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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 November, 2024

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
No.

    

Description

99.1

Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements of IHS Holding Limited for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

99.2

Term Loan Facility Agreement, dated October 7, 2024, between, among others, IHS Holding Limited as borrower, FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division) as facility agent and the financial institutions listed therein as mandated lead arrangers and original lenders.

99.3

Amendment Letter dated October 22, 2024 between IHS Holding Limited and Citibank Europe PLC, UK Branch as facility agent (for and on behalf of the original lenders), in relation to the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated November 6, 2023.

99.4

Amendment Letter dated October 22, 2024 between IHS Holding Limited and Standard Chartered Bank as arranger, in relation to the Term Loan Facility Agreement dated March 8, 2024.

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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

Date: November 12, 2024

By:

/s/ Steve Howden

Steve Howden

Executive Vice President and Chief

Financial Officer

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Table of Contents

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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 Loss and Other Comprehensive 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

36

Key Financial and Operational Performance Indicators

46

1

Table of Contents

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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,” “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, plans (including our strategic review and related productivity enhancements and cost reductions, as well as our ability to refinance or meet our debt obligations), market growth, position and our objectives for future operations, including our ability to maintain relationships with customers and continue to renew customer lease agreements or the potential benefit of the terms of such renewals or our ability to grow our business through acquisitions, the impact (illustrative or otherwise) of the new agreements with MTN Nigeria (including certain rebased fee components) on our financial results, the impact of currency and exchange rate fluctuations (including the devaluation of the Naira) and other economic and geopolitical factors on our future results and operations, the outcome and potential benefit of our strategic review,  and our objectives for future operations.

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;
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;
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), including plans to reduce diesel consumption, integrate solar panel and battery storage solutions on tower sites and connect more sites to the electricity grid;
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 increased costs for diesel;
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 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;
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;
fluctuations in global prices for diesel or other materials;
disruptions in our supply of diesel or other materials;
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;

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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;
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, 2023.

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. 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 our website and 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 8.0% Senior Notes due 2027.
“2028 Notes” refers to our $500 million 6.250% Senior Notes due 2028.
“9mobile” refers to Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited, which was previously known as Etisalat Nigeria.
“Airtel Nigeria” refers to Airtel Networks Limited, a subsidiary of Airtel Africa.
“Brazilian Real” and “BRL” refers to the lawful currency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
“CBN” refers to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“CGU” refers to cash generating unit.
“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.
“CODM” refers to chief operating decision maker.
“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, 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,” in our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2023.
“Dollar”, “USD” or “$” refer to U.S. dollars.
“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.
“Executive Committee” refers to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the Chief Operating Officer (“COO”), the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), the General Counsel, the IHS Nigeria CEO and the Chief Human Resource Officer.
“FTTH” refers to Fiber-to-the-Home.
“FTTT” refers to Fiber-to-the-Tower.
“IFRS Accounting Standards” refers to Accounting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).
“IHS Holding Limited Notes” refers to our 2026 Notes and our 2028 Notes, collectively.
“IHS Kuwait” refers to IHS Kuwait Limited for the Construction, Erection and Maintenance of Wired and Wireless Communication and Radar Towers and Stations with Limited Liability, one of our operating subsidiaries in Kuwait.

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“IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V. Notes” refers to our 2027 Notes.
“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.
“Key Customers” refers to MTN Customers, Orange Cameroun S.A., or Orange Cameroon, Orange Côte d’Ivoire S.A., or Orange Côte d’Ivoire, 9mobile, Airtel Nigeria, Airtel Networks Zambia PLC, or Airtel Zambia, Airtel Rwanda Limited, or Airtel Rwanda, 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, Zain Kuwait and Telkom South Africa.
“Kuwait Acquisition” refers to the acquisition by us of an aggregate of 1,499 towers from Zain Kuwait, following the completion of multiple closings pursuant to an acquisition signed in October 2017. As part of the transaction, some towers that we have not purchased are managed and operated under a Managed Services agreement, and currently comprise approximately 121 towers. These towers are operated in Kuwait through an entity in which we own 70% of the shares and Zain Kuwait owns the remaining 30%.
"Latam” refers to our business segment that includes our markets in Latin America, which currently are Brazil and Colombia.
“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.
“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 includes our markets in the Middle East and North Africa region, which currently are 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 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 on May 31, 2022. As part of the transaction, we were previously required to provide Managed Services, including to approximately 7,100 additional MTN South Africa sites; however, in May 2024 we signed an agreement with MTN South Africa to unwind the power managed services agreement. IHS Towers will over time own 70% of the South African Towers business with the remaining 30% owned by a B-BBEE consortium. While we signed a shareholding agreement with a consortium of B-BBEE parties in September 2024, completion of this agreement and their shareholding remains subject to various conditions and implementation of required arrangements and processes, including but not limited to regulatory approval
“MTN South Africa” refers to Mobile Telephone Networks Proprietary Limited.
“NAFEM” refers to the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Rate Fixing 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.

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“NAFEX” refers to the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Rate Fixing and is the reference rate for spot FX operations in the Autonomous FX Market in Nigeria.
“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.
“Notes” refers to the IHS Holding Limited Notes and IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V. Notes, collectively.
“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.
“ROU” refers to towers we operate under a right of use agreement for a defined period. Where there is an ROU agreement, we have the right to lease out space on the tower to other MNOs and provide services, generating further revenue for ourselves.
“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.
“SLAs” refer to site-specific documents or agreements entered into in relation to specific sites pursuant to an MLA.
“SSA” refers to our business segment that includes our markets in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa, which currently are Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia.
“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.
“Third quarter” refers to the three month period ended September 30, and 2024 unless otherwise specified.
“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.
“Year-to-date” refers to the nine month period ended September 30, 2024.
“Zain Kuwait” refers to Mobile Telecommunications Company K.S.C.P.

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PART I ‒ FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Interim Financial Statements

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, AND 2023

Three months ended

Nine months ended

    

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

Note

2024

2023

2024

2023

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Revenue

 

  

420,282

467,023

1,273,403

1,615,755

Cost of sales*

 

6

(201,745)

(358,883)

(662,745)

(962,628)

Administrative expenses

 

7

(97,099)

(93,835)

(347,558)

(291,877)

Net reversal of loss allowance/(net loss allowance) on trade receivables

 

4,286

(711)

2,107

(5,225)

Other income

 

63

33

1,656

369

Operating income

 

  

125,787

13,627

266,863

356,394

Finance income

 

8

25,732

5,823

49,696

18,233

Finance costs*

 

9

(350,825)

(271,595)

(2,163,157)

(1,816,864)

Loss before income tax*

 

  

(199,306)

(252,145)

(1,846,598)

(1,442,237)

Income tax expense

 

10

(6,397)

(16,659)

(40,669)

(89,118)

Loss for the period*

 

  

(205,703)

(268,804)

(1,887,267)

(1,531,355)

Loss attributable to:

 

  

  

  

  

  

Owners of the Company*

 

  

(204,143)

(266,830)

(1,878,540)

(1,523,021)

Non‑controlling interests

 

(1,560)

(1,974)

(8,727)

(8,334)

Loss for the period

 

  

(205,703)

(268,804)

(1,887,267)

(1,531,355)

Loss per share ($) - basic*

 

11

(0.61)

(0.80)

(5.64)

(4.57)

Loss per share ($) - diluted*

 

11

(0.61)

(0.80)

(5.64)

(4.57)

Other comprehensive income:

 

  

  

  

  

  

Items that may be reclassified to income or loss

 

  

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations*

 

  

227,539

5,346

1,264,063

634,802

Other comprehensive income for the period, net of taxes*

 

  

227,539

5,346

1,264,063

634,802

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period*

 

  

21,836

(263,458)

(623,204)

(896,553)

Total comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to:

 

  

  

  

  

  

Owners of the Company*

 

  

18,051

(254,269)

(592,175)

(896,612)

Non‑controlling interests

 

  

3,785

(9,189)

(31,029)

59

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period*

 

  

21,836

(263,458)

(623,204)

(896,553)

*Revised comparative periods to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

The notes on pages 13 to 35 form part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (UNAUDITED)

AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, AND DECEMBER 31, 2023

    

    

September 30, 

    

December 31, 

Note

2024

2023

$’000

$’000

Non‑current assets

 

  

 

  

 

  

Property, plant and equipment

 

 

1,436,945

 

1,740,235

Right of use assets

 

 

807,033

 

886,909

Goodwill

 

 

441,971

 

619,298

Other intangible assets

 

 

809,667

 

933,030

Deferred income tax assets

 

  

 

64,508

 

63,786

Derivative financial instrument assets

 

12

 

31,170

 

1,540

Trade and other receivables

 

13

 

127,198

 

147,305

 

3,718,492

 

4,392,103

Current assets

 

  

 

  

 

  

Inventories

 

  

 

31,874

 

40,589

Income tax receivable

 

10

 

1,992

 

3,755

Derivative financial instrument assets

 

12

 

157

 

565

Trade and other receivables

 

13

 

421,218

 

607,835

Cash and cash equivalents

 

  

 

397,499

 

293,823

Assets held for sale

26,040

 

852,740

 

972,607

TOTAL ASSETS

 

  

 

4,571,232

 

5,364,710

 

  

 

  

 

  

Non‑current liabilities

 

  

  

 

  

Trade and other payables

 

14

5,153

 

4,629

Borrowings

 

15

3,354,762

 

3,056,696

Lease liabilities

 

16

513,484

 

510,838

Provisions for other liabilities and charges

 

95,447

 

86,131

Deferred income tax liabilities

 

  

127,923

 

137,106

4,096,769

 

3,795,400

Current liabilities

 

  

 

  

 

  

Trade and other payables

 

14

 

400,929

 

532,627

Provisions for other liabilities and charges

 

 

160

 

277

Derivative financial instrument liabilities

 

12

 

10,537

 

68,133

Income tax payable

 

10

 

58,106

 

75,612

Borrowings

 

15

 

176,996

 

454,151

Lease liabilities

 

16

 

93,699

 

91,156

740,427

 

1,221,956

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

  

4,837,196

 

5,017,356

 

  

  

 

  

Stated capital

 

17

5,399,635

 

5,394,812

Accumulated losses

 

  

(7,171,934)

 

(5,293,394)

Other reserves

 

1,299,858

 

8,430

Equity attributable to owners of the Company

 

  

(472,441)

 

109,848

Non‑controlling interests

 

206,477

 

237,506

TOTAL EQUITY

 

  

(265,964)

 

347,354

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

  

 

4,571,232

 

5,364,710

The notes on pages 13 to 35 form part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, AND 2023

Attributable to owners of the Company

 

 

 

 

 

Non‑

 

Stated

Accumulated

Other

controlling

Total

capital

losses

reserves

Total

interests

equity

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Balance at January 1, 2023

 

5,311,953

(3,317,652)

(861,271)

1,133,030

227,200

1,360,230

Shares repurchased and canceled through buyback program

 

(10,022)

(10,022)

(10,022)

NCI arising on business combination

 

1,922

1,922

Options converted to shares

 

89,432

(89,432)

Share‑based payment expense

9,327

9,327

9,327

Other reclassifications related to share-based payment

867

(1,426)

(559)

(559)

Total transactions with owners

 

79,410

867

(81,531)

(1,254)

1,922

668

Loss for the period*

 

(1,523,021)

(1,523,021)

(8,334)

(1,531,355)

Other comprehensive income*

 

626,409

626,409

8,393

634,802

Total comprehensive (loss)/income*

 

(1,523,021)

626,409

(896,612)

59

(896,553)

Balance at September 30, 2023*

 

5,391,363

(4,839,806)

(316,393)

235,164

229,181

464,345

 

Balance at January 1, 2024

5,394,812

(5,293,394)

8,430

109,848

237,506

347,354

Options converted to shares

4,823

(4,823)

Share‑based payment expense

 

9,886

9,886

9,886

Total transactions with owners

 

4,823

5,063

9,886

9,886

Loss for the period

 

(1,878,540)

(1,878,540)

(8,727)

(1,887,267)

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

 

1,286,365

1,286,365

(22,302)

1,264,063

Total comprehensive (loss)/income

 

(1,878,540)

1,286,365

(592,175)

(31,029)

(623,204)

Balance at September 30, 2024

 

5,399,635

(7,171,934)

1,299,858

(472,441)

206,477

(265,964)

*Revised to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

The notes on pages 13 to 35 form part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, AND 2023

Three months ended

Nine months ended

    

    

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

Note

    

2024

    

2023

    

2024

    

2023

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Cash flows from operating activities

  

  

  

  

  

Cash from operations*

18

182,431

229,913

427,011

740,869

Income taxes paid

(6,575)

(8,450)

(35,091)

(42,407)

Payment for rent

(1,362)

(1,204)

(6,871)

(4,147)

Payment for tower and tower equipment decommissioning

(27)

(6)

(52)

(327)

Net cash generated from operating activities*

174,467

220,253

384,997

693,988

Cash flow from investing activities

  

  

  

  

Purchase of property, plant and equipment*

(52,175)

(119,889)

(173,709)

(383,456)

Payment in advance for property, plant and equipment

(9,730)

(18,772)

(15,581)

(88,920)

Purchase of software and licenses

(562)

(3,494)

(3,291)

(19,670)

Consideration paid on business combinations, net of cash acquired

(4,486)

(4,486)

Proceeds from sale of subsidiary, net of cash disposed

4,073

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

12,962

508

14,999

1,468

Insurance claims received

11

32

51

310

Interest income received

8

5,017

5,761

12,851

17,338

Deposit of short-term deposits

(4,077)

(59,173)

(40,590)

(187,938)

Refund of short-term deposits

4,037

15,908

208,717

36,631

Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities*

(44,517)

(183,605)

7,520

(628,723)

Cash flows from financing activities

  

  

  

  

Shares repurchased and canceled through buyback program

(5,713)

(5,713)

Bank loans and bond proceeds received and transaction costs paid

(194)

318,765

611,397

976,944

Bank loans and bonds repaid

(58,998)

(226,741)

(465,823)

(644,591)

Fees on loans and derivative instruments

(2,041)

(6,149)

(9,295)

(14,820)

Interest paid

(87,037)

(79,173)

(253,001)

(224,118)

Payment for the principal of lease liabilities

(11,929)

(14,844)

(44,463)

(59,426)

Interest paid for lease liabilities

(15,849)

(15,405)

(46,546)

(40,699)

Net (loss)/gain settled on derivative instruments

(2,644)

145

(22,571)

617

Net cash used in financing activities

(178,692)

(29,115)

(230,302)

(11,806)

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

(48,742)

7,533

162,215

53,459

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

445,713

433,048

293,823

514,078

Effect of movements in exchange rates on cash

528

(15,145)

(58,539)

(142,101)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

397,499

425,436

397,499

425,436

*Revised comparative periods to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

The notes on pages 13 to 35 form part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

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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.

The financial period represents the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, with the prior period representing the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. The financial statements are presented in U.S. Dollars ($) and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand, except where otherwise indicated.

2.Summary of material accounting policies

2.1Basis of preparation

The financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, ‘Interim Financial Reporting’ (IAS 34), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

The condensed financial statements do not amount to full financial statements and do not include all of the information and disclosures required for full annual financial statements. These should be read in conjunction with the consolidated annual financial statements of the Group for the year ended December 31, 2023, 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 its financial position as of September 30, 2024, and its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023, cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023, and statement of changes in equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023. Certain amounts related to financial instruments in the prior period condensed consolidated statement of loss and other comprehensive income, condensed consolidated statement of financial position, and condensed consolidated statement of cash flows have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. The condensed consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2023, was derived from audited annual financial statements but does not contain all of the footnote disclosures from the annual financial statements.

