements for the rental of space on the towers, other assets on tower sites, on which the use of space is dependent, and the use of fixed copper and fiber network infrastructure dedicated to an individual customer is within the scope of IFRS 16. A portion of Colocation arrangements for the provision of services, energy charges and use of shared fixed copper and fiber network infrastructure is within the scope of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“IFRS 15”) as a provision of service. Revenue from leasing arrangements is recognized on a straight-line basis over the current lease term of the related lease agreements when collectability is reasonably assured. We also derive revenue from non-lease services, which includes maintenance, security and power supply for Towers owned by third parties. Non-lease revenue is recognized as the service is delivered at an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those services. Such revenue is recognized in the accounting period in which the services are rendered. We assess the probability that defaulting customers will not settle amounts billed and accordingly treat any component that we deem may not be collected as variable consideration, contingent upon the receipt of funds from the customer, an event that is not wholly within our control.
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Cost of sales
Cost of sales consists of power generation (including diesel costs), which is our largest single cost item, ground lease rental, tower repairs and maintenance, depreciation and amortization in relation to sites and right-of-use assets, impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and prepaid land rent, staff costs and other costs directly related to the provision of services to customers and other site-related costs, such as security services, regulatory permits and license costs, and insurance, including for customer- and network-related assets. Depreciation of a tower is calculated using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of 10 to 20 years. Depreciation of alarms, batteries and generators are also calculated using the straight-line method over a range of estimated useful lives between one and five years, depending on the equipment. Right-of-use assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the remaining estimated useful life of the tower and the lease term.
Administrative expenses
Administrative expenses are costs not directly related to the provision of services to customers, but which support our business as a whole. These overhead expenses primarily consist of administrative staff costs (including key management compensation), impairment of goodwill, office rent and related property expenses, insurance, travel costs, professional fees, depreciation and amortization of administrative assets and right-of-use assets where such assets are leased, net loss or gains from sale of assets, loss allowance on trade and other receivables and other sundry costs. Administrative expenses also include corporate overhead related to merger and acquisition efforts and costs associated with new business initiatives.
Other income
Other income includes proceeds from insurance claims and net gain on disposal.
Finance costs and income
Finance costs consist of interest expense and loan facility fees on borrowings, the unwinding of the discount on our decommissioning liability and lease liability, net realized and unrealized foreign exchange losses arising from financing arrangements and net realized and unrealized losses from valuations of financial instruments. Finance income consists of interest income from bank deposits, net realized and unrealized foreign exchange gains arising from financing arrangements, net realized and unrealized gains from valuations of financial instruments and other interest income.
Taxation
Taxation consists of current tax and deferred tax with respect to income taxes. The income tax expense or credit is calculated at the domestic tax rate applicable to profits or losses in our respective countries of business with appropriate adjustments. Current and deferred tax is recognized on taxes that are regarded as taxes on corporate income under the relevant IFRS accounting standard. Current tax also includes the Pillar 2 multinational top-up tax.
Deferred income tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences, including tax losses carried forward, arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial statements, but only to the extent that the realization of the related tax benefits are expected to be met through the reversal of taxable temporary differences and that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilized. Where there are taxable losses and other deferred tax assets brought forward or arising in the present period, deferred tax assets in respect of those losses are recognized only to the extent they are forecast to be applied against (i) the reversal of taxable temporary differences, or (ii) additional forecast future taxable income.
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Key Financial and Operational Performance Indicators
We believe that revenue growth, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, the number of Towers in our portfolio and Colocation Rate are key measures to assess our financial and operational performance. These measures demonstrate our ability to grow and generate strong positive cash flows over time. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are not measures defined by IFRS Accounting Standards. The most directly comparable IFRS measure to Adjusted EBITDA is our income/(loss) for the period. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are not necessarily comparable to similarly referenced measures used by other companies. As a result, investors should not consider these performance measures in isolation from, or as a substitute analysis for, our results of operations as determined in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.
Towers
We measure the number of towers in our portfolio (including discontinued operations) at a given time by counting the number of towers that we own or operate with at least one Tenant. The number of towers in our portfolio excludes towers for which we provide Managed Services. We have historically increased the number of towers in our portfolio through a combination of building New Sites and acquiring towers from MNOs or independent tower companies. Rationalizing the portfolio through decommissioning towers reduces the number of towers we own and operate.