2.2Approval

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements were authorized and approved for issue on November 11, 2024.

2.3Income tax

Taxes on income in the interim periods are accrued using the tax rate that would be applicable to expected total annual income or loss.

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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.

(a)New standards, amendments and interpretations adopted by the Group

The Group has applied the following standards, amendments and interpretations for its reporting period commencing January 1, 2024:

Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current - Deferral of Effective Date (Amendment to IAS 1)
Non-current Liabilities with Covenants Amendments to IAS 1 
Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback Amendments to IFRS 16 
Supplier finance arrangements - Amendments to IAS 7 and IFRS 7
Climate-related Commitments (IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets)—Agenda Paper 2
Payments Contingent on Continued Employment during Handover Periods (IFRS 3 Business Combinations)—Agenda Paper 3

The above did not have any material impact on the Group’s interim financial statements.

(b)New standards, amendments and interpretations not yet adopted by the Group

Certain standards, amendments and interpretations have been published through September 30, 2024, that are not yet effective and have not been early adopted by the Group. They are:

Lack of Exchangeability (Amendments to IAS 21)
Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements (IFRS 18)
Amendments to the Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments (Amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7)
Disclosure of Revenues and Expenses for Reportable Segments (IFRS 8 Operating Segments)—Agenda Paper 2

The Company is in the process of analyzing the impact of the above.

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 at the reporting date 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, except as mentioned below, as those that applied to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

(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, including further devaluation of the Nigerian Naira up to the date of issuance of these financial statements, and the ongoing impact of geopolitical conflicts and wars;
the status of the Group’s financial arrangements and recent activities (see also note 15 and 22);
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 has cash and cash equivalents of $397.5 million as of September 30, 2024:

Assessed 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.

Having carefully considered the factors noted above, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group have 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 the financial statements.

(b) Assessment of appropriate foreign exchange rate

The Group uses the USD/NGN rate published by Bloomberg for the translation of USD transactions and denominated balances in the Nigerian subsidiaries and also for consolidation purposes.

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 annual financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with the Group’s annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

There have been no changes in any risk management policies since December 31, 2023.

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

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).
Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (that is unobservable inputs) (level 3).

As of reporting period end, the Group’s financial instruments held at fair value all had a level 2 classification. These instruments comprise primarily foreign exchange swaps, interest rate caps and options embedded in the 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. There were no transfers between different levels during the reporting period and the Group did not change any valuation techniques in determining the level 2 fair values.

Fair value estimation

At September 30, 2024

At December 31, 2023

Carrying

Fair

Carrying

Fair

    

Value

    

Value

    

Value

    

Value

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Financial liabilities

Total borrowings (note 15)

 

3,531,758

3,496,503

 

3,510,847

 

3,224,775

 

3,531,758

 

3,496,503

 

3,510,847

 

3,224,775

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.

Other than total 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 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 four reportable and operating segments:

Nigeria;
SSA;
Latam; and
MENA

The basis of segmentation and measurement of segment financial information is consistent with that of the previous financial year and corresponding interim reporting period.

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

The CODM primarily uses a measure of Adjusted EBITDA (defined as income/(loss) for the period, before income tax expense/(benefit), finance costs and income, depreciation and amortization, impairment of withholding tax receivables, impairment of goodwill, business combination transaction costs, impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent, reversal of provision for decommissioning costs, net (gain)/loss on sale of assets, share-based payment (credit)/expense, insurance claims 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 no revenue transactions which occur between operating segments. Intercompany finance income, finance costs and loans are not included in the amounts below.

The segment’s assets and liabilities are comprised of all assets and liabilities attributable to the segment, based on the operations of the segment and the physical location of the assets, including goodwill and other intangible assets and are measured in the same way as in the financial statements. Other assets and liabilities that are not attributable to Nigeria, SSA, Latam and MENA segments consist principally of amounts excluded from specific segments including costs incurred for and by Group functions not attributable directly to the operations of the reportable segments, share based payment and any amounts due on debt held at Group level as the balances are not utilized in assessing each segment’s performance.

Summarized financial information is as follows:

Nigeria

    

SSA

    

Latam

    

MENA

    

Total

    

$’000

    

$’000

    

$’000

    

$’000

    

$’000

Three months ended September 30, 2024

Revenues from external customers

242,290

120,139

45,148

12,705

420,282

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

158,900

81,046

33,798

8,014

281,758

Three months ended September 30, 2023

Revenues from external customers

271,394

133,481

51,883

10,265

467,023

Segment Adjusted EBITDA*

164,152

66,285

38,163

5,155

273,755

Nine months ended September 30, 2024

Revenues from external customers

739,596

359,669

139,385

34,753

1,273,403

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

433,160

227,154

100,922

20,253

781,489

Nine months ended September 30, 2023

Revenues from external customers

1,060,964

379,034

145,876

29,881

1,615,755

Segment Adjusted EBITDA*

655,476

194,701

104,665

14,205

969,047

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Reconciliation of information on reportable segments to the amounts reported in the financial statements:

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2024

    

2023

    

2024

    

2023

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Segment Adjusted EBITDA*

281,758

273,755

781,489

969,047

Finance costs (note 9)*

(350,825)

(271,595)

(2,163,157)

(1,816,864)

Depreciation and amortization (note 6 and 7)

(91,308)

(104,931)

(266,040)

(340,381)

Impairment of withholding tax receivables (note 7)

(21,855)

(10,508)

(32,827)

(35,112)

Impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent (note 6)

(4,132)

(103,429)

(10,075)

(108,510)

Share‑based payment expense (note 7)

(1,813)

(2,654)

(9,879)

(9,571)

Other costs(b)

(1,783)

(3,211)

(8,175)

(8,059)

Business combination costs (note 7)

(578)

(161)

(958)

(1,647)

Impairment of goodwill (note 7)

(87,894)

Impairment of assets held for sale (note 6)

(2,853)

Impairment of other fixed assets (note 7)

(31)

Insurance claims

11

32

51

310

Net gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment (note 7)

1,270

386

3,562

952

Finance income (note 8)

25,732

5,823

49,696

18,233

Other non-operating income

1

59

Unallocated corporate expenses(a)

(35,783)

(35,653)

(99,507)

(110,694)

Loss before income tax*

(199,306)

(252,145)

(1,846,598)

(1,442,237)

*Revised comparative periods to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

(a)

Unallocated corporate expenses primarily consist of costs associated with centralized Group functions including Group executive, legal, finance, tax and treasury services.

(b)

Other costs for the three months ended September 30, 2024, included one-off consulting fees related to corporate structures and operating systems of $0.7 million (three months ended September 30, 2023: $1.7 million) and $5.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 (nine months ended September 30, 2023: $4.5 million); costs related to internal reorganization for the three months ended September 30, 2024, of $0.9 million (three months ended September 30, 2023: $0.6 million) and $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 (nine months ended September 30, 2023: $0.7 million); other one-off consulting services for the three months ended September 30, 2024, of $Nil (three months ended September 30, 2023: $0.7 million) and $Nil for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 (nine months ended September 30, 2023: $1.7 million); one-off professional fees related to financing for the three months ended September 30, 2024, of $0.1 million (three months ended September 30, 2023: $Nil) and $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 (nine months ended September 30, 2023: $0.2 million).

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Summarized segment assets and liabilities are as follows:

Nigeria

    

SSA

    

Latam

    

MENA

    

$’000

    

$’000

    

$’000

    

$’000

Segment assets

September 30, 2024

864,285

1,404,708

1,950,563

176,097

September 30, 2023*

1,626,256

1,401,864

2,137,361

185,536

Segment liabilities

September 30, 2024

337,821

918,208

774,138

101,060

September 30, 2023*

957,814

819,213

728,975

113,263

Additions of property, plant and equipment, right of use assets and intangible assets:

Three months ended September 30, 2024

19,389

34,226

42,797

2,443

Three months ended September 30, 2023

51,631

28,005

82,060

6,227

Nine months ended September 30, 2024

69,804

72,812

130,240

4,939

Nine months ended September 30, 2023

253,146

81,158

172,867

15,039

*Revised to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

Revenue from two tier one customers represents more than 10% of the Group’s total revenue as follows:

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

 

    

2024

    

2023

    

2024

    

2023

 

$’000

$’000

Customer A

62

%

63

%

61

%

60

%

Customer B

14

%

14

%

15

%

16

%

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

6.Cost of sales

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2024

    

2023

    

2024

    

2023

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Power generation

84,342

89,883

263,803

303,815

Depreciation(a)

75,420

89,850

223,005

293,784

Tower repairs and maintenance

12,974

20,364

37,476

77,762

Amortization

9,167

10,908

28,769

33,871

Staff costs

5,764

7,240

18,564

25,385

Security services

5,204

9,650

13,157

33,756

Impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent

4,132

103,429

10,075

108,510

Short-term rental

2,443

2,605

6,074

8,195

Insurance

1,148

1,081

3,468

3,635

Travel costs

699

1,753

4,076

7,967

Vehicle maintenance and repairs

467

495

1,359

1,556

Professional fees

462

905

1,324

2,106

Impairment of assets held for sale

2,853

Regulatory fees(b)

(2,784)

9,365

11,815

30,562

Other*/(c)

2,307

11,355

36,927

31,724

201,745

358,883

662,745

962,628

*Revised comparative periods to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

(a) Presented net of related indirect tax receivable in Brazil of $1.0 million in 2024.
(b) Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2024, primarily relates to a review of the current and historical license obligations in the SSA segment.

(c)

Included in “Other” for the three months ended September 30, 2024, are $0.2 million in foreign exchange losses on cost of sales (three months ended September 30, 2023: $8.8 million) and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024: foreign exchange losses on cost of sales of $30.4 million (nine months ended September 30, 2023: $25.4 million).

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

7.Administrative expenses

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2024

    

2023

    

2024

    

2023

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Staff costs

38,517

38,210

104,135

114,765

Impairment of withholding tax receivables(a)

21,855

10,508

32,827

35,112

Professional fees

10,971

14,231

38,065

43,634

Facilities, short-term rental and upkeep

7,089

8,822

23,629

30,010

Amortization

4,113

1,429

6,241

4,225

Key management compensation

3,864

4,674

13,703

12,914

Depreciation

2,608

2,744

8,025

8,501

Travel costs

2,410

3,640

8,408

10,318

Share‑based payment expense

1,813

2,654

9,879

9,571

Business combination costs

578

161

958

1,647

Operating taxes

406

266

1,075

382

Impairment of goodwill

87,894

Impairment of other fixed assets

31

Net gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

(1,270)

(386)

(3,562)

(952)

Other

4,145

6,882

16,250

21,750

97,099

93,835

347,558

291,877

(a) Withholding tax receivables were impaired following the Group’s assessment of the recoverability of withholding tax assets based on a five-year cash flow projection and an analysis of the utilization of withholding tax balances against future income tax liabilities.

We have recognized for the three month period ended March 31, 2024, an impairment of $87.9 million in the IHS Latam tower businesses group of cash generating units (“CGUs”). This is mainly due to the restructuring of our customer Oi S.A. (“Oi”) in Brazil. On April 19, 2024, an Oi restructuring plan was presented to court in Brazil and was agreed upon by creditors including IHS, in relation to Oi’s ongoing judicial recovery proceedings. As a result of the agreed upon terms, the carrying amount of the IHS Latam tower businesses group of CGUs has been reduced to its recoverable amount, through the recognition of an impairment loss against goodwill. This loss is included in administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statement of loss and other comprehensive income.

Changes in key assumptions from December 31, 2023, are as follows:

Discount rate changed from 11.0% to 10.3%

For the Latam tower businesses group of CGUs these reasonably possible change scenarios would have individually resulted in the impairment charge increase as follows:

    

1% increase

    

1% decrease

    

15% decrease

in post tax

in terminal

in tenancy

discount rate

growth rate

growth

$'000

$'000

$'000

IHS Latam Tower businesses

 

165,663

 

103,808

 

110,944

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

8.Finance income

Three months ended

Nine months ended

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

2024

    

2023

    

2024

    

2023

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Fair value gain on embedded options

 

19,030

 

 

29,630

 

Interest income - bank deposits

 

5,017

 

5,761

 

12,851

 

17,338

Net foreign exchange gain arising from derivative instruments - unrealized

 

1,307

 

 

6,985

 

Net foreign exchange gain arising from financing - realized

378

 

 

 

Fair value gain on interest rate caps

62

230

475

Net foreign exchange gain arising from derivative instruments - realized

 

 

 

 

420

 

25,732

 

5,823

 

49,696

 

18,233

9.Finance costs

Three months ended

Nine months ended

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

2024

    

2023

    

2024

    

2023

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Net foreign exchange loss arising from financing - unrealized*

 

236,028

 

128,087

 

1,779,460

 

1,281,497

Interest expenses - third party loans

 

85,503

 

95,500

 

257,425

 

270,491

Interest and finance charges paid/payable for lease liabilities

 

17,002

 

16,121

 

51,110

 

47,323

Interest expense - withholding tax paid on bond interest

4,625

4,233

11,771

10,974

Net foreign exchange loss on derivative instruments - realized

 

2,855

 

 

23,209

 

Fees on loans and financial derivatives

 

2,485

 

6,462

 

10,402

 

12,395

Unwinding of discount on decommissioning liability

 

2,293

 

2,360

 

6,831

 

6,941

Fair value loss on interest caps

 

34

Net foreign exchange loss arising from financing - realized

 

 

10,325

 

22,949

 

117,377

Fair value loss on embedded options

 

 

5,260

 

 

4,510

Net foreign exchange loss on derivative instruments - unrealized

 

 

3,247

 

 

65,356

 

350,825

 

271,595

 

2,163,157

 

1,816,864

*Revised comparative periods to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

10.Taxation

Three months ended

Nine months ended

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

2024

2023

2024

2023

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Current taxes

 

2,473

 

28,567

 

45,109

 

91,484

Deferred income taxes

 

3,924

 

(11,908)

 

(4,440)

 

(2,366)

Total taxes

 

6,397

 

16,659

 

40,669

 

89,118

Income tax expense is recognized in each interim period based on tax computations for each group entity based upon the income or loss before tax in the period. Adjustments for material temporary and permanent differences are made by reference to the relevant tax rules, making suitable pro-rated adjustments for rates applying on an annual basis for the full financial year under the tax rules. Accordingly, the interim period income tax expense is accrued at the effective tax rate that would be applicable to the pre-tax income of the interim period.

Income tax payable at September 30, 2024 was $58.1 million. The reduction of $17.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, is primarily driven by the movement in the uncertain tax positions of $10.8 million as a result of the Naira devaluation.

As a result of the goodwill impairment in Latam tower businesses group of CGUs for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Group reassessed recoverability of the related deferred tax assets and determined that no change to the position that deferred tax assets are recognized was required.

International Tax Reform - Pillar Two Model Rules - Amendments to IAS 12

The United Kingdom has enacted a Multinational Top-Up Tax based upon the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Pillar Two Global Anti-Base Erosion Rules (“Pillar Two”). The legislation is in effect for the Group’s financial year beginning January 1, 2024. The Group is in scope by virtue of the parent company being tax resident in the UK. The Group applied the IAS 12 ‘Income taxes’ exception to recognizing and disclosing information about deferred tax assets and liabilities related to the Pillar Two model rules.

A liability to Pillar Two is anticipated to arise with respect to certain jurisdictions where the Pillar Two effective tax rate is below 15%. As a result, the Group recognized an estimated current tax expense of $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

11.Loss per share

The following table sets forth basic and diluted net loss per common share computational data (in thousands, except per share data):

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2024

    

2023

    

2024

    

2023

Loss attributable to equity holders ($’000)*

(205,703)

(268,804)

(1,887,267)

(1,531,355)

Less: allocation of loss to non‑controlling interests ($’000)

 

(1,560)

 

(1,974)

 

(8,727)

 

(8,334)

Loss attributable to IHS common shareholders ($’000)*

 

(204,143)

 

(266,830)

 

(1,878,540)

 

(1,523,021)

Basic weighted average shares outstanding (‘000)

 

333,151

 

334,046

 

332,948

 

333,388

Potentially dilutive securities (‘000)

 

2,880

 

1,811

 

1,628

 

2,079

Potentially dilutive weighted average common shares outstanding (‘000)

 

336,031

 

335,857

 

334,576

 

335,467

Loss per share:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Basic loss per share ($)*

 

(0.61)

 

(0.80)

 

(5.64)

 

(4.57)

Diluted loss per share ($)*

 

(0.61)

 

(0.80)

 

(5.64)

 

(4.57)

*Revised comparative periods to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

Potentially dilutive securities include share-based compensation options, but for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, these securities were anti-dilutive and thus do not impact diluted loss per share.

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

12.Derivative financial instruments

The 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 loss and other comprehensive 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 September 30, 2024, and as of December 31, 2023, are as follows:

    

September 30, 

    

December 31, 

2024

2023

$’000

$’000

Derivative instruments

Embedded options within listed bonds(a)

 

1,940,000

 

1,940,000

Foreign exchange swaps

 

14,500

 

125,000

 

1,954,500

 

2,065,000

(a) This relates to early redemption clauses within the Group’s Senior Notes (see note 15 - Borrowings). On or after September 18, 2024, the 2027 Notes may be redeemed (in whole or in part) at a price of 100.00000%. On or after November 29, 2023, 2024 or 2025, the 2026 Notes may be redeemed (in whole or in part) at a price of 102.81250%, 101.40625% and 100.00000%, respectively. On or after November 29, 2024, 2025 or 2026, the 2028 Notes may be redeemed (in whole or in part) at a price of 103.12500%, 101.5625% and 100.0000%, respectively.

The fair value balances are as follows:

    

September 30, 

    

December 31, 

2024

2023

$’000

$’000

Derivative instruments

  

  

Embedded options within listed bonds

 

31,170

 

1,540

Interest rate caps

157

565

Foreign exchange swaps

 

(10,537)

 

(68,133)

 

20,790

 

(66,028)

The change in fair value of the derivative instruments has been recorded in the condensed consolidated statement of loss and other comprehensive income as follows:

    

Three months ended

    

Nine months ended

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

2024

2023

2024

2023

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Derivative instruments

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Embedded options within listed bonds

 

19,030

 

(5,260)

 

29,630

 

(4,510)

Foreign exchange swaps

 

1,307

 

(3,247)

 

6,985

 

(65,356)

Interest rate caps

(34)

62

230

475

 

20,303

 

(8,445)

 

36,845

 

(69,391)

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

13.Trade and other receivables

    

September 30, 

    

December 31, 

2024

2023

$’000

$’000

Non‑current

 

  

 

  

Accrued income and lease incentive

 

80,572

 

71,904

Other tax receivables

 

4,754

 

7,116

Payment in advance for property, plant and equipment

 

41,872

 

61,874

Contingent consideration receivable(a)

6,411

 

127,198

 

147,305

Current

  

  

Trade receivables

 

336,716

 

233,528

Less: impairment provisions

(14,373)

 

(21,205)

Net trade receivables(b)

 

322,343

 

212,323

Other receivables(c)

 

46,032

 

317,452

Prepaid land rent

 

1,052

 

1,016

Other prepaid expenses

 

18,320

 

29,979

Advance payments

 

14,242

 

33,364

Withholding tax receivables

 

986

 

1,362

VAT receivables

 

12,519

 

12,339

Contingent consideration receivable(a)

 

5,724

 

 

421,218

 

607,835

(a) Receivable on the I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A. acquisition.
(b) The fair value is equal to their carrying amount.
(c) Included in other receivables are short-term fixed deposits which are not classified as cash and cash equivalents as it exceeds the three-month maturity period. Most of these deposits were withdrawn in the current period and reclassified to cash and cash equivalents.

Payments in advance for property, plant and equipment relate to the future supply of tower and tower equipment and fiber assets. All non-current receivables are due within twenty years 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.

14.Trade and other payables

    

September 30, 

December 31, 

 

2024

2023

    

$’000

    

$’000

Non‑current

  

  

Other payables

5,153

4,629

5,153

4,629

Current

  

  

Trade payables

219,096

330,622

Deferred revenue

48,938

41,462

Withholding tax payable

5,199

3,555

Payroll and other related statutory liabilities

35,364

46,282

VAT payables

28,269

37,829

Other payables

64,063

72,877

400,929

532,627

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

15.Borrowings

    

September 30, 

December 31, 

2024

2023

$’000

    

$’000

Non‑current

Senior Notes

1,934,817

1,930,457

Bank borrowings

1,419,945

1,126,239

3,354,762

3,056,696

Current

  

  

Senior Notes

22,708

26,912

Bank borrowings

146,665

107,110

Bank overdraft

675

Letters of credit

7,623

319,454

176,996

454,151

Total borrowings

3,531,758

3,510,847

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

September 30, 

December 31, 

2024

2023

Notional

Issue

Maturity

Carrying

Carrying

 

amount

 

Currency

 

date

 

date

 

Interest rate

 

amount

 

amount

$’000

$’000

Senior Notes

IHS Holding Limited

500.0M

USD

Nov'21

Nov'26

5.63

%  

506,809

498,920

IHS Holding Limited

500.0M

USD

Nov'21

Nov'28

6.25

%  

506,991

498,635

IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V.

940.0M

USD

Sep'19

Sep'27

8.00

%  

943,725

959,814

Debentures

  

 

IHS Brasil - Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A.

1.2B

BRL

Sep'23

Aug'31

3.10

% + CDI

220,416

252,341

IHS Brasil - Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A.

300.0M

BRL

Jun'24

Jun'32

2.80

% + CDI

56,165

I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A.

160.0M

BRL

Jun'24

May'32

2.10

% + CDI

29,961

Bank term loans

  

 

IHS Côte d’Ivoire S.A.

3.9B

XOF

Jun'22

Jun'24

5.00

%

6,570

IHS Côte d’Ivoire S.A.

4.6M

EUR

Jun'22

Jun'24

3.00

% + 3M EURIBOR

4,841

IHS Côte d’Ivoire S.A.

10.0B

XOF

Dec'23

Dec'28

6.50

%

16,383

IHS Côte d’Ivoire S.A.

78.7M

EUR

Dec'23

Dec'28

3.50

% + 3M EURIBOR

86,030

IHS Holding Limited

430.0M

USD

Oct'22

Oct'25

3.75

% + CAS + 3M SOFR

432,838

370,935

IHS Holding Limited

210.0M

USD

Mar'24

Mar'26

4.50

% + 3M SOFR

206,298

IHS Kuwait Limited

16.9M

KWD

Apr'20

Apr'29

2.00

% + CBK Discount Rate

56,070

61,354

IHS Towers South Africa Proprietary Limited

3.4B

ZAR

May'22

May'29

2.75

% + 3M JIBAR

194,546

185,404

IHS Zambia Limited

66.5M

USD

Dec'20

Dec'27

5.00

% + CAS + 3M SOFR

67,003

81,297

INT Towers Limited

144.4B

NGN

Jan'23

Jan'28

2.50

% + MPR, 18 - 27% collar

91,311

186,302

I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A.

400.0M

BRL

Oct'22

Oct'30

2.45

- 2.50% + CDI

77,704

84,305

Revolving credit facilities and overdrafts

  

 

IHS Holding Limited

300.0M

USD

Mar'20

Oct'26

3.00

% + CAS + 3M SOFR

IHS Nigeria Limited

51.0B

NGN

Jan'23

Jan'26

2.50

% + MPR, 18 - 27% collar

31,885

IHS Towers South Africa Proprietary Limited

350.0M

ZAR

Oct'23

Oct'24

PRIME minus 0.25%

675

Letters of credit

IHS Nigeria

356.5M

USD

Feb'22

Dec'24

12.00

- 15.75%

7,623

319,454

3,531,758

3,510,847

All Group borrowings  (except letters of credit) contain customary information, customary affirmative and negative covenants, customary events of default and financial covenants (generally tested quarterly, with some exceptions). Mandatory cancellation and/or full or partial repayment may be required in certain circumstances. Loan facilities may also be voluntarily prepaid and/or cancelled by giving notice. Many of our borrowings are either guaranteed or secured.

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES AND LIQUIDITY FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2024, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

CIV (2023) Term Loan

In February 2024, a first draw down of €56.1 million (approximately $62.6 million) and XOF 7,109.0 million (approximately $12.1 million) was made by IHS Côte d’Ivoire S.A. under the CIV (2023) Term Loan. These proceeds were applied towards, inter alia, the full prepayment of the entity’s pre-existing borrowings maturing in June 2024 and for general corporate purposes.

In June 2024, the remaining €31.9 million (approximately $35.6 million) and XOF 4,042.3 million (approximately $6.9 million) were drawn down on this term loan. These proceeds were applied towards general corporate purposes.

IHS Holding (2022) Bullet Term Loan Facility

In March 2024, the available commitments under the Company’s October 2022 loan facility were voluntarily reduced by $70.0 million and the remaining available commitments of $60.0 million were drawn down in April 2024, with the proceeds were applied towards general corporate purposes, resulting in the facility being fully drawn at $430.0 million.

IHS Holding (2024) Term Facility

In March 2024, the Company entered into a $270.0 million loan agreement with Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited as the original lender. This facility is scheduled to terminate in March 2026 and is repayable in installments.

The applicable interest rate per annum is Term SOFR, plus a margin ranging from 4.50% to 7.00% per annum over the duration of facility, based on the relevant margin step-up date.

This facility was fully drawn in March 2024 and the majority of the proceeds have been applied toward the repayment of the Letter of Credit Facilities in Nigeria.

IHS Brasil - Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A. and I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A. 2024 Debentures

In June 2024, IHS Brasil - Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A. and I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A. issued debentures for BRL 300.0 million (approximately $55.2 million) and BRL 160.0 million (approximately $29.4 million), respectively. These debentures amortize, starting from July 2026 and November 2026, semi-annually until maturity in July 2032 and May 2032, respectively.

Both debentures are secured by a pledge over the bank account where the companies’ receivables are deposited. In addition, the IHS Brasil - Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A. debentures are secured by a pledge over all shares owned by IHS Netherlands BR B.V. in IHS Brasil - Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A.

The applicable interest rate on these debentures is CDI plus 2.80% and CDI plus 2.10%, respectively. The proceeds were applied towards general corporate purposes including working capital purposes.

Nigeria (2023) Term Loan and Nigeria (2023) Revolving Credit Facility

In August 2024, the cap of 24%, to which the floating interest rates per annum were subject in the NGN 165.0 billion (approximately $98.9 million) loan and the NGN 55.0 billion (approximately $33.0 million) facility, both entered into in January 2023, was amended to 27%.

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

16.Lease liabilities

    

September 30, 

    

December 31, 

2024

2023

$’000

$’000

Non‑current

 

513,484

 

510,838

Current

93,699

91,156

Total lease liabilities

 

607,183

 

601,994

Lease liabilities represent the net present value of future payments due under long-term land leases for leasehold land on which our towers are located and for other leasehold assets such as warehouses and offices. During the nine month period ended September 30, 2024, payments to the value of $91.0 million were made in respect of recognized lease liabilities. These lease liabilities are unwound using incremental borrowing rates which represent the credit risk of the lessee entity and the length of the lease agreement.

At September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the contractual maturities of the lease liabilities were as follows:

    

Total

Carrying

contractual

Within

2 ‑ 3

4 ‑ 5

Over 5

value

    

cash flows

    

1 year

    

years

    

years

    

years

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

September 30, 2024

Lease liabilities

607,183

 

1,216,159

 

105,208

 

201,051

 

186,957

 

722,943

At December 31, 2023

Lease liabilities

 

601,994

 

1,181,459

 

101,709

 

193,434

 

180,895

 

705,421

Lease obligations contractual cash flows are disclosed with the same renewal expectation assumption assessed for lease accounting under IFRS 16. The average remaining lease term remaining at September 30, 2024, is 12.6 years.

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

$’000

$’000

 

$’000

$’000

At December 31, 2023

 

332,519

100,311

99,756

 

5,324,525

5,295,056

Shares issued on exercise of options

697

209

209

4,614

4,614

At September 30, 2024

 

333,216

100,520

99,965

 

5,329,139

5,299,670

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

18.Cash from operations

    

Three months ended

    

Nine months ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

2024

2023

2024

2023

    

$’000

    

$’000

    

$’000

    

$’000

Reconciliation:

Loss before taxation*

(199,306)

(252,145)

(1,846,598)

(1,442,237)

Adjustments:

  

  

  

  

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (note 6 and 7)

78,028

92,594

231,030

302,285

Amortization of intangible assets (note 6 and 7)

13,280

12,337

35,010

38,096

Amortization of prepaid site rent

2,486

2,789

7,475

7,918

Impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent (note 6 and 7)

4,132

103,429

10,106

108,510

Impairment of assets held for sale (note 6)

2,853

Impairment of goodwill (note 7)

87,894

Impairment of withholding tax receivables (note 7)

21,855

10,508

32,827

35,112

Impairment of inventory

(435)

(435)

Net gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment (note 7)

(1,270)

(386)

(3,562)

(952)

Share‑based payment expense (note 7)

1,813

2,654

9,879

9,571

(Reversal of loss allowance)/loss allowance on trade receivables

(4,286)

711

(2,107)

5,225

Finance income (note 8)

(25,732)

(5,823)

(49,696)

(18,233)

Finance costs (note 9)*

350,825

271,595

2,163,157

1,816,864

Insurance claim income

(11)

(32)

(51)

(310)

Operating income before working capital changes*

241,379

238,231

677,782

861,849

Changes in working capital

  

  

  

  

(Increase)/decrease in inventory*

(390)

(32,555)

(5,785)

4,166

Increase in trade and other receivables

(67,035)

(61,968)

(254,162)

(199,210)

Increase in trade and other payables*

8,477

86,205

9,176

74,064

Net movement in working capital*

(58,948)

(8,318)

(250,771)

(120,980)

Cash from operations*

182,431

229,913

427,011

740,869

*Revised comparative periods to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

19.Business Combinations

For acquisitions that meet the definition of a business combination, with the exception of the additional stages of the Kuwait Acquisition which are accounted for as assets acquisition, the Group applies the acquisition accounting method where assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value at the date of each acquisition, and the results of operations are included with those of the Group from the dates of the respective acquisitions. The Group completed one additional stage of the Kuwait Acquisition in 2023. There were no acquisitions during the nine month period ended September 30, 2024.