Colocation Rate
We define Colocation Rate as the average number of Tenants per tower that we own or operate across our tower portfolio at a given point in time, excluding Managed Services. Colocation Rate is an important metric for assessing utilization and capacity on existing Towers. Our Colocation Rate is a key driver of our Adjusted EBITDA Margin, as the addition of further Tenants increases revenue for a proportionally smaller increase in power, our primary variable cost per site. Colocation is achieved at a relatively low incremental capital expense and is also attractive to our customers as it provides them with shorter deployment times for their equipment compared to New Site alternatives.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
We define Adjusted EBITDA (including by segment) as income/(loss) for the period, before income tax expense/(benefit), finance costs and income, depreciation and amortization, net (reversal of impairment)/ impairment of withholding tax receivables, impairment of goodwill, business combination transaction costs, net impairment/(reversal of impairment) of property, plant and equipment, right-of-use assets, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent, reversal of provision for decommissioning costs, net (gain)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets, share-based payment (credit)/expense, insurance claims, gain on disposal of subsidiary and certain other items that management believes are not indicative of the core performance of our business.
For the avoidance of doubt, this includes amounts in relation to discontinued operations.
We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue for the applicable period, expressed as a percentage.
We believe Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are useful to investors and are used by our management for measuring profitability and allocating resources, because they exclude the impact of certain items that have less bearing on our core operating performance such as interest expense and taxes. We believe that utilizing Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin allows for a more meaningful comparison of operating fundamentals between companies within our industry by eliminating the impact of capital structure and taxation differences between the companies.
Adjusted EBITDA measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in their evaluation of companies comparable to us, many of which present an Adjusted EBITDA-related performance measure when reporting their results.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are used by different companies for differing purposes and are often calculated in ways that reflect the circumstances of those companies. You should exercise caution in comparing Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin as reported by us to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin as reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are unaudited and have not been prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are not measures of performance under IFRS Accounting Standards and you should not consider these as an alternative to income/(loss) or income/(loss) margin for the period or other financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.
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Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation. Some of these limitations are:
| ● | they do not reflect interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our indebtedness; |
| ● | although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often need to be replaced in the future and Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin do not reflect any cash requirements that would be required for such replacements; |
| ● | some of the items we eliminate in calculating Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin reflect cash payments that have less bearing on our core operating performance, but that impact our operating results for the applicable period; and |
| ● | the fact that other companies in our industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin differently than we do, which limits their usefulness as comparative measures. |
Accordingly, investors and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin.
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The following is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA from the most directly comparable IFRS measure which is income for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025:
Three months ended | |||||
March 31, | March 31, | ||||
2026 | 2025 | ||||
| $'m | | $'m | | |
Income for the period | 77.0 | 30.7 | |||
Adjustments(a): | |||||
Income tax expense | 43.0 | 38.5 | |||
Finance costs(b) | 125.0 | 114.3 | |||
Finance income(b) | (126.5) | (20.5) | |||
Depreciation and amortization | 55.8 | 89.4 | |||
Net impairment/(reversal of impairment) of withholding tax receivables(c) | 5.5 | (12.4) | |||
Business combination transaction costs | 9.2 | 0.9 | |||
Net impairment of property, plant and equipment, right-of-use assets, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent(d) | 32.8 | 2.0 | |||
Net (gain)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets | (1.5) | 1.2 | |||
Share-based payment expense(e) | 23.9 | 5.5 | |||
Insurance claims(f) | — | (0.1) | |||
Other costs(g) | 24.5 | 3.1 | |||
Adjusted EBITDA | 268.7 | 252.6 | |||
| (a) | Adjustments include relevant amounts in relation to discontinued operations summarized in note 20.1. |
| (b) | Finance costs consist of interest expense and loan facility fees on borrowings, the unwinding of the discount on our decommissioning liability and lease liability, net realized and unrealized foreign exchange losses arising from financing arrangements and net realized and unrealized losses from valuations of financial instruments. Finance income consists of interest income from bank deposits, net realized and unrealized foreign exchange gains arising from financing arrangements, net realized and unrealized gains from valuations of financial instruments and other interest income. |
| (c) | Withholding tax primarily represents amounts withheld by customers in Nigeria and paid to the local tax authority. The amounts withheld may be recoverable through an offset against future corporate income tax liabilities in the relevant operating company. Withholding tax receivables are reviewed for recoverability at each reporting period end and impaired if not forecast to be recoverable. |
| (d) | Represents non-cash charges related to the impairment of property, plant and equipment, right-of-use assets, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent on the decommissioning of sites. |
| (e) | Represents expenses related to share-based compensation, which vary from period to period depending on timing of awards, and changes to valuation input assumptions. |
| (f) | Represents insurance claims included as other income. |
| (g) | Other costs for the three months ended March 31, 2026, included $17.5 million (three months ended March 31, 2025: $nil) of one-off long-term employee benefit costs, and one-off expenses related to strategic initiatives and operating systems of $7.0 million (three months ended March 31, 2025: $1.5 million). |
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The table below shows our consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025:
Three months ended | |||||
March 31, | March 31, | ||||
2026 | 2025(a) | ||||
| $’m | | $’m | | |
Revenue | 415.4 | 392.1 | |||
Cost of sales | (183.6) | (173.8) | |||
Administrative expenses |
| (120.7) |
| (52.7) |
|
Other income |
| 0.2 |
| 0.2 |
|
Operating income | 111.3 | 165.8 | |||
Finance income | 116.6 | 18.3 | |||
Finance costs | (110.7) | (93.1) | |||
Income before income tax | 117.2 | 91.0 | |||
Income tax expense | (50.1) | (44.1) | |||
Income from continuing operations | 67.1 | 46.9 | |||
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations | 9.9 | (16.2) | |||
Income for the period | 77.0 | 30.7 | |||
| (a) | The results for the three months ended March 31, 2025 have been re-presented to reflect that the results of the Latam segment are now reported as a discontinued operation. See note 20.1 for more information. |
Impact of Naira foreign exchange movements
In 2026, the Naira exchange rate against the U.S. dollar has exhibited reduced volatility compared with 2024, broadly consistent with the trend seen in 2025. The rates used in the preparation of our financial statements are shown below:
Closing Rate | Closing Rate Movement(a) | 3- Month Average Rate | Average Rate Movement(a) | |
₦:$ | $:₦ | ₦:$ | $:₦ | |
December 31, 2023 | 911.7 | –– | 815.0 | –– |
March 31, 2024 | 1,393.5 | (34.6)% | 1,315.9 | (38.1)% |
June 30, 2024 | 1,514.3 | (8.0)% | 1,391.8 | (5.4)% |
September 30, 2024 | 1,669.1 | (9.3)% | 1,601.0 | (13.1)% |
December 31, 2024 | 1,546.0 | 8.0% | 1,628.5 | (1.7)% |
March 31, 2025 | 1,538.1 | 0.5% | 1,526.7 | 6.7% |
June 30, 2025 | 1,543.0 | (0.3)% | 1,580.8 | (3.4)% |
September 30, 2025 | 1,486.5 | 3.7% | 1,523.2 | 3.6% |
December 31, 2025 | 1,448.3 | 2.6% | 1,453.3 | 4.8% |
March 31, 2026 | 1,384.5 | 4.6% | 1,385.0 | 4.9% |
| (a) | Movements presented for each period are between that period’s rate and the preceding period rate and are calculated as a percentage of the period’s rate. |
Compared to the same period in 2025, changes in the Naira exchange rate used to translate the results of our Nigeria operations positively impacted revenue and segment Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2026 by $26.7 million and $16.9 million, respectively. These impacts were partially offset by foreign exchange resets in some of our contracts. Movements in the Naira exchange rate in the first quarter of 2026 resulted in unrealized foreign exchange gains of $80.3 million on U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans advanced to our Nigerian operations. These unrealized foreign exchange impacts are recognized in finance income or finance costs accordingly; however, Group net assets are not impacted, as equal and opposite movements are recorded in equity on the retranslation of the Nigerian operations’ assets and liabilities (which include these loans).
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Results for the three months ended March 31, 2026 versus 2025
On February 11 and 17, 2026, the Group announced agreements to sell its 51.0% stake in I-Systems to TIM S.A. and its Latin American tower operations to Macquarie Asset Management, respectively. The Latin American tower operations and I-Systems disposal groups were classified as held for sale from December 31, 2025. These disposal groups comprised the entire Latam reportable segment and therefore this segment was presented as a discontinued operation. Accordingly, the description of revenue from continuing operations is now presented separately from the description of revenue from discontinued operations and Adjusted EBITDA Margin is only presented for individual segments. Other key performance indicators, including Adjusted EBITDA and ALFCF, continue to reflect the performance inclusive of the Latin America segment as the associated IFRS measures of earnings and cash from operations continue to include results from discontinued operations. In May 2026, the Group completed the disposal of its 51.0% stake in I-Systems to TIM S.A.
Revenue from continuing operations
Revenue from continuing operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2026 (“first quarter”) was $415.4 million, an increase of 6.0% year-on-year, despite a 3.7% inorganic revenue headwind from the disposal of the Company’s Rwanda operations in October 2025. Organic revenue(a) decreased by $6.8 million (1.7%) driven by a reduction in revenues related to foreign exchange resets and power indexation, largely as a result of the appreciation of the Naira versus the U.S. dollar. This more than offset the continued growth in revenues from Tenants, Lease Amendments and New Sites, in addition to the benefit of escalations, and came despite the impact of Churn related to the approximately 1,050 sites MTN Nigeria agreed to vacate as part of the contract renewals and extensions signed during the third quarter of 2024. Inorganic revenue(a) decreased by $14.5 million, which related to the disposal of operations in Rwanda in October 2025. The decrease in organic revenue was more than offset by the non-core(a) impact of favorable movements in foreign exchange rates used to translate the results of foreign operations of $44.7 million, or 11.4%, of which $26.7 million was due to the appreciation of the Naira.