IHS Kuwait Limited

In the 2020 financial year IHS GCC KW Holding Limited (“IHS GCC KW”), a subsidiary of IHS Holding Limited completed the first two stages of the acquisition of 1,620 towers from Mobile Telecommunications Company K.S.C.P. (“Zain Kuwait”) comprising 1,162 towers. During April 2021, October 2021, September 2022 and August 2023 IHS GCC KW completed the third, fourth, fifth and sixth stages of the acquisition of 1,620 towers from Zain Kuwait comprising 67, 126, 43 and 101 towers respectively.

As part of the transaction, some towers that we have not purchased are managed and operated under a Managed Services agreement, and currently comprise approximately 121 towers. IHS GCC KW transferred the purchase right to IHS Kuwait Limited for the Construction, Erection and Maintenance of Wired and Wireless Communication and Radar Towers and Stations with Limited Liability (“IHS Kuwait”) who operates the towers as a standalone business. As part of the agreement, IHS Kuwait also assumed existing supplier contracts and land leases, allowing it to apply the Group business processes and deliver services immediately after the assignment of the towers.

As part of the agreement, Zain Kuwait subscribed for shares in IHS GCC KW representing 30% of the share capital of IHS GCC KW by issuing a loan note to IHS GCC KW. The acquisition is consistent with the Group’s strategy to expand in selected geographic areas.

The following table summarizes the consideration paid and the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired at the acquisition date of the 101 towers acquired in 2023.

2023

$’000

Gross consideration

6,408

Less: consideration received in exchange for a retained 30% interest (by Zain Kuwait) in IHS GCC KW

(1,922)

Net cash consideration for 70% controlling interest in the acquired towers

4,486

Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:

  

Towers and tower equipment

5,576

Customer-related assets

2,224

Network-related assets

766

Trade and other payables

(2,158)

Total identifiable net assets acquired (at 100%)

6,408

Goodwill

Non-controlling interest portion of above at 30%

1,922

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

20.Capital commitments and contingent liabilities

Capital commitments

The Group was committed to the purchase of property, plant and equipment of approximately $128.3 million at September 30, 2024 (December 31, 2023: $162.9 million).

Contingent liabilities

Note 32 ‘Capital commitments and contingent liabilities’ to the Group’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, sets forth the Group’s capital commitments and contingent liabilities as of December 31, 2023. There have been no material changes to the contingent liabilities during the period covered by this report.

21.

Effect of the revision on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023

In connection with the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, we identified an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria in the quarterly periods ended June 30, 2023, and September 30, 2023. The adjustment reclassified these foreign exchange movements from Inventories and Property, plant and equipment to Cost of sales and Finance costs. In accordance with SAB No. 99, “Materiality,” and SAB No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements”, we evaluated the adjustment and determined that the related impact was not material to our financial statements for any prior period. Accordingly, we have revised previously reported financial information, disclosed in our Quarterly Report on Form 6-K for the periods ended June 30, 2023, and September 30, 2023. The following table summarizes the impact of the revision in the current period.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

Three months ended September 30, 2023

Nine months ended September 30, 2023

As previously reported

Adjustments

Revised

As previously reported

Adjustments

Revised

  

$’000

  

$’000

  

$’000

    

$’000

  

$’000

  

$’000

Cost of sales

(365,032)

6,149

(358,883)

(949,774)

(12,854)

(962,628)

Operating income

7,478

6,149

13,627

369,248

(12,854)

356,394

Finance costs

(261,993)

(9,602)

(271,595)

(1,804,222)

(12,642)

(1,816,864)

Loss before income tax

(248,692)

(3,453)

(252,145)

(1,416,741)

(25,496)

(1,442,237)

Loss for the period

(265,351)

(3,453)

(268,804)

(1,505,859)

(25,496)

(1,531,355)

Loss attributable to:

  

  

Owners of the Company

(263,377)

(3,453)

(266,830)

(1,497,525)

(25,496)

(1,523,021)

Loss for the period

(265,351)

(3,453)

(268,804)

(1,505,859)

(25,496)

(1,531,355)

Loss per share - basic

(0.79)

(0.01)

(0.80)

(4.49)

(0.08)

(4.57)

Loss per share - diluted

(0.79)

(0.01)

(0.80)

(4.49)

(0.08)

(4.57)

Other comprehensive income:

  

  

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

4,789

557

5,346

629,755

5,047

634,802

Other comprehensive income for the period, net of taxes

4,789

557

5,346

629,755

5,047

634,802

Total comprehensive loss for the period

(260,562)

(2,896)

(263,458)

(876,104)

(20,449)

(896,553)

Total comprehensive loss attributable to:

  

  

Owners of the Company

(251,373)

(2,896)

(254,269)

(876,163)

(20,449)

(896,612)

Total comprehensive loss for the period

(260,562)

(2,896)

(263,458)

(876,104)

(20,449)

(896,553)

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

 

As previously reported

 

Adjustments

 

Revised

Accumulated

Other

Accumulated

Other

Accumulated

Other

losses

reserves

losses

reserves

losses

reserves

    

$’000

  

$’000

    

$’000

  

$’000

    

$’000

  

$’000

Balance at January 1, 2023

 

(3,317,652)

(861,271)

(3,317,652)

(861,271)

Loss for the period

 

(1,497,525)

(25,496)

(1,523,021)

Other comprehensive income

 

621,362

5,047

626,409

Total comprehensive (loss)/income

 

(1,497,525)

621,362

(25,496)

5,047

(1,523,021)

626,409

Balance at September 30, 2023

 

(4,814,310)

(321,440)

(25,496)

5,047

(4,839,806)

(316,393)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

Three months ended September 30, 2023

Nine months ended September 30, 2023

As previously reported

Adjustments

Revised

As previously reported

Adjustments

Revised

  

$’000

  

$’000

  

$’000

    

$’000

  

$’000

  

$’000

Cash flows from operating activities

  

  

  

  

  

  

Cash from operations

234,437

(4,524)

229,913

750,428

(9,559)

740,869

Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities

224,777

(4,524)

220,253

703,547

(9,559)

693,988

Cash flow from investing activities

  

  

  

  

  

  

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(124,413)

4,524

(119,889)

(393,015)

9,559

(383,456)

Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities

(188,129)

4,524

(183,605)

(638,282)

9,559

(628,723)

Net cash used in financing activities

(29,115)

(29,115)

(11,806)

(11,806)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

425,436

425,436

425,436

425,436

Commensurate adjustments have been made to notes 5, 6, 9, 11 and 18 to the financial statements.

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NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

22.Events after the reporting period

(a)

IHS Holding (2024) dual-tranche Bullet Term Loan Facility

In October 2024, IHS Holding Limited entered into and drew down on a dual-tranche $255.0 million and ZAR 3,246.0 million loan agreement (together totaling approximately $438.6 million). This syndicated facility is scheduled to terminate in October 2029. The majority of the proceeds have been applied toward the repayment of the IHS Holding (2022) Bullet Term Loan Facility.  The applicable interest rate on the dollar tranche is Term SOFR, plus a margin of 4.50% and on the ZAR tranche is JIBAR, plus a margin of 4.50%.

(b) IHS Holding (2022) Bullet Term Loan Facility

In October 2024, the outstanding principal amount of $430.0 million under this facility was fully repaid with the proceeds from the IHS Holding (2024) dual-tranche Bullet Term Loan Facility described above.

(c) Nigeria Withholding Tax

On October 2, 2024, the Federal Government of Nigeria released the official gazette of the “Deduction of Tax at Source (Withholding) Regulations, 2024” setting out changes to the withholding tax (“WHT”) regulations which impact the Group’s Nigerian businesses. Effective from January 1, 2025, these changes are expected to reduce the amounts of tax withheld by customers in Nigeria with respect to colocation and telecommunication tower services from 10% to 2%, which is anticipated to lead to an increase in cash flow for IHS from 2025.

Nigerian WHT can be credited against corporation tax (“CIT”) liabilities and is therefore initially recognized as an asset. Historically, the WHT credits each quarter have exceeded the total forecast CIT payable and the unutilized asset has been impaired. Going forward, the Group will reassess the extent to which previously impaired WHT credits can be recovered against future CIT liabilities, taking account of the reduction in the WHT rate from January 2025.

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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. 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, 2023, (“Annual Report”), dated March 12, 2024, 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 754 million people in emerging markets, across three regions and ten countries. We are one of the largest independent multinational tower operators globally by tower count and are solely focused on the emerging markets. Our current markets of operation are in Nigeria, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Zambia, Rwanda, Brazil, Colombia, Kuwait and Egypt.  

Historically, our business has been predominantly focused on the African continent, however in 2020 we started complementing this with investment into other regions and adjacent communications infrastructure offerings. Our expansion outside of Africa includes the Middle East via Kuwait, and Latin America via Brazil, Peru and Colombia. Each of these acquisitions supported our inorganic growth strategy and opened up new markets that we believed would provide future organic and inorganic growth opportunities. Our investment criteria suggests that inorganic growth opportunities will be limited for the foreseeable future, as we assess inorganic investment as just one of the various forms of capital allocation.

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, through I-Systems, we provide FTTH fiber connectivity to our customers through a neutral network infrastructure solution for broadband service, and in Nigeria we provide FTTT connectivity to our customers. Finally, 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. 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 September 30, 2024, our portfolio represents:

- the largest independent tower operator in seven of the ten markets in which we operate
- the only independent tower operator of scale in five of these markets
- 40,650 Towers across seven countries in Africa, two countries in Latin America and one country in the Middle East

Strategic review

We also announced, in March 2024, that we were undertaking a strategic review process, which includes evaluation of our organizational initiatives, plans and goals to try to ensure they align with our long-term objectives and external environment conditions, and targeted at shareholder value-creation options. While the review remains ongoing and further initiatives to continue increasing shareholder value may be considered, the initial part of the review so far includes, but is not limited to, initiatives around making commercial progress through contract renewals and extensions, potential further governance improvements, increasing Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow generation, disposal of certain assets or markets, and actively pursuing initiatives to extend maturities, manage interest expense and shift more debt into local currency. It is currently expected that increased cash flow and disposal proceeds raised as part of these strategic initiatives would primarily be utilized to reduced debt, although we may also consider other uses, including potentially using excess proceeds for share buybacks and/or introducing a dividend policy.

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Recent developments

Nigeria withholding tax

On October 2, 2024, the Federal Government of Nigeria released the official gazette of the “Deduction of Tax at Source (Withholding) Regulations, 2024” setting out changes to the withholding tax (“WHT”) regulations which impact the Group’s Nigerian businesses. Effective from January 1, 2025, these changes are expected to reduce the amounts of tax withheld by customers in Nigeria with respect to colocation and telecommunication tower services from 10% to 2%, which is anticipated to lead to an increase in cash flow for IHS from 2025.

Nigerian WHT can be credited against corporation tax (“CIT”) liabilities and is therefore initially recognized as an asset. Historically, the WHT credits each quarter have exceeded the total forecast CIT payable and the unutilized asset has been impaired. Going forward, the Group will reassess the extent to which previously impaired WHT credits can be recovered against future CIT liabilities, taking account of the reduction in the WHT rate from January 2025.

Reportable Segments

Our operations are organized into four segments, which reflect the way our 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 operating segments are Nigeria, which comprises our operations in Nigeria; SSA, which comprises our operations in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia; Latam, which comprises our operations in Brazil and Colombia; and the Middle East and North Africa, or MENA, which comprises our operations in Kuwait and Egypt. Although full operations in Egypt have not commenced, the business has incurred some costs.

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 and foreign exchange resets, 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 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. This treatment continues for 12 months following acquisition.

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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 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 included in some 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 or 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 three months if the reset is quarterly). 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. 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.

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 on different exchange rates within the market, please refer to “— Multiple foreign exchange markets with different exchange rates.”

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 MLAs with MTN in Zambia and Rwanda were renewed in March and June of 2024, respectively, 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. MLAs with certain customers in Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia are up for renewal in 2025. 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 Nigerian Naira component (that benefits from semi-annual escalators linked to the Nigerian Consumer Price Index), a USD component (that continues to benefit from annual escalators linked to the US Consumer Price Index and have 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 FX 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.

IHS recently concluded the agreements with MTN South Africa to unwind the power managed services agreement and to amend the existing MLA with an increased fee structure, extended by two years through to 2034. Under this arrangement power and electricity costs are fully passed through to customers. As a result, we no longer recognize power pass through revenue on a gross basis and now recognize it on a net basis. This has the effect of reducing our revenue but has no 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 or 5G, adding additional microwave transmission or fiber infrastructure services, as well as 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, 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 requiring 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. 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.

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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 and requiring a denser network than is the case for voice services, as well as changes 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 4G or 5G.

New Sites constructed consist primarily of 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 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 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 the 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.

Currency exchange rate

Our operations are conducted by subsidiaries in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Zambia, Rwanda, South Africa, Kuwait, Brazil and Colombia, and the functional currency of our operating subsidiaries are the Nigerian Naira (₦), West African CFA Franc (XOF), Central African CFA Franc (XAF), Zambian Kwacha (ZMW), Rwandan Franc (RWF), South African Rand (ZAR), Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD), 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 and comprehensive 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.

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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.”

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 or continue to exist 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 “— Results of Operations.”

Hyperinflation

At present, none of our markets are considered to be hyperinflationary (as defined in IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies), but the 3 year cumulative inflation rate has increased for Nigeria, and there is the potential for hyperinflation accounting to be applicable in future reporting periods.

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 in order 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 for the replacement and servicing of generators and batteries at our sites, which may decrease, should 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 spare parts and routine checks. Maintenance capital expenditure in Latin America is typically lower given the current scope of maintenance required on Towers.

Typically, 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.

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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 those sites should then have normalized maintenance capital expenditure requirements related to the maintenance of sites as described above. 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 the third quarter of 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 50% by 2030, using 2021 emissions data as the baseline.

Savings will 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 in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kuwait, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia. However, our plans in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kuwait, Rwanda, 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, we benefit from power indexation clauses which limit the impact of both increased diesel prices and conversely falling diesel prices. 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 systems.

On May 31, 2023, the Nigeria Federal Inland Revenue Service issued a letter to diesel suppliers in Nigeria, informing them they would be required to pay VAT at 7.5% on imported diesel at the point of entry into the country. However, on October 1, 2023, the Federal Government of Nigeria suspended VAT on imported diesel for a period of six months effective from October 1, 2023, through to March 31, 2024. On September 3, 2024, VAT Modification Order 2024 was gazetted which confirms the suspension of VAT on imported diesel is formalized with retrospective effect.

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, five, or ten-year portion of the overall duration of the lease (although in our South Africa business, we typically pay our ground leases 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 of operation is derived from a small number of customers who usually constitute some of the largest MNOs in those markets. In particular, in the nine month period ended September 30, 2024, revenue from our top three MNO customers, considered in each of our individual markets of operation, collectively accounted for 98.5% of our consolidated revenue, with MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria accounting for 45.6% and 11.6%, respectively, of our consolidated revenue for the nine month period ended September 30, 2024. 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.

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Market volatility

We and our customers operate in various international markets, particularly in emerging markets such as 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 December 2023, Moody's improved the outlook on Nigeria from stable to positive and in May 2024, Fitch revised the outlook on the Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating for Nigeria to positive from stable and affirmed their B- rating. In addition, S&P has a stable outlook on IHS Holding and the foreign currency rating on Nigeria and in July 2024 reaffirmed their B+ ratings on the Company and its debt.  There have been no upgrades, downgrades, or changes in outlook for Nigeria or IHS since that point.