Refer to the revenue component of the segment results section of this discussion and analysis for further details.
Revenue from discontinued operations
Revenue from the Latin America segment for the three month period ended March 31, 2026, presented within discontinued operations, was $51.8 million, an increase of 9.0% year-on-year.
Towers, tenants and lease amendments
For the first quarter, there was a year-on-year net decrease in Towers of 1,571 (a net decrease of 104 year-on-year excluding the impact of the Rwanda disposal), resulting in total Towers of 37,641 at the end of the period. The decrease primarily resulted from the divestiture of 1,467 Towers in Rwanda in October 2025. The addition of 594 New Sites year-on-year, was more than offset by 677 Churned and 21 decommissioned sites. Tenants declined 4,752 year-on-year (including the divestiture of 3,041 from Rwanda, and a reduction of 4,132 from Churn). The Churn was inclusive of 2,576 tenants in the third quarter of 2025, which reflected an updated agreement with our smallest Key Customer in Nigeria, T2 (previously known as 9mobile), signed in that quarter. It was agreed that T2 would vacate our sites in exchange for a contractual commitment to settle portions of its historic overdue balances through July, 2027. As a result, total Tenants were 54,854 at the end of the first quarter, with a Colocation Rate of 1.46x, in line with the fourth quarter of 2025. Excluding the impact of these two items, we added 865 net new tenants year-on-year. Year-on-year, we added 5,593 Lease Amendments, driven by continued incremental demand for ancillary services, resulting in total Lease Amendments of 45,298 at the end of the first quarter.
| (a) | Refer to “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for the definition of organic revenue, inorganic revenue and non-core and additional information. |
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of $268.7 million increased 6.4% year-on-year reflecting the increase in revenue described above. Cost of sales included within Adjusted EBITDA increased $7.3 million year-on-year, primarily driven by increases in tower repairs and maintenance costs ($2.1 million), staff costs ($1.6 million), power generation costs ($1.3 million), site rental costs ($0.9 million) and regulatory fees ($0.4 million). The $4.2 million increase in administrative expenses included within Adjusted EBITDA was primarily driven by other administrative expenses.
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Income for the period
Income for the first quarter of 2026 was $77.0 million, compared to $30.7 million in the first quarter of 2025. The increase was primarily driven by a $80.7 million favorable movement in net finance income/(costs), mainly reflecting the impact of changes in the Naira exchange rate in the respective periods on U.S. dollar-denominated intercompany loans advanced to our Nigerian operations. In the first quarter of 2026, the Naira appreciated with an average exchange rate of ₦1,385 to the U.S dollar. Revenue also increased by $23.3 million.
These increases were partially offset by an increase in administrative expenses of $68.0 million, and an increase in cost of sales of $9.8 million. Administrative expenses in the quarter included accelerated expenses of $33.1 million related to share-based payment and long-term employee benefit expenses as a result of a change in expected vesting periods and settlement obligations following the February 2026 announcement by the Group that it had entered into a merger agreement to be acquired by MTN Group Limited. Administrative expenses also reflected a $17.9 million unfavorable movement in the net impairment of withholding tax receivables and a $8.3 million increase in business combination costs mainly due to costs associated with the merger transaction.
SEGMENT RESULTS
Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA by segment
Set out below are revenue and segment Adjusted EBITDA for each of our reportable segments, for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025:
Revenue
Three months ended | ||||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||||
| 2026 | | 2025 | | Change | |
$’m | $’m | % | ||||
Nigeria | 285.0 | 271.4 | 5.0 | |||
SSA | 130.4 |
| 120.7 | 8.1 | ||
Continuing operations | 415.4 | 392.1 | ||||
Latam | 51.8 |
| 47.5 | 9.0 | ||
Discontinued operations | 51.8 | 47.5 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA
Three months ended | ||||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||||
| 2026 | | 2025 | | Change | |
$’m | $’m | % | ||||
Nigeria | 182.6 | 179.2 | 2.0 | |||
SSA | 77.6 |
| 71.7 | 8.3 | ||
Latam (discontinued operations) | 37.6 |
| 35.6 | 5.6 | ||
297.8 | 286.5 | |||||
Unallocated corporate expenses(a) | (29.1) | (33.9) | 14.1 | |||
Total Adjusted EBITDA | 268.7 | 252.6 | 6.4 | |||
| (a) | Unallocated corporate expenses primarily consist of costs associated with centralized Group functions including Group executive, finance, HR, IT, legal, tax and treasury services. |
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Nigeria
First quarter revenue increased 5.0% year-on-year to $285.0 million. Organic revenue decreased by $13.1 million, a decrease of 4.8% year-on-year, driven largely by a reduction in revenues linked to foreign exchange resets and diesel prices as a result of the appreciation of the Naira versus the U.S dollar during the period, which more than offset the growth primarily driven by escalations and Lease Amendments. Continued growth in revenue from Colocation, Lease Amendments and New Sites was partially offset by Churn related to the approximately 1,050 sites MTN Nigeria agreed to vacate as part of the contract renewals and extensions signed during the third quarter of 2024. The decrease in organic revenue was more than offset by favorable movements in foreign exchange rates used to translate the results of foreign operations, with an average Naira rate of ₦1,385 to $1.00 in the first quarter of 2026 compared to an average rate of ₦1,527 to $1.00 in the first quarter of 2025. This led to a non-core increase of $26.7 million, or 9.8% year-on-year.
Tenants decreased by 2,491 year-on-year, with growth of 819 from Colocation and 42 from New Sites, more than offset by 3,352 Churn, which was inclusive of 2,576 tenants in the third quarter of 2025 which reflected an updated agreement with our smallest Key Customer, T2. It was agreed that T2 would vacate our sites in exchange for a contractual commitment to settle portions of its historic overdue balances through July, 2027. Lease Amendments increased by 4,240 driven by continued incremental demand for ancillary services.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter increased 2.0% year-on-year to $182.6 million, resulting in an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 64.1%. The year-on-year increase in segment Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter primarily reflected the increase in revenue described above, partly offset by an increase in cost of sales and administrative expenses included within segment Adjusted EBITDA. During the first quarter the increase in costs was primarily driven by a year-on-year increase in staff costs ($4.4 million), other administrative costs ($2.3 million) and tower repairs and maintenance costs ($1.4 million), with increases enhanced by the appreciation of the Naira, which is used to translate the results of our Nigeria operations.
SSA
First quarter revenue increased 8.1% year-on-year to $130.4 million, despite a 12.0% inorganic revenue headwind related to the disposal of operations in Rwanda in October 2025. Organic revenue, which increased by $6.3 million, or 5.2%, led by growth in revenue from new Tenants, Colocations, New Sites and escalations, partially offset by lower revenues from foreign exchange resets. The overall increase in revenue was also driven by an increase in non-core revenues as a result of positive movements in foreign exchange rates of $18.0 million, or 14.9%.
Tenants decreased by 3,003 year-on-year, primarily due to the disposal of 3,041 tenants in Rwanda. Other than this disposal, tenants increased by 38 driven by increases of 465 from Colocation and 190 from New Sites, partially offset by a reduction of 617 tenants from Churn primarily related to ZedMobile (“ZedMobile”), while Lease Amendments increased by 517.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter increased 8.3% year-on-year to $77.6 million, resulting in an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 59.5%. The year-on-year increase in segment Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter primarily reflected the increase in revenue described above, partially offset by a $2.3 million increase in costs included within Adjusted EBITDA. The increase in costs was primarily driven by increases in other administrative expenses ($3.1 million) largely reflecting a provision associated with the ZedMobile Churn in Zambia, power generation costs ($1.1 million) and tower repairs and maintenance costs ($0.9 million), partially offset by a reduction in staff costs ($1.3 million).
Latam
First quarter revenue increased 9.0% year-on-year to $51.8 million. Organic revenue declined 2.1% in the quarter, or $1.0 million, with the first quarter of 2025 benefitting from the recognition of non-recurring revenue of $3.6 million from our customer Oi S.A. (“Oi Brazil”) relating to a transfer of assets as part of their judicial recovery proceedings, which was partially offset by continued growth in Tenants, Lease Amendments, New Sites and CPI escalations. The decrease in organic growth was more than offset by the non-core impact of favorable movements in foreign exchange rates of $5.2 million, or 11.0%.
Tenants increased by 742 year-on-year, including 362 from New Sites and 543 from Colocation, while Lease Amendments increased by 836.
First quarter segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 5.6% to $37.6 million for a segment Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 72.7%, primarily driven by the increase in revenue during the period, partially offset by an increase in costs included within Adjusted EBITDA. The increase in costs was primarily driven by an increase in staff costs ($1.9 million) and site rental costs ($0.9 million).