As a result of the currency exchange rate fluctuations, particularly in regard to the Nigerian Naira as discussed 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, particularly in Nigeria given the significant recent depreciations of the Naira in June 2023 and January 2024. As part of our heightened focus on cash generation, we may pursue operational efficiencies through productivity enhancements, cost and capital expenditure reductions, and a review of our portfolio of markets and assets.

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 of capacity in shipping may occur and 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 conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the related economic sanctions. 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 US Dollar, such as the BRL, NGN, RWF, 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, or SOFR, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Term SOFR, the European interbank offered rate, or EURIBOR, the Nigerian Monetary Policy Rate, or MPR, the Central Bank of Kuwait’s Discount Rate, the Johannesburg Interbank Average Rate, or JIBAR, or the Brazilian interbank deposit rate, or 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 addition, we may procure additional indebtedness at floating rates in the future.

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In the past, governments have taken, and may in the future take, unprecedented actions in an attempt to address and rectify these extreme market and economic conditions by providing liquidity and stability to financial markets. If these actions are not successful, the return of 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 and on acceptable terms or at all.

To the extent that any macroeconomic issues could 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 many of the other risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of our 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 “Leases”. 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” 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.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales consists of power generation (including diesel costs), 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 fees and license costs, 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), 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, allowance for trade and other receivables and other sundry costs. Administrative expenses also include other corporate overhead expenses related to our acquisition efforts and costs associated with new business initiatives.

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, realized and unrealized net 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, realized and unrealized net foreign exchange gains arising from financing arrangements and net realized and unrealized gains from valuations of financial instruments.

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Taxation

Taxation consists of income tax, education tax and deferred taxes. Income tax is calculated at the domestic tax rate applicable to profits in our respective countries of business. Current and deferred tax is recognized on taxes that are regarded as taxes on corporate income under relevant IFRS Accounting Standards.

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.

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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

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.

Towers

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 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, along with the acquisition of towers from MNOs and an independent tower company. 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.

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Reconciliation from loss for the period to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

The following is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin to the most directly comparable IFRS measure, which are loss and loss margins, respectively, for the periods presented:

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

2024

2023*

2024

2023*

    

$'000

    

$'000

    

$'000

    

$'000

Loss for the period

(205,703)

(268,804)

(1,887,267)

(1,531,355)

Divided by total Revenue

420,282

467,023

1,273,403

1,615,755

Loss margin for the period

(48.9)%

(57.6)%

(148.2)%

(94.8)%

Adjustments:

Income tax expense

6,397

16,659

40,669

89,118

Finance costs(a)

350,825

271,595

2,163,157

1,816,864

Finance income(a)

(25,732)

(5,823)

(49,696)

(18,233)

Depreciation and amortization

91,308

104,931

266,040

340,381

Impairment of withholding tax receivables(b)

21,855

10,508

32,827

35,112

Impairment of goodwill

87,894

Business combination transaction costs

578

161

958

1,647

Impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent(c)

4,132

103,429

12,959

108,510

Net gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

(1,270)

(386)

(3,562)

(952)

Share-based payment expense(d)

1,813

2,654

9,879

9,571

Insurance claims(e)

(11)

(32)

(51)

(310)

Other costs(f)

1,783

3,211

8,175

8,059

Other income

(1)

(59)

Adjusted EBITDA

245,975

238,102

681,982

858,353

Divided by total Revenue

420,282

467,023

1,273,403

1,615,755

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

58.5%

51.0%

53.6%

53.1%

*Revised to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

(a) Finance costs consist of interest expense and loan facility fees on borrowings, the unwinding of the discount on our decommissioning liability and lease liability, realized and unrealized net 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, realized and unrealized net foreign exchange gains arising from financing arrangements and net realized and unrealized gains from valuations of financial instruments.
(b) Revenue 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. Revenue withholding tax receivables are reviewed for recoverability at each reporting period end and impaired if not forecast to be recoverable.
(c) Represents non-cash charges related to the impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent on the decommissioning of sites.
(d) Represents expenses related to share-based compensation, which vary from period to period depending on timing of awards and changes to valuation inputs assumptions.
(e) Represents insurance claims included as non-operating income.

(f)

Other costs for the three months ended September 30, 2024, included one-off consulting fees related to corporate structures and operating systems of $0.7 million (three months ended September 30, 2023: $1.7 million) and $5.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 (nine months ended September 30, 2023: $4.5 million); costs related to internal reorganization for the three months ended September 30, 2024, of $0.9 million (three months ended September 30, 2023: $0.6 million) and $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 (nine months ended September 30, 2023: $0.7 million); other one-off consulting services for the three months ended September 30, 2024, of $Nil (three months ended September 30, 2023: $0.7 million) and $Nil for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 (nine months ended September 30, 2023: $1.7 million); one-off professional fees related to financing for the three months ended September 30, 2024, of $0.1 million (three months ended September 30, 2023: $Nil) and $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 (nine months ended September 30, 2023: $0.2 million).

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The table below shows our consolidated results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

Y on Y

September 30, 

September 30, 

Y on Y

    

2024

    

2023 (1)

Growth

2024

    

2023 (1)

Growth

$’000

$’000

%

$’000

$’000

%

Revenue

420,282

467,023

(10.0)

1,273,403

1,615,755

(21.2)

Adjusted EBITDA(2)

245,975

238,102

3.3

681,982

858,353

(20.5)

Loss for the period

(205,703)

(268,804)

23.5

(1,887,267)

(1,531,355)

(23.2)

Cash from operations

182,431

229,913

(20.7)

427,011

740,869

(42.4)

(1) Revised to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).
(2) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure. See “Use of Non-IFRS financial measures” for additional information, definitions and a reconciliation to the most comparable IFRS measure.

Impact of Nigerian Naira devaluation

In mid-June 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria implemented steps to unify the Nigerian foreign exchange market by replacing the old regime of multiple exchange rate segments into a single Investors and Exporters (“I&E”) window within which foreign exchange transactions would be determined by market forces and which was subsequently renamed NAFEM in October 2023. The Group uses the USD/NGN rate published by Bloomberg for Group reporting purposes.

As a result of the steps taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Naira devalued between the period immediately prior to the announcement and the month end rate as of June 30, 2023. The Naira continued to devalue in the second half of 2023 and in January 2024, there was a further significant devaluation. During the second and third quarters of 2024, the Naira has continued to devalue but at a significantly slower rate as compared to the first quarter of 2024.

The table below summarizes the closing and average rates per period and related movements.

Closing Rate

Closing Rate Movement (1)

Average Rate

Average Rate Movement (1)

₦:$

$:₦

₦:$

$:₦

14 June 2023

472.3

30 June 2023

752.7

(37.3)%

508.0

30 September 2023

775.6

(2.9)%

767.7

(33.8)%

31 December 2023

911.7

(14.9)%

815.0

(5.8)%

31 March 2024

1,393.5

(34.6)%

1,315.9

(38.1)%

30 June 2024

1,514.3

(8.0)%

1,391.8

(5.4)%

30 September 2024

1,669.1

(9.3)%

1,601.0

(13.1)%

(1) 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.

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Due to the Naira devaluation, Revenue and segment Adjusted EBITDA were negatively impacted by $264.7 million and $172.4 million, respectively, in the third quarter of 2024, based on the average rate used in that quarter compared to the third quarter of 2023 average rate. At the same time, there were contract resets that partially offset the negative foreign exchange impact on Revenue and segment Adjusted EBITDA. In addition, the Naira devaluation resulted in an impact on finance costs, specifically related to net unrealized foreign exchange losses on financing of $232.1 million in our Nigeria segment in the third quarter of 2024. This is due to the USD denominated internal shareholder loans from Group entities to Nigeria and USD denominated third party debt. As the functional currency of the Nigeria businesses is NGN, these USD balances have been revalued in NGN using the rate as of September 30, 2024, resulting in an increase in unrealized loss on foreign exchange. Significant non monetary assets held in Naira have also been impacted by retranslation in the condensed consolidated financial statements, resulting in a $307.9 million reduction in the property, plant and equipment balance at September 30, 2024 compared to December 31, 2023.

Revenue

Revenue for the three month period ended September 30, 2024 (“third quarter”) of $420.3 million declined 10.0% year-on-year. Organic revenue(1) increased by $229.0 million year-on-year during the third quarter, or 49.0%, driven primarily by foreign exchange resets and escalations in addition to continued growth in Tenants, Lease Amendments and New Sites. This growth was partially offset by the initial impact of the new financial terms in the renewed and extended contracts with MTN Nigeria, signed during the third quarter. Aggregate inorganic revenue growth was $0.1 million, which primarily related to the sixth stage of the Kuwait Acquisition. The increase in organic revenue was more than offset by the non-core impact of negative movements in foreign exchange rates of $275.9 million, or 59.1%, of which $264.7 million was due to the devaluation of the NGN.

Revenue for the nine month period ended September 30, 2024 (“year-to-date”) of $1,273.4 million declined 21.2% year-on-year. Year-to-date Organic revenue(1) increased by $821.3 million year-on-year, or 50.8%, driven primarily by foreign exchange resets and escalations in addition to continued growth in Tenants, Lease Amendments and New Sites. This growth was partially offset by the initial impact of the new financial terms in the renewed and extended contracts with MTN Nigeria, signed during the third quarter. Aggregate inorganic revenue growth was $1.3 million, which primarily related to the sixth stage of the Kuwait Acquisition. The increase in organic revenue was more than offset by the non-core impact of negative movements in foreign exchange rates of $1,164.9 million, or 72.1%, of which $1,134.9 million was due to the devaluation of the NGN.

Refer to the revenue component of the segment results section of this discussion and analysis for further details.

For the third quarter, the net increase in Towers was 911 year-on-year, resulting in total Towers of 40,650 at the end of the period, and primarily resulted from the addition of 1,346 New Sites (including 210 reintegrated towers in 3Q24 from our smallest Key Customer in Nigeria), partially offset by 350 Churned, 59 net divestiture from Latam and 26 decommissioned. We added 1,119 net new Tenants year-on-year (including 529 Churned Tenants in 3Q24 from our smallest Key Customer in Nigeria on which we were not recognizing revenue), resulting in total Tenants of 60,315 and a Colocation Rate of 1.48x at the end of the third quarter. Year-on-year, we added 4,135 Lease Amendments, driven primarily by 5G and fiber upgrades, resulting in total Lease Amendments of 39,389 at the end of the third quarter.

(1) Refer to “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for the definition of organic revenue and additional information.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $246.0 million, reaching an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 58.5%. Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.3% year-on-year in the third quarter reflecting the decrease in revenue discussed above, more than offset by a decrease in cost of sales. The reduction in cost of sales was primarily driven by a decrease in regulatory fees of $12.1 million, primarily relating to a review of the current and historical license obligations in the SSA segment, and a decrease in tower repairs and maintenance costs, power generation costs, security services costs, and staff costs of  $7.4 million, $5.5 million, $4.4 million, and $1.5 million respectively. The $11.1 million reduction in other cost of sales primarily relates to FX losses on goods in transit in Nigeria during the third quarter of 2023.

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Adjusted EBITDA was $682.0 million year-to-date, reaching an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 53.6%. Year-to-date Adjusted EBITDA decreased 20.5% year-on-year reflecting the decrease in revenue discussed above, partially offset by a decrease in cost of sales. The reduction in cost of sales was primarily driven by a decrease in tower repairs and maintenance costs, power generation costs, security services costs, regulatory fees and staff costs of $40.3 million, $40.0 million, $20.6 million, $18.7 million and $6.8 million respectively.

Loss for the period

Loss for the period in the third quarter of 2024 was $205.7 million, compared to a loss of $268.8 million for the third quarter of 2023. This equates to a reduction of loss of $63.1 million year-on-year, which was primarily due to a reduction in impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent of $99.3 million primarily driven by power equipment assets in our SSA segment being classified as assets held for sale and remeasured at fair value less cost to sell in the third quarter of 2023 coupled with an increase in the net gain on the fair value of embedded options of $24.3 million which is driven by the increase in the market value of the Existing 2027 Senior Notes which increased the value of the embedded call options within these notes. This was partially offset by higher finance costs of $79.2 million driven by an increase in the unrealized net foreign exchange losses arising from financing as a result of the devaluation of the NGN, as well as a decrease in revenue as discussed above.

The year-on-year increase in the loss for the year-to-date of $355.9 million is primarily driven by higher financing costs of $346.3 million primarily due to an increase in the unrealized net foreign exchange losses arising from financing linked to the devaluation of the NGN coupled with a decrease in revenue of $342.4 million. In addition, there was an increase in impairment of goodwill of $87.9 million related to the Latam tower business which was recognized in the first quarter of 2024. This was partially offset by reductions in impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent of $98.4 million, as well as decreases in depreciation, power generation, tower repairs and maintenance of $71.3 million, $40.0 million and $40.3 million respectively. In addition, there was a gain on the fair value of embedded options of $29.6 million as a result of the movements in the embedded call options within our Existing 2027 Senior Notes.  

SEGMENT RESULTS

Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA by segment

For each of our reportable segments, the tables below show Revenue and Segment Adjusted EBITDA, our key profitability measure used to assess the performance of our reportable segments, for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

Revenue

Three months ended

Nine months ended

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

    

2024

    

2023

    

Change

2024

    

2023

    

Change

$'000

$'000

%

$'000

$'000

%

Nigeria

242,290

271,394

(10.7)

739,596

1,060,964

 

(30.3)

SSA

120,139

 

133,481

(10.0)

359,669

379,034

 

(5.1)

Latam

45,148

 

51,883

(13.0)

139,385

145,876

 

(4.4)

MENA

12,705

 

10,265

23.8

34,753

29,881

 

16.3

Total revenue

420,282

467,023

(10.0)

1,273,403

 

1,615,755

 

(21.2)

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Adjusted EBITDA

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2024

    

2023

(1)​

Change

2024

    

2023

(1)​

Change

$'000

$'000

%

$'000

$'000

%  

Nigeria

158,900

164,152

(3.2)

433,160

655,476

 

(33.9)

SSA

 

81,046

 

66,285

22.3

227,154

194,701

 

16.7

Latam

 

33,798

 

38,163

 

(11.4)

100,922

104,665

 

(3.6)

MENA

 

8,014

 

5,155

 

55.5

20,253

14,205

 

42.6

Unallocated corporate expenses(2)

 

(35,783)

 

(35,653)

 

(0.4)

(99,507)

(110,694)

 

10.1

Total Adjusted EBITDA

 

245,975

 

238,102

 

3.3

681,982

 

858,353

 

(20.5)

(1) Revised to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).
(2) Unallocated corporate expenses primarily consist of costs associated with centralized Group functions including Group executive, legal, finance, tax and treasury services.

Nigeria

Third quarter revenue decreased 10.7% year-on-year to $242.3 million. Organic revenue increased by $235.6 million, or 86.8%, driven primarily by foreign exchange resets and diesel prices, as well as continued growth in revenue from Colocation and Lease Amendments, partially offset by a reduction in revenues related to the new financial terms in the renewed contracts with MTN Nigeria, signed during the third quarter of 2024. The reported decrease in revenue was primarily driven by the impact of negative movements in foreign exchange rates with an average Naira rate of ₦1,601 to $1.00 in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the average rate of ₦768 to $1.00 in the third quarter of 2023. This led to a non-core decline of $264.7 million, or 97.5% year-on-year, a smaller decline compared to that which we reported during the second quarter of 2024 given the third quarter of 2023 was a period impacted by the significant devaluation of June 2023 but yet to benefit from our contracts resetting in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Year-to-date revenue decreased 30.3% year-on-year to $739.6 million primarily driven by movements in organic revenue, which increased by $813.6 million, or 76.7%, driven primarily by foreign exchange resets and diesel prices, as well as continued growth in revenue from Colocation and Lease Amendments, partially offset by a reduction in revenues related to the new financial terms in the renewed contracts with MTN Nigeria, signed during the third quarter. The reported decrease in revenue was primarily driven by the non-core impact of negative movements in foreign exchange rates of $1,134.9 million, 107.0% year-on-year.