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On February 11 and 17, 2026, the Group announced agreements to sell its 51.0% stake in I-Systems to TIM S.A. and its Latin American tower operations to Macquarie Asset Management, respectively. The Latin American tower operations and I-Systems disposal groups were classified as held for sale from December 31, 2025. These disposal groups comprised the entire Latam reportable segment and therefore this segment was presented as a discontinued operation. In May, 2026 the sale of the Company’s I-Systems stake to TIM S.A. completed.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Set out below is the capital expenditure for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 for each of our reporting segments:
Three months ended | ||||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||||
| 2026 | | 2025 | Change | ||
$’m | $’m | % | ||||
Nigeria | 16.4 | 11.2 | 45.4 | |||
SSA | 3.2 | 8.2 | (61.3) | |||
Other | — | 0.4 | (100.0) | |||
Continuing operations | 19.6 | 19.8 | ||||
Latam | 21.8 | 23.8 | (8.2) | |||
Discontinued operations | 21.8 | 23.8 | ||||
Total capital expenditure | 41.4 | 43.6 | (5.3) | |||
During the first quarter of 2026, capital expenditure (“Total Capex”) was $41.4 million, compared to $43.6 million for the first quarter of 2025. The decrease was primarily driven by lower capital expenditure in our SSA and Latam segments, mainly due to lower discretionary capital expenditure and lower fiber capital expenditure, respectively. These decreases were partially offset by higher capital expenditure in our Nigeria segment, reflecting the phasing of maintenance capital expenditure, fiber capital expenditure and augmentation capital expenditure, in addition to movements in foreign exchange rates.
Nigeria
The 45.4% year-on-year increase for the first quarter was primarily driven by increases related to maintenance capital expenditure ($2.4 million), fiber capital expenditure ($1.7 million) and augmentation capital expenditure ($0.8 million).
SSA
The 61.3% year-on-year decrease for the first quarter was primarily driven by decreases in other capital expenditure ($2.3 million), augmentation capital expenditure ($1.7 million) and maintenance capital expenditure ($1.1 million).
Latam
The 8.2% year-on-year decrease for the first quarter was primarily driven by decreases related to the fiber business ($2.9 million), New Sites ($1.8 million) and maintenance capital expenditure ($0.2 million), partially offset by an increase related to augmentation capital expenditure ($2.9 million).
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FINANCING ACTIVITIES FOR PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2026 TO MARCH 31, 2026
Approximate U.S. dollar equivalent values for non-USD denominated facilities stated below are translated from the currency of the debt at the relevant exchange rates on March 31, 2026.
Nigeria (2026) Revolving Credit Facility
IHS Mauritius NG Holdco Limited, IHS (Nigeria) Limited, IHS Towers NG Limited, INT Towers Limited and IHS Holding Limited entered into an NGN100.0 billion (approximately $72.2 million) Naira-denominated revolving credit facility agreement in January 2026 (with the potential to upsize to NGN200.0 billion (approximately $144.5 million)) (as amended and/or as amended and restated from time to time the “Nigeria 2026 RCF”), between, amongst others, IHS (Nigeria) Limited, IHS Towers NG Limited and INT Towers Limited as borrowers and guarantors; IHS Mauritius NG Holdco Limited, IHS Holding Limited, IHS Mauritius NG1 Limited, IHS Mauritius NG2 Limited, IHS INT Mauritius Limited and INT Towers NG Finco 1 Plc as guarantors; Stanbic IBTC as agent and certain financial institutions listed therein as original lenders.
The interest rate under the Nigeria 2026 RCF is equal to the Nigerian MPR plus a margin of 1.0% per annum. IHS Mauritius NG Holdco Limited also pays certain other fees and costs, including a supplemental agency fee, an arranging fee, a management fee and an agent fee.
The Nigeria 2026 RCF is scheduled to terminate in March 2029 and is repayable in full on that date. Subject to certain conditions, IHS Mauritius NG Holdco Limited and the borrowers may voluntarily prepay utilizations and/or permanently cancel all or part of the available commitments by giving five business days’ prior notice (or such shorter period as the majority lenders may agree). In addition to voluntary prepayments, the Nigeria 2026 RCF requires mandatory cancellation, and if applicable, prepayment in full or in part in certain circumstances.
As of May 8, 2026, there were no amounts drawn and outstanding under the Nigeria 2026 RCF.
Hedging Transactions
In connection with the disposal of our Latin American fiber operations, we entered into a BRL915 million (approximately $174 million) deal contingent non-deliverable foreign exchange forward transaction with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. on February 12, 2026. The transaction has a long-stop date of February 11, 2027. We entered into this transaction to hedge the proceeds from the disposal, which will be denominated in Brazilian Real. The transaction matured and settled in connection with the completion of this disposal. As a result, we entered into a new BRL935 million (approximately $178 million) non-deliverable foreign exchange forward transaction to continue to hedge the proceeds from the disposal until the proceeds are upstreamed. The long-stop date of this hedge is in June 2026.
In connection with the disposal of our Latin American tower operations, we entered into a BRL1,500 million (approximately $285 million) deal contingent non-deliverable foreign exchange forward transaction with Itau BBA International plc on February 18, 2026. The transaction has a long-stop date of February 17, 2027. We entered into this transaction to hedge the Brazilian Real-denominated component of the sale price that is not fixed to U.S. dollars directly in the stock purchase agreement.
ACTIVITIES AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2026
Sale of I-Systems
In May 2026, the Group completed the disposal of its 51.0% stake in I-Systems to TIM S.A. Refer to note 20.2 of our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for further details including the assets and liabilities held for sale as at March 31, 2026. The Group’s related deal contingent non-deliverable foreign exchange forward transaction matured and settled in connection with the completion of this disposal. As a result, the Group entered into a new BRL935 million (approximately $178 million) non-deliverable foreign exchange forward transaction to continue to hedge the proceeds from the disposal (until the proceeds are upstreamed), which are denominated in Brazilian Real. The long-stop date of this hedge is in June 2026.
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INDEBTEDNESS
Set out below is the Group’s indebtedness as at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025:
| March 31, | | December 31, | |
2026 | 2025 | |||
$’m | $’m | |||
Non‑current | ||||
Senior Notes | 1,965.1 | 1,965.5 | ||
Bank term loans | 848.1 | 876.5 | ||
2,813.2 | 2,842.0 | |||
Current | | | ||
Senior Notes | 247.5 | 218.4 | ||
Bank term loans | 75.3 | 77.2 | ||
Letters of credit | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||
322.9 | 295.7 | |||
Total borrowings | 3,136.1 | 3,137.7 | ||
Borrowings classified as held for sale (see note 20.2) | 105.5 | 96.7 | ||
3,241.6 | 3,234.4 |
Refer to note 15 to the interim financial statements for further details on our indebtedness.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We generally fund our operations, which include operating expenses and debt service requirements, through cash flow from operating activities. We have historically funded acquisitions and other investments in our business, including large scale New Site construction and site improvements, from a combination of external equity raised from shareholders, long-term debt financings and internally generated cash from operations. We raised external equity funding at the IHS Holding Limited level, where it is held in U.S. dollars until required by operating subsidiaries or for acquisitions. As and when operating subsidiaries require these funds, the funding is allocated typically through intercompany loans to those subsidiaries. The proportion of intercompany loans to equity is unique to each operation and determined by commercial funding requirements, local taxation and corporate legislation.
As of March 31, 2026, we had $1,373.7 million of total liquidity, comprising our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $966.5 million, availability under the IHS Holding RCF of $300.0 million, and approximately $107.2 million of availability under other local facilities within the Group.
Our centralized treasury team supervises our cash management. Our cash and cash equivalents are generated within our operating subsidiaries and held either locally or upstreamed to IHS Holding Limited (or intermediaries thereof). As a holding company, IHS Holding Limited’s only source of cash to pay our obligations will be distributions with respect to our ownership interests in our subsidiaries or repayment of intercompany loans from (i) the net earnings and cash flow generated by these subsidiaries and (ii) any excess funds from the refinancing of operating company debt financings.
We believe that our available liquidity and cash from operations will be sufficient to satisfy our operating expenses, debt service, capital expenditure requirements and organic growth strategies for a period of at least 12 months from the date of issuance of these results. However, our ability to satisfy our operating expenses, debt service, capital requirements and growth strategies will depend on our future performance, which is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025 (the “2025 Annual Report”). If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operating activities in the future, we may have to obtain additional financing. If we obtain additional capital by issuing equity, the current interests of our existing shareholders will be diluted. If we incur additional indebtedness, that indebtedness may contain significant financial and other covenants that may significantly restrict our operations. There can be no assurance that such financing will be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
Additionally, we continuously review our capital structure as well as our funding and maturity profile. As part of this review, we regularly explore opportunities in the global capital markets to seek to optimize our funding profile and our mix of funding sources, as well as to try to ensure that we are well positioned for any refinancing or other opportunities, including for our 2026, 2027 and 2028 Notes and our term loans and other loan facilities. We may also, from time to time, consider debt and/or equity repurchase programs, whether in the open market or otherwise, subject to market conditions.
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The information in this section updates as of March 31, 2026, the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of the 2025 Annual Report and should be read in conjunction with that report.
MOVEMENTS IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS DURING THE PERIOD
Set out below is the cashflows for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025:
| Three months ended | |||
| March 31, | | March 31, | |
2026 | 2025 | |||
$’m | $’m | |||
Net cash from operating activities |
| 228.6 | 200.3 | |
Net cash used in investing activities | (30.2) | (39.2) | ||
Net cash used in financing activities | (84.2) | (108.1) | ||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 114.2 | 53.0 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 853.3 | 578.0 | ||
Exchange differences | (1.0) | (2.0) | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period(a) | 966.5 | 629.0 | ||
| (a) | Includes $26.0 million classified within assets held for sale as of March 31, 2026 (see note 20.2). |
Net cash from operating activities
The year-on-year increase for the first quarter was $28.3 million, primarily driven by a $19.3 million improvement in net movement in working capital, predominantly related to movements in trade and other payables, and a $9.3 million increase in operating income before working capital changes.