During the third quarter, Tenants decreased by 279 year-on-year, with growth of 535 from Colocation and 96 from New Sites, more than offset by 910 Churned (which includes, for the third quarter of 2024, 529 Tenants occupied by our smallest Key Customer on which we were not recognizing revenue), while Lease Amendments increased by 1,601 primarily due to 3G, 5G and fiber upgrades.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter declined 3.2% year-on-year to $158.9 million, for a margin of 65.6%. The year-on-year decline in segment Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter primarily reflects the decrease in revenue discussed above, partially offset by a reduction in cost of sales, despite a year-on-year increase in the cost of diesel in the third quarter of $4.9 million. The reduction in cost of sales was primarily driven by a decrease in tower repairs and maintenance costs of $4.4 million and security services costs ($2.0 million), due to the movements in foreign exchange rates discussed above. The decrease was also driven by a reduction in the USD equivalent amounts of regulatory fees ($1.6 million) and staff costs ($1.2 million). These are solely due to the Naira devaluation discussed above, even though the underlying local costs increased during the period. The $9.6 million reduction in other cost of sales, respectively, primarily relates to the foreign exchange losses on goods in transit in Nigeria during the third quarter.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA declined 33.9% year-on-year to $433.2 million, for a margin of 58.6%. The year-on-year decline in segment Adjusted EBITDA year-to-date primarily reflects the decrease in revenue discussed above, partially offset by a reduction in cost of sales. The reduction in cost of sales was primarily driven by a decrease in tower repairs and maintenance costs of $25.3 million and the movements in foreign exchange rates discussed above. The decrease was also driven by a reduction in the USD equivalent amounts for the cost of diesel ($27.4 million), security services costs ($9.1 million), regulatory fees ($7.9 million) and staff costs ($5.8 million).

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These are solely due to the Naira devaluation discussed above, even though the underlying local costs increased during the period.

SSA

Third quarter revenue decreased 10.0% year-on-year to $120.1 million, primarily driven by movements in organic revenue, which decreased by $8.3 million, or 6.2%, due to factors including lower power pass through revenues being recognized after the changes in our agreements with MTN South Africa on the power managed services business. These changes to power pass through revenue have no impact on Adjusted EBITDA. Other factors impacting organic revenue include growth in Tenants, New Sites and Lease Amendments, together with escalations and foreign exchange resets. The overall decrease in revenue in the third quarter was also impacted by the non-core impact of negative movements in foreign exchange rates of $5.0 million, or 3.8%.

Year-to-date revenue decreased 5.1% year-on-year to $359.7 million. Organic revenue increased by $4.3 million as escalations and foreign exchange resets were only partially offset by lower power pass through revenues being recognized after the changes in our agreements with MTN South Africa on the power managed services business.  These changes to power pass through revenue have no impact on Adjusted EBITDA. The overall decrease in revenue was also impacted by the non-core impact of negative movements in foreign exchange rates of $23.6 million, or 6.2%.

During the third quarter, Tenants increased by 729 year-on-year, including 664 from Colocation, 144 from New Sites and 79 from Churn, while Lease Amendments increased by 2,061.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter grew 22.3% year-on-year to $81.0 million, for a margin of 67.5%. The year-on-year increase in segment Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter primarily reflects a decrease in cost of sales of $26.7 million, driven by reduced regulatory fees ($10.5 million) primarily relating to a review of the current and historical license obligations, and reduced tower repairs, maintenance costs security services costs and power generation costs of $3.0 million, $2.9 million and $9.5 million respectively, primarily due to the changes in our agreements with MTN South Africa discussed above. The impact on our third quarter cost of sales from these changes with MTN South Africa was reduced compared to the impact in the second quarter of 2024, driven by the one-off adjustments captured in the second quarter of 2024 relating to previous periods. This was partially offset by the decrease in revenue during the period.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA grew 16.7% year-on-year to $227.2 million, for a margin of 63.2%. The year-on-year increase in segment Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter and year-to-date primarily reflects a decrease in cost of sales of $49.5 million, driven by regulatory fees ($10.8 million) and reduced tower repairs and maintenance costs ($15.6 million), security services costs ($12.0 million), and power generation costs of $10.5 million primarily due to the changes in our agreements with MTN South Africa discussed above. This was partially offset by the decrease in revenue during the period.

Latam

Third quarter revenue decreased 13.0% year-on-year to $45.1 million and was primarily driven by the non-core impact of negative movements in foreign exchange rates of $6.2 million, or 11.9%. Organic revenue declined 0.6% in the quarter, or $0.3 million, driven by a reduction in revenues from our customer Oi S.A. (“Oi”) in Brazil as a result of their judicial recovery proceedings, partially offset by continued growth in Tenants, Lease Amendments and New Sites.

Year-to-date revenue decreased 4.4% year-on-year to $139.4 million and was driven by the non-core impact of negative movements in foreign exchange rates of $6.4 million, or 4.4%. This was partially offset by organic revenue which grew 0.2% ($0.2 million), despite a reduction in revenues from our customer Oi S.A. (“Oi”) in Brazil as a result of their judicial recovery proceedings.

During the third quarter, Tenants increased by 657 year-on-year, including 793 from New Sites and 236 from Colocation, partially offset by 311 Churned and net divestiture of 61, primarily due to the disposal of Peru, while Lease Amendments increased by 201.

Third quarter segment Adjusted EBITDA declined 11.4% to $33.8 million and primarily reflects the decrease in revenue discussed above, as well as an increase in security services costs of $0.4 million, partially offset by a reduction in power generation costs and site rental costs of $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

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Year-to-date segment Adjusted EBITDA declined 3.6% to $100.9 million and primarily reflects the decrease in revenue discussed above, and an increase in power generation costs and tower repair and maintenance costs of $1.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively, partially offset by a decrease in site rental costs of $2.5 million.

MENA

Third quarter revenue increased 23.8% year-on-year to $12.7 million driven primarily by New Sites, Lease Amendments and escalations. Revenues grew inorganically in the period by $0.4 million, or 3.6%, driven primarily by the sixth stage of the Kuwait Acquisition, completed in August 2023.

Year-to-date revenue increased 16.3% year-on-year to $34.8 million driven primarily by New Sites, Lease Amendments, and escalations. Revenues grew inorganically in the period by $1.6 million, or 5.5%, driven primarily by the sixth stage of the Kuwait Acquisition, completed in August 2023.

During the third quarter, Tenants increased by 12 year-on-year, including 21 from New Sites, partially offset by 9 Churned, while Lease Amendments increased by 272.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $8.0 million for the third quarter, an increase of 55.5% year-on-year. The increase in segment Adjusted EBITDA primarily reflects the increase in revenue discussed above.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $20.3 million year-to-date, an increase of 42.6% year-on-year. The increase in segment Adjusted EBITDA primarily reflects the increase in revenue discussed above.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

For each of our reportable segments, below is the capital expenditure for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

Y on Y

September 30, 

September 30, 

Y on Y

    

2024

    

2023 (1)

Growth

2024

    

2023 (1)

Growth

$’000

$’000

%

$’000

$’000

%

Nigeria

(21,358)

(30,778)

(30.6)

(57,193)

(249,518)

(77.1)

SSA

(11,307)

(11,318)

(0.1)

(21,079)

(62,421)

(66.2)

Latam

(31,793)

(56,999)

(44.2)

(92,194)

(136,994)

(32.7)

MENA

(771)

(1,244)

(38.0)

(1,196)

(4,579)

(73.9)

Other

(1,231)

(542)

127.1

(1,610)

(1,907)

(15.6)

Total capital expenditure

(66,460)

(100,881)

(34.1)

(173,272)

(455,419)

(62.0)

(1) Revised to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

During the third quarter of 2024, capital expenditure (“Total Capex”) was $66.5 million, compared to $100.9 million for the third quarter of 2023. The decrease is driven by lower capital expenditure across our four reportable segments reflecting the actions we are taking to improve cash generation and to narrow our focus to projects that we expect will deliver the highest returns.

Nigeria

The 30.6% year-on-year decrease for the third quarter was primarily driven by decreases of $6.0 million related to Project Green capital expenditure given the investment planned for this project is now largely complete, $5.2 million related to fiber business capital expenditure and $2.2 million related to augmentation capital expenditure, partially offset by a $2.2 million increase related to maintenance capital expenditure.

The 77.1% year-on-year decrease year-to-date was primarily driven by decreases of $82.0 million related to Project Green capital expenditure, $54.7 million related to maintenance capital expenditure, $29.2 million related to augmentation capital expenditure and $20.7 million related to fiber business capital expenditure, respectively.

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SSA

The 0.1% year-on-year decrease for the third quarter was primarily driven by decreases of $1.5 million in maintenance capital expenditure and $1.1 million in refurbishment capital expenditure, offset by a $2.0 million increase in augmentation capital expenditure.

The 66.2% year-on-year decrease year-to-date was primarily driven by decreases of $20.8 million in refurbishment capital expenditure, $9.2 million in maintenance capital expenditure, $8.7 million in corporate capital expenditure, and $6.7 million related to New Site capital expenditure, partially offset by a $4.5 million increase in other capital expenditure.

Latam

The 44.2% year-on-year decrease for the third quarter was primarily driven by decreases related to New Sites capital expenditure ($13.5 million), fiber business capital expenditure ($10.4 million), corporate capital expenditure ($2.4 million) and purchase of land for new or existing sites ($1.5 million).

The 32.7% year-on-year decrease year-to-date was primarily driven by decreases related to fiber business capital expenditure ($24.0 million), New Sites capital expenditure ($13.3 million), corporate capital expenditure ($6.3 million) and purchase of land for new or existing sites ($4.6 million).

MENA

The 38.0% year-on-year decrease for the third quarter was primarily due to a decrease in New Sites capital expenditure ($0.6 million) and maintenance capital expenditure ($0.2 million), partially offset by an increase in other capital expenditure ($0.2 million) and refurbishment capital expenditure ($0.2 million).

The 73.9% year-on-year decrease year-to-date was primarily due to a decrease in New Sites capital expenditure ($2.1 million), other capital expenditure ($0.6 million) and maintenance capital expenditure ($0.5 million).

FINANCING ACTIVITIES FOR PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2024 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

CIV (2023) Term Loan

In February 2024, a first draw down of €56.1 million (approximately $62.6 million) and XOF 7,109.0 million (approximately $12.1 million) was made by IHS Côte d’Ivoire S.A. under the CIV (2023) Term Loan. These proceeds were applied towards, inter alia, the full prepayment of the entity’s pre-existing borrowings maturing in June 2024 and for general corporate purposes.

In June 2024, the remaining €31.9 million (approximately $35.6 million) and XOF 4,042.3 million (approximately $6.9 million) were drawn down on this term loan. These proceeds were applied towards general corporate purposes.

IHS Holding (2022) Bullet Term Loan Facility

In March 2024, the available commitments under the Company’s October 2022 loan facility were voluntarily reduced by $70.0 million and the remaining available commitments of $60.0 million were drawn down in April 2024, with the proceeds were applied towards general corporate purposes, resulting in the facility being fully drawn at $430.0 million.

IHS Holding (2024) Term Facility

In March 2024, the Company entered into a $270.0 million loan agreement with Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited as the original lender. This facility is scheduled to terminate in March 2026 and is repayable in installments.

The applicable interest rate per annum is Term SOFR, plus a margin ranging from 4.50% to 7.00% per annum over the duration of facility, based on the relevant margin step-up date.

This facility was fully drawn in March 2024 and the majority of the proceeds have been applied toward the repayment of the Letter of Credit Facilities in Nigeria.

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IHS Brasil - Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A. and I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A. 2024 Debentures

In June 2024, IHS Brasil - Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A. and I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A. issued debentures for BRL 300.0 million (approximately $55.2 million) and BRL 160.0 million (approximately $29.4 million), respectively. These debentures amortize, starting from July 2026 and November 2026, semi-annually until maturity in July 2032 and May 2032, respectively.

Both debentures are secured by a pledge over the bank account where the companies’ receivables are deposited. In addition, the IHS Brasil - Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A. debentures are secured by a pledge over all shares owned by IHS Netherlands BR B.V. in IHS Brasil - Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A.

The applicable interest rate on these debentures is CDI plus 2.80% and CDI plus 2.10%, respectively. The proceeds were applied towards general corporate purposes including working capital purposes.

Nigeria (2023) Term Loan and Nigeria (2023) Revolving Credit Facility

In August 2024, the cap of 24%, to which the floating interest rates per annum were subject in the NGN 165.0 billion (approximately $98.9 million) loan and the NGN 55.0 billion (approximately $33.0 million) facility, both entered into in January 2023, was amended to 27%.

FINANCING ACTIVITIES AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

IHS Holding (2024) dual-tranche Bullet Term Loan Facility

In October 2024, IHS Holding Limited entered into and drew down on a dual-tranche $255.0 million and ZAR 3,246.0 million loan agreement (together totaling approximately $438.6 million). This syndicated facility is scheduled to terminate in October 2029. The majority of the proceeds have been applied toward the repayment of the IHS Holding (2022) Bullet Term Loan Facility.  The applicable interest rate on the dollar tranche is Term SOFR, plus a margin of 4.50% and on the ZAR tranche is JIBAR, plus a margin of 4.50%.

IHS Holding (2022) Bullet Term Loan Facility

In October 2024, the outstanding principal amount of $430.0 million under this facility was fully repaid with the proceeds from the IHS Holding (2024) dual-tranche Bullet Term Loan Facility described above.

INDEBTEDNESS

    

September 30, 

December 31, 

2024

2023

$’000

    

$’000

Non‑current

Senior Notes

1,934,817

1,930,457

Bank borrowings

1,419,945

1,126,239

3,354,762

3,056,696

Current

  

  

Senior Notes

22,708

26,912

Bank borrowings

146,665

107,110

Bank overdraft

675

Letters of credit

7,623

319,454

176,996

454,151

Total borrowings

3,531,758

3,510,847

Refer to note 15 to the interim financial statements for further details on our indebtedness.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We generally fund our operations, which include operating expenses and debt service requirements (principal and interest payments), 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. External equity funding was raised at the IHS Holding Limited level, where it was held in U.S. dollars until required by operating subsidiaries or for acquisitions. As and when operating subsidiaries required these funds, the funding was 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 September 30, 2024, we had $720.3 million of total liquidity, which was equal to our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $397.5 million, availability under the IHS Holding RCF of $300.0 million, and approximately $22.8 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 up-streamed to IHS Holding Limited (or intermediaries thereof). As a holding company, our 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. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Nigeria Group upstreamed $117.9 million to IHS Holding Limited, with further upstreaming from the Nigeria Group after the end of the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

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, 2023 (the “2023 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 try 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 and 2027 Notes and our other 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.

The information in this section updates as of September 30, 2024, the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of the 2023 Annual Report and should be read in conjunction with that report.