Net cash used in investing activities
The year-on-year decrease for the first quarter was $9.0 million, primarily driven by a $10.1 million reduction in purchases and advance payments for property, plant and equipment. This was partially offset by a $7.1 million reduction in net repayments on short-term deposits.
Net cash used in financing activities
The year-on-year decrease for the first quarter was $23.9 million, primarily driven by a $22.6 million reduction in interest paid following the repayment and refinancing of high interest debt and a $6.2 million decrease in net cash outflows from the issuance and repayment of borrowings (net of fees), partially offset by a $2.7 million increase in interest paid on lease liabilities.
OPERATING INCOME
The year-on-year decrease in operating income for the first quarter was $54.5 million, primarily driven by a $68.0 million increase in administrative expenses and a $9.8 million increase in cost of sales, partially offset by an increase in revenue of $23.3 million. The increase in administrative expenses in the quarter included $33.1 million of accelerated expenses related to share-based payment and long-term employee benefit expenses as a result of a change in expected vesting periods and settlement obligations following the February 2026 announcement by the Group that it had entered into a merger agreement to be acquired by MTN Group Limited . Administrative expenses also reflected a $17.9 million unfavorable movement in net impairment of withholding tax receivables and a $8.3 million increase in business combination costs mainly due to costs associated with the merger transaction.
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FINANCE INCOME/COSTS
Set out below are finance income and costs for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025:
| Three months ended | |||
March 31, | March 31, | |||
| 2026 | | 2025(a) | |
$’m | $’m | |||
Net foreign exchange gain arising from financing - unrealized | 102.8 |
| 7.9 | |
Interest income - bank deposits | 8.8 |
| 7.4 | |
Other interest income(b) | 5.0 | — | ||
Fair value gain on embedded options | — |
| 2.9 | |
Net foreign exchange gain arising from derivative instruments - unrealized | — |
| 0.1 | |
Finance income | 116.6 |
| 18.3 | |
Interest expense - third party borrowings | (69.6) |
| (67.2) | |
Fair value loss on non-deliverable forwards | (13.0) | — | ||
Interest and finance charges for lease liabilities | (11.6) |
| (8.9) | |
Fair value loss on embedded options | (6.2) | — | ||
Interest expense - withholding tax on interest | (4.6) |
| (8.6) | |
Net foreign exchange loss arising from financing - realized | (2.7) | (5.4) | ||
Fees on borrowings and financial derivatives | (1.7) |
| (1.6) | |
Unwinding of discount on decommissioning liability | (1.3) |
| (1.4) | |
Finance costs | (110.7) |
| (93.1) | |
Net finance income/(costs) | 5.9 |
| (74.8) | |
| (a) | The result for the period ended March 31, 2025 has been re-presented to reflect that the result of the Latam segment is now reported as a discontinued operation. See note 20.1 for more information. |
| (b) | Other interest income relates to the accrued interest on the vendor loan notes issued on the disposal of IHS Rwanda (see note 13). |
Finance income and costs are typically driven by interest rates on deposits and borrowings. However, for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, finance income was impacted by foreign exchange movements arising on our Nigerian subsidiaries’ U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans as a result of the appreciation of the Naira versus the U.S. dollar. As a result, the decrease in net finance costs was $80.7 million.
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
Set out below is the income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025:
| Three months ended | |||
March 31, | March 31, | |||
| 2026 | | 2025(a) | |
$’million | $’million | |||
Current taxes |
| 56.7 |
| 42.0 |
Deferred income taxes |
| (6.6) |
| 2.1 |
Total taxation expense |
| 50.1 |
| 44.1 |
| (a) | The result for the period ended March 31, 2025 has been re-presented to reflect that the result of the Latam segment is now reported as a discontinued operation. See note 20.1 for more information. |
The income tax expense for the three month period ended March 31, 2026 was $50.1 million (March 31, 2025: $44.1 million), in line with operational performance.
The effective tax rate was higher in the prior comparative period due to the non-recognition of deferred tax, in that period, on finance costs in Nigeria.
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OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.
MATERIAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND CRITICAL ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS
The preparation of our financial information requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Our material accounting policies are described under the heading “Material Accounting Policies and Critical Estimates and Judgments” in our 2025 Annual Report and the notes to the audited financial statements in our 2025 Annual Report. There have been no material changes to our material accounting policies and critical estimates and judgments from those discussed in our 2025 Annual Report.
For a summary of our material accounting policies, see note 2 to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2026.
Refer to note 3 to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements that appear elsewhere in this report for further detail.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
New standards and interpretations not yet adopted are disclosed in note 2.4 to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
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