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MOVEMENTS IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS DURING THE PERIOD

    

Three months ended

    

Nine months ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2024

    

2023 (1)

2024

    

2023 (1)

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Net cash generated from operating activities

 

174,467

220,253

384,997

693,988

Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities

 

(44,517)

(183,605)

7,520

(628,723)

Net cash used in financing activities

(178,692)

(29,115)

(230,302)

(11,806)

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

(48,742)

7,533

162,215

53,459

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

445,713

433,048

293,823

514,078

Effect of movements in exchange rates on cash

528

(15,145)

(58,539)

(142,101)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

397,499

425,436

397,499

425,436

(1) Revised to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

Net cash generated from operating activities

The year-on-year decrease for the third quarter was $45.8 million which was primarily driven by an increased outflow in working capital of $50.6 million (inclusive of a withholding tax receivable increase of $20.2 million).

The year-on-year decrease for the year-to-date was $309.0 million which was primarily driven by a decrease in cashflow from operating income before working capital changes of $184.1 million and an increased outflow from working capital changes of $129.8 million.

Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities

The year-on-year positive movement for the third quarter was primarily due to lower capital expenditure for property, plant and equipment (including advance payments) of $76.8 million and lower net short-term deposits of $43.2 million.

The year-on-year positive movement for the year-to-date was primarily due to lower net short-term deposits of $319.4 million and a lower capital expenditure for property, plant and equipment (including advance payments) of $283.1 million.

Net cash used in financing activities

The year-on-year negative movement for the third quarter was primarily due to decreases in net loan principal receipts from third parties of $151.2 million.

The year-on-year negative movement for the year-to-date was primarily due to a decrease in net loan principal receipts from third parties of $186.8 million, higher interest paid of $28.9 million and higher net settlements on derivatives of $29.0 million.

OPERATING INCOME

The year-on-year increase in operating income for the third quarter of 2024 was $112.2 million of which $7.9 million related to the increase in Adjusted EBITDA (described previously). The remaining increase was primarily due to a $99.3 million reduction in impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent, the majority of which related to power equipment assets in our SSA segment being classified as assets held for sale and remeasured at fair value less cost to sell in the third quarter of 2023.

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Operating income for the year-to-date decreased by $89.5 million mainly due to the $176.4 million decrease in Adjusted EBITDA (described previously) and the $87.9 million goodwill impairment related to the Latam tower business which was recognized in the first quarter of 2024, partially offset by a $98.4 million reduction in impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets excluding goodwill and related prepaid land rent which primarily due to our SSA segment discussed above, as well as a $74.3 million reduction in depreciation and amortization largely due to the devaluation of the NGN.

FINANCE INCOME AND COSTS

The table below shows our finance income and costs for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

    

Three months ended

    

Nine months ended

 

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

 

    

2024

    

2023 (1)

2024

    

2023 (1)

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

 

Fair value gain on embedded options

19,030

 

29,630

 

Interest income - bank deposits

5,017

 

5,761

12,851

 

17,338

Net foreign exchange gain arising from derivative instruments - unrealized

1,307

6,985

Net foreign exchange gain arising from financing - realized

378

 

 

Fair value gain on interest rate caps

 

62

230

 

475

Net foreign exchange gain arising from derivative instruments - realized

 

 

420

Finance income

25,732

 

5,823

49,696

 

18,233

Net foreign exchange loss arising from financing - unrealized

236,028

 

128,087

1,779,460

 

1,281,497

Interest expenses - third party loans

85,503

 

95,500

257,425

 

270,491

Interest and finance charges paid/payable for lease liabilities

17,002

 

16,121

51,110

 

47,323

Interest expense - withholding tax paid on bond interest

4,625

 

4,233

11,771

 

10,974

Net foreign exchange loss on derivative instruments - realized

2,855

23,209

Fees on loans and financial derivatives

2,485

 

6,462

10,402

 

12,395

Unwinding of discount on decommissioning liability

2,293

 

2,360

6,831

 

6,941

Fair value loss on interest caps

34

Net foreign exchange loss arising from financing - realized

 

10,325

22,949

 

117,377

Fair value loss on embedded options

 

5,260

 

4,510

Net foreign exchange loss on derivative instruments - unrealized

3,247

65,356

Finance costs

350,825

 

271,595

2,163,157

 

1,816,864

Net finance costs

325,093

 

265,772

2,113,461

 

1,798,631

(1) Revised to reflect an adjustment related to the accounting treatment of foreign exchange on goods in transit in Nigeria (see note 21).

Overall, our Finance Income and Costs are typically driven by foreign exchange movements arising on our commercial bank loans, intercompany loans and letters of credit denominated in U.S. dollars at the subsidiary level as a result of loan revaluations in local functional currency at period ends. In addition, these changes also arise on commercial bank loans and intercompany loans denominated in foreign currency at the group level as a result of loan revaluations in local functional currency at period ends.

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Net finance costs for the third quarter of 2024 increased by $59.3 million. The primary driver for the increase was due to the net foreign exchange losses arising from financing (realized and unrealized) of $97.2 million which was due to movements in NGN. This was partially offset by an increase in the net gain on the fair value of embedded options of $24.3 million which is driven by the increase in the market value of the Existing 2027 Senior Notes which increased the value of the embedded call options within these notes.

Net finance costs for the year-to-date increased by $314.8 million which was primarily driven by the increase in net foreign exchange losses arising from financing (realized and unrealized) of $403.5 million due to movements in the NGN. This was partially offset by an increase in the net gain on foreign exchange arising from derivative instruments (realized and unrealized) of $48.7 million primarily due to the contractual rate resets on the NGN foreign exchange swaps. The net increase in finance costs was further reduced by the net gain on the fair value of embedded options of $34.1 million as a result of the movements in the embedded call options within our Existing 2027 Senior Notes discussed above.

INCOME TAX (BENEFIT)/EXPENSE

The table below shows our income tax expense for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

    

Three months ended

    

Nine months ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2024

    

2023

    

2024

    

2023

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Current taxes

 

2,473

 

28,567

 

45,109

 

91,484

Deferred income taxes

 

3,924

 

(11,908)

 

(4,440)

 

(2,366)

Total taxes

 

6,397

 

16,659

 

40,669

 

89,118

The year-on-year decrease in current income tax expense for the third quarter of $26.1 million was primarily driven by a decrease in our Nigeria segment of $19.6 million.

The year-on-year decrease in current income tax expense for the year-to-date of $46.4 million was primarily driven by a decrease in our Nigeria segment of $41.4 million.

The year-on-year increase in deferred tax expense for the third quarter was primarily due to an increase in our Nigerian segment of $7.9 million and our SSA segment of $6.0 million.

The year-on-year increase in deferred tax credit for the year-to-date was primarily due to increase in deferred tax benefits in our Latam segments of $24.7 million, offset by our Nigeria and SSA segments of $13.3 million and $3.6 million, respectively.

OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND SIGNIFICANT JUDGMENTS AND ESTIMATES

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 are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Our critical accounting policies are described under the heading “Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates” in our 2023 Annual Report and the notes to the audited financial statements in our 2023 Annual Report. There were no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from those discussed in our Annual Report.

Refer to note 3 to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements that appear elsewhere in this report for further detail.

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For a summary of all of our significant accounting policies, see note 2 to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2024.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

New standards and interpretations not yet adopted are also disclosed in note 2.4 to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

60

EX-99.2 3 tmb-20240930xex99d2.htm EX-99.2
Graphic

Exhibit 99.2

Graphic

DATED 7 October 2024

Facilities Agreement

between

IHS Holding Limited

as Company

FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division)

as Coordinator

FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division)

as Bookrunner and Initial Mandated Lead Arranger

The Financial Institutions listed in Part 2 of Schedule 1

as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Lead Arrangers

The Financial Institutions listed in Part 1 of Schedule 1

as Original Lenders

Each Entity listed in Part 3 of Schedule 1

as Original Facility Guarantors

and

FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division)

as Facility Agent

White & Case LLP

PO Box 9705

ICD Brookfield Place

Al Mustaqbal Street

Dubai International Financial Centre

Dubai

United Arab Emirates


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Table of Contents

Page

1.

Definitions and Interpretation

1

2.

The Facilities

43

3.

Purpose

48

4.

Conditions of Utilisation

48

5.

Utilisation

48

6.

Repayment

50

7.

Prepayment and Cancellation

50

8.

Interest

57

9.

Interest Periods

58

10.

Changes to the Calculation of Interest

59

11.

Fees

61

12.

Tax Gross Up and Indemnities

61

13.

Increased Costs

70

14.

Other Indemnities

73

15.

Mitigation by the Lenders

75

16.

Guarantee and Indemnity

75

17.

Costs and Expenses

78

18.

Representations

79

19.

Information Undertakings

85

20.

Financial Covenants

89

21.

Stamping

92

22.

General Undertakings

92

23.

Events of Default

100

24.

Security

105

25.

Changes to the Lenders

108

26.

Restriction on Debt Purchase Transactions

114

27.

Changes to the Obligors

115

28.

Role of the Administrative Parties

116

29.

Application of Proceeds

131

30.

Conduct of Business by the Finance Parties

132

31.

Sharing among the Finance Parties

133

32.

Payment Mechanics

134

33.

Set-Off

137

34.

Notices

137

35.

Calculations and Certificates

140

(i)


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36.

Partial Invalidity

140

37.

Remedies and Waivers

140

38.

Amendments and Waivers

141

39.

Confidential Information

147

40.

Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations

151

41.

Counterparts

152

42.

Governing Law

152

43.

Enforcement

152

44.

Acknowledgement Regarding any Supported QFCS

154

45.

Contractual Recognition of Bail-In

155

Schedule 1

The Parties

156

Part 1

The Original Lenders

156

Part 2

The Arrangers

158

Part 3

The Original Facility Guarantors

159

Part 4

Form of QPP Certificate

160

Schedule 2

Conditions Precedent

161

Part 1

Conditions Precedent to Initial Utilisation

161

Part 2

Conditions Precedent Required to be Delivered by an Additional Guarantor

163

Schedule 3

Requests and Notice

165

Part 1

Form of Utilisation Request

165

Part 2

Selection Notice

167

Schedule 4

Form of Transfer Certificate

168

Schedule 5

Form of Assignment Agreement

172

Schedule 6

Form of Compliance Certificate

176

Schedule 7

Form of Increase Confirmation

177

Schedule 8

Form of Accession Letter

181

Schedule 9

Form of Resignation Letter

182

Schedule 10

Forms of Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction Notice

184

Part 1

Form of Notice on Entering into Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction

184

Part 2

Form of Notice on Termination of Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction/Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction Ceasing to be with Sponsor Affiliate

185

Schedule 11

Existing Security

186

Schedule 12

Existing Guarantees

189

Schedule 13

Timetables

191

Schedule 14

Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facilities

192

Schedule 15

Acceptable Banks

193

Schedule 16

White List

196

Schedule 17

Published Rate Contingency Periods

198

(ii)


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This Facilities Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated 7 October 2024

Between:

(1)

IHS Holding Limited, an exempted company registered by way of continuation in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and having its registered office at 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1 – 9008, Cayman Islands under the registration number 382000 (the “Company”);

(2)

FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division) as Coordinator (in this capacity, the “Coordinator”);

(3)

FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division) as bookrunner and initial mandated lead arranger (in this capacity the “Bookrunner and Initial Mandated Lead Arranger”);

(4)

The Financial Institutions listed in Part 2 of Schedule 1 (The Arrangers) with such title as mandated lead arrangers (in this capacity the “Mandated Lead Arrangers”);

(5)

The Financial Institutions listed in Part 2 of Schedule 1 (The Arrangers) with such title as lead arrangers (in this capacity the “Lead Arrangers” and, together with the Coordinator, the Bookrunner and Initial Mandated Lead Arranger and the Mandated Lead Arrangers, the “Arrangers”);

(6)

The Financial Institutions listed in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (The Parties) as original lenders (in this capacity, the “Original Lenders”);

(7)

Each Entity listed in Part 3 of Schedule 1 (The Original Facility Guarantors) as the original facility guarantors (the “Original Facility Guarantors”); and

(8)

FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division) as facility agent (in this capacity, the “Facility Agent”).

It is agreed as follows:

1.

Definitions and Interpretation

1.1

Definitions

In this Agreement:

“2026 Notes” means the USD 500,000,000 5.625% senior notes, with a maturity date of 29 November 2026, issued by the Company pursuant to the terms of the IHS Holding Senior Notes Indenture.

“2027 Notes” means the USD 940,000,000 8.0% senior notes, with a maturity date of 18 September 2027, issued by Holdco pursuant to the terms of the 2027 Notes Indenture, together with any additional notes issued from time to time under the 2027 Notes Indenture entered into by Holdco as issuer.

“2027 Notes Indenture” means the senior notes indenture dated 18 September 2019 in connection with the 2027 Notes between, among others, Holdco as issuer and Citibank, N.A., London Branch as trustee, principal paying agent, transfer agent and registrar, as amended and supplemented by a first supplemental indenture dated 17 June 2021 between, among others, Holdco as issuer and Citibank, N.A., London Branch as trustee, principal paying agent, transfer agent and registrar and as amended and supplemented from time to time.


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“2028 Notes” means the USD 500,000,000 6.250% senior notes, with a maturity date of 29 November 2028, issued by the Company pursuant to the terms of the IHS Holding Senior Notes Indenture.

“Acceptable Bank” means:

(a)

a bank or financial institution which has a long term unsecured credit rating of at least BBB by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or Fitch Ratings Ltd or at least Baa2 by Moody’s Investors Service Limited or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency;

(b)

each bank or financial institution as set out in Schedule 15 (Acceptable Banks);

(c)

the Lenders and/or their Affiliates (other than (i) any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender that is a Sponsor Affiliate and (ii) any Lender that notifies the Facility Agent and the Company that it may not act as an Acceptable Bank);

(d)

each bank or financial institution (other than any Sponsor Affiliate) that is a lender under any debt facility provided to any member of the Group;

(e)

each bank or financial institution (other than any Sponsor Affiliate) that either (i) becomes a lender under a debt financing to be provided to a Subsidiary of the Company to fund a Permitted Acquisition or (ii) is providing banking facilities to a Subsidiary of the Company acquired by way of a Permitted Acquisition, in each case for a period of 12 months following the closing date of the relevant Permitted Acquisition; or

(f)

any other bank or financial institution approved by the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders) from time to time.

“Accession Letter” means a document substantially in the form set out in Schedule 8 (Form of Accession Letter), with any amendments the Facility Agent and the Company may agree.

“Accounting Reference Date” means 31 December or such other date agreed in accordance with this Agreement.

“Additional Guarantor” means a company which becomes an Additional Guarantor in accordance with Clause 27.2 (Additional Guarantors).

“Administrative Party” means an Arranger or an Agent.

“Affiliate” means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company.

“Agent” means the Facility Agent or the Security Agent.

“Annual Financial Statements” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 19.1 (Financial Statements).

“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules and regulations from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption, including but not limited to the UK Bribery Act 2010, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (as amended) and all other anti-bribery and corruption laws, in each case applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries.

“Approved Jurisdiction” means any state which is a member state of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Cayman Islands or Mauritius.

“Article 55 BRRD” means Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms.

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“Assignment Agreement” means an agreement substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5 (Form of Assignment Agreement) or any other form agreed between the relevant assignor and assignee.

“Auditors” means any firm appointed by the Company to act as its statutory auditors.

“Authorisation” means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, permit, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration.

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the date falling six months from the date of this Agreement.

“Available Commitment” means, in relation to a Facility, a Lender’s Commitment under that Facility minus:

(a)

the Base Currency Amount of its participation in any outstanding Loans under that Facility; and

(b)

in relation to any proposed Utilisation, the Base Currency Amount of its participation in any other Loans that are due to be made under that Facility on or before the proposed Utilisation Date.

“Available Facility” means the aggregate for the time being of each Lender’s Available Commitment.

“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers.

“Bail-In Legislation” means:

(a)

in relation to an EEA Member Country which has implemented, or which at any time implements, Article 55 BRRD, the relevant implementing law or regulation as described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time;

(b)

in relation to the United Kingdom, the UK Bail-In Legislation; and

(c)

in relation to any state other than such an EEA Member Country and the United Kingdom, any analogous law or regulation from time to time which requires contractual recognition of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers contained in that law or regulation.

“Base Currency” means USD.

“Base Currency Amount” means:

(a)

in relation to an undrawn Commitment, the Base Currency amount of that Commitment and in relation to a Loan, the amount specified in the Utilisation Request for that Loan as adjusted to reflect any repayment, prepayment or consolidation of a Loan; and

(b)

for any other purpose:

(i)

in relation to an amount in the Base Currency, that amount; or

(ii)

in relation to an amount not in the Base Currency, the USD equivalent amount for that amount,

provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any reference to an amount being an “equivalent” to an amount in the Base Currency shall imply a conversion at a rate and on the basis contemplated by this definition “Base Currency Amount”.

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“Blocking Law” means:

(a)

Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/1996 of 22 November 1996 or the EU Blocking Regulation and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1101 and/or any applicable national law or regulation relating to or implementing such Regulation in any member state of the European Union or the United Kingdom; and

(b)

any similar and applicable anti-boycott law or regulation issued by a Sanctions Authority.

“Bond Obligor” means an Original Bond Obligor or a Subsequent Bond Obligor.

“Break Costs” means the amount (if any) by which:

(a)

the interest (excluding Margin) which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in a Loan or Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that Loan or Unpaid Sum, had the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period;

exceeds:

(b)

the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received by it on deposit with a leading bank for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current Interest Period.

“Bridge Facility” means any bridge financing on customary market terms and for the sole purpose of funding a Permitted Acquisition, with a tenor not exceeding 24 months and that is repaid or refinanced within 24 months of incurrence.

“Business Day” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in Amsterdam, Lagos, London, Johannesburg, Mauritius and the Cayman Islands and;

(a)

(in relation to any date for payment or purchase of USD), New York;

(b)

(at any time in relation to any date on which action must be taken by a Lender with its Facility Office in South Africa), Johannesburg; and

(c)

(in relation to the fixing of an interest rate) which is a US Government Securities Business Day.

“Cash” means, at any time, any cash-in-hand and any credit balance on any deposit, savings, current or other account to which, in each case, a member of the Group (and only that member of the Group or other members of the Group) is beneficially entitled and for so long as that cash is:

(a)

except for a maximum aggregate amount for the Group of USD 20,000,000 (twenty million dollars) or its equivalent, held with an Acceptable Bank;

(b)

available to be freely withdrawn within 90 days;

(c)

not subject to any Security, other than:

(i)

the Security created under the Security Documents;

(ii)

charges arising solely by operation of law;

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(iii)

rights of set-off or netting or charges or pledge rights arising by operation of law or by contract by virtue of the provision to that member of the Group of clearing bank or similar facilities or overdraft facilities and arising under the standard commercial terms and conditions of such bank;

(iv)

encumbrances over credit balances on bank accounts to facilitate operation of such bank accounts on a cash-pooled net balance basis and arising under that account bank’s standard terms in the ordinary course of trading or business activities of that member of the Group; or

(v)

Security in respect of Financial Indebtedness to the extent such Financial Indebtedness is included for the purposes of calculating Net Cash Finance Interest Adjusted for Leases or Net Financial Indebtedness; and

(d)

capable of being applied or made available for application in repayment or prepayment of the Facilities or any other Financial Indebtedness included within the calculation of Net Cash Finance Interest Adjusted For Leases or Net Financial Indebtedness, within the next 180 days,

and, for the avoidance of doubt, not including any cash affected by any process referred to in Clause 23.10 (Creditors’ Process or Expropriation).

“Cash Equivalent Investments” means at any time:

(a)

certificates of deposit maturing within one year after the relevant date of calculation and issued by an Acceptable Bank;

(b)

any investment in marketable debt obligations issued or guaranteed by the government of any country in which any member of the Group is located or by any government of any other country which has a rating for its short-term unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of A-1 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or F1 or higher by Fitch Ratings Ltd or P-1 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service Limited or by an instrumentality or agency of any such government having an equivalent credit rating, maturing within one year after the relevant date of calculation and not convertible or exchangeable to any other security;

(c)

commercial paper not convertible or exchangeable to any other security:

(i)

for which a recognised trading market exists;

(ii)

issued by an issuer incorporated in a country, the government of which has a rating for its short-term unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of A-1 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or P-1 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service Limited or by an instrumentality or agency of any such government having an equivalent credit rating;

(iii)

which matures within one year after the relevant date of calculation; and

(iv)

which has a credit rating of either A-1 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or F1 or higher by Fitch Ratings Ltd or P-1 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service Limited, or, if no rating is available in respect of the commercial paper, the issuer of which has, in respect of its short-term unsecured and non-credit enhanced debt obligations, an equivalent rating;

(d)

bills of exchange issued in Nigeria, the Cayman Islands, the United States of America or any state thereof, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, any member state of the European Economic Area or any Participating Member State or any country in which

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any member of the Group is located, eligible for rediscount at the relevant central bank and accepted by an Acceptable Bank (or their dematerialised equivalent);

(e)

any investment in money market funds which (i) have a credit rating of either A-1 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or F1 or higher by Fitch Ratings Ltd or P-1 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service Limited, (ii) invest substantially all their assets in securities of the types described in paragraphs (a) to (d) above and (iii) can be turned into cash on not more than 90 days’ notice; or

(f)

any other debt security approved by the Majority Lenders,

in each case to which a member of the Group (and only that member of the Group or other members of the Group) is beneficially entitled at that time and which is not issued or guaranteed by a member of the Group or subject to any Security other than:

(i)

Security created under the Security Documents;

(ii)

charges arising solely by operation of law in the ordinary course of trading or business activities of any member of the Group; or

(iii)

Security in respect of Financial Indebtedness to the extent such Financial Indebtedness is included for the purposes of calculating Net Financial Indebtedness.

“Code” means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

“Commitment” means a Facility A Commitment or, as the case may be, a Facility B Commitment.

“Company Shareholder Loan” means each loan to the Company by any of the Company’s direct or indirect shareholders or any of their Affiliates which is subordinated to the claims of the Finance Parties under this Agreement pursuant to the Subordination Agreement or otherwise on terms satisfactory to the Majority Lenders.

“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 6 (Form of Compliance Certificate), with any amendments the Facility Agent and the Company may agree.

“Confidential Information” means all information relating to the Company, the Group, the Finance Documents or a Facility of which a Finance Party becomes aware in its capacity as, or for the purpose of becoming, a Finance Party or which is received by a Finance Party in relation to, or for the purpose of becoming a Finance Party under, the Finance Documents or a Facility from either:

(a)

any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or

(b)

another Finance Party, if the information was obtained by that Finance Party directly or indirectly from any member of the Group or any of its advisers,

in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes:

(i)

information that:

(A)

is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Finance Party of Clause 39 (Confidential Information);

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(B)

is identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or

(C)

is known by that Finance Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with paragraphs (a) or (b) above or is lawfully obtained by that Finance Party after that date, from a source which is, as far as that Finance Party is aware, unconnected with the Group and which, in either case, as far as that Finance Party is aware, has not been obtained in breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality; and

(ii)

any Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation.

“Confidentiality Undertaking” means, at any time, a confidentiality undertaking substantially in the then current recommended form of the Loan Market Association or in any other form agreed between the Company and the Facility Agent.

“CTA” means the Corporation Tax Act 2009.

“Debt Purchase Transaction” means, in relation to a person, a transaction where such person:

(a)

purchases by way of assignment or transfer;

(b)

enters into any sub-participation in respect of; or

(c)

enters into any other agreement or arrangement having an economic effect substantially similar to a sub-participation in respect of,

any Commitment or amount outstanding under this Agreement.

“Default” means:

(a)

an Event of Default; or

(b)

an event or circumstance specified in Clause 23 (Events of Default) which would (with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of any of them) be an Event of Default.

“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender:

(a)

which has failed to make its participation in a Loan available or has notified the Facility Agent that it will not make its participation in a Loan available by the Utilisation Date of that Loan in accordance with Clause 5.4 (Lenders’ Participation);

(b)

which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or

(c)

with respect to which an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing,

unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:

(i)

its failure to pay is caused by:

(A)

administrative or technical error; or

(B)

a Disruption Event; and

(ii)

payment is made within three Business Days of its due date; or

(iii)

the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question.

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“Delegate” means any delegate, agent, attorney, co-trustee or co-agent appointed by the Security Agent or any Receiver.

“Disruption Event” means either or both of:

(a)

a material disruption to the payment or communications systems or to the financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with a Facility (or otherwise in order for the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out), provided that the disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or

(b)

the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing that, or any other Party:

(i)

from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or

(ii)

from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents,

and which (in either case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted.

“Dutch Civil Code” means the Burgerlijk Wetboek of the Netherlands.

“EBITDA” has the meaning given to it in Clause 20.1 (Financial Definitions).

“EEA Member Country” means any member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

“Environmental Claim” means any claim, proceeding, formal notice or investigation by any person in respect of the Performance Standards.

“Equity Offering” means a public offering or a private placement of the ordinary shares or common equity of the Company or Holding Company of the Company.

“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the document described as such and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person) from time to time.

“Event of Default” means any event or circumstance specified as such in Clause 23 (Events of Default).

“Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility” means:

(a)

any debt facility provided by any person that is not a member of the Group to any Material Subsidiary on arm’s length terms (excluding any loan made by any direct or indirect shareholder of the Company (in its capacity as such) or any overdraft facility), that is in existence as at the date of this Agreement, as set out in Schedule 14 (Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facilities); or

(b)

any debt facility that refinances any of the debt facilities referred to in paragraph (a) above (other than any loan made by any direct or indirect shareholder of the Company (in its capacity as such) or any overdraft facility) and whose terms are in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, but excluding (for the avoidance of doubt) the Senior Notes; or

(c)

a Nigeria Group Credit Facility.

“Facility” means Facility A or Facility B and “Facilities” means both.

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“Facility A” means the USD term loan facility made available under this Agreement as described in paragraph (a) of Clause 2.1 (The Facilities).

“Facility A Commitment” means, in relation to:

(a)

an Original Lender, the dollar amount set opposite its name under the heading “Facility A Commitment” in Schedule 1 (The Parties) and the amount of any other Facility A Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase) or Clause 2.3 (Facility Increase); and

(b)

any other Lender, the dollar amount of any Facility A Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase) or Clause 2.3 (Facility Increase),

to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

“Facility A Loan” means a loan made or to be made under Facility A or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan.

“Facility B” means the ZAR term loan facility made available under this Agreement as described in paragraph (b) of Clause 2.1 (The Facilities).

“Facility B Commitment” means, in relation to:

(a)

an Original Lender, the ZAR amount set opposite its name under the heading “Facility B Commitment” in Schedule 1 (The Parties) and the amount of any other Facility B Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase) or Clause 2.3 (Facility Increase); and

(b)

any other Lender, the ZAR amount of any Facility B Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase) or Clause 2.3 (Facility Increase),

to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

“Facility B Loan” means a loan made or to be made under Facility B or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan.

“Facility Increase Lender” has the meaning given to it in Clause 2.3 (Facility Increase).

“Facility Guarantor” means the Original Facility Guarantors and each Additional Guarantor that is not incorporated in Nigeria.

“Facility Office” means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Facility Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five Business Days’ written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement.

“Fallback Interest Period” means one month.

“FATCA” means:

(a)

sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations;

(b)

any treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of any law or regulation referred to in paragraph (a) above; or

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(c)

any agreement pursuant to the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction.

“FATCA Application Date” means:

(a)

in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1 July 2014; or

(b)

in relation to a “passthru payment” described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraph (a) above, the first date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA.

“FATCA Deduction” means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA.

“FATCA Exempt Party” means a Party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction.

“Fee Letter” means:

(a)

any letter entered into by reference to this Agreement between one or more Administrative Parties and the Company setting out the amount of any fees referred to in this Agreement; or

(b)

any letter entered into by reference to this Agreement between a Facility Increase Lender and the Company setting out the amount of any fees payable to that Facility Increase Lender.

“Finance Document” means:

(a)

this Agreement;

(b)

each Security Document;

(c)

the Nigeria Guarantee;

(d)

each Fee Letter;

(e)

the Subordination Agreement;

(f)

each Compliance Certificate;

(g)

each Utilisation Request;

(h)

each Increase Confirmation;

(i)

each Accession Letter;

(j)

each Resignation Letter;

(k)

each Selection Notice;

(l)

any other subordination agreement entered into in respect of any Permitted Financial Indebtedness; or

(m)

any other document designated as such by the Facility Agent and the Company.

“Finance Party” means a Lender or an Administrative Party.

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“Financial Indebtedness” means, with respect to any person (without double counting):

(a)

any indebtedness of such person for borrowed money;

(b)

the outstanding principal amount of any bonds, debentures, notes, loan stock, commercial paper, acceptance credits, bills or promissory notes drawn, accepted, endorsed or issued by such person (but not Trade Instruments);

(c)

any indebtedness of such person for the deferred purchase price of assets or services (except trade accounts incurred and payable in the ordinary course of trading or business activities to trade creditors that are treated as current payable in the Financial Statements within 365 days of the date they are incurred);

(d)

non-contingent obligations of such person to reimburse any other person for amounts paid by that person under a letter of credit or similar instrument (excluding any letter of credit or similar instrument issued for the account of such person with respect to trade accounts incurred and payable in the ordinary course of trading or business activities to trade creditors that are treated as current payable in the Financial Statements within 365 days of the date they are incurred);

(e)

the amount of any obligation of such person in respect of any Lease;

(f)

any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and, when calculating the value of any derivative transaction, only the marked to market value (or, if any actual amount is due as a result of the termination or close-out of that derivative transaction, that amount) will be taken into account);

(g)

amounts raised by such person under any other transaction having the financial effect of a borrowing and which would be classified as a borrowing under IFRS;

(h)

all indebtedness of the types described in the foregoing items secured by a lien on any property or assets owned by such person, whether or not such indebtedness has been assumed by such person;

(i)

any amount raised by the issue of shares which are redeemable (other than at the option of the issuer) before the Termination Date or are otherwise classified as borrowings under IFRS;

(j)

any repurchase obligation or liability of such person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such person, any liability of such person under any sale and leaseback transactions that do not create a liability on the balance sheet of such person, any obligation under a “synthetic lease” or any obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such person; and

(k)

the amount of any obligation in respect of any guarantee or indemnity given by such person for any of the foregoing items incurred by any other person (notwithstanding any treatment under IFRS to the contrary).

if and to the extent such relevant item (other than letters of credit) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of the relevant person, prepared in accordance with IFRS and provided that “Financial Indebtedness” shall not include indebtedness owed solely to other Group members and shall not include indebtedness arising under any Shareholder Loan.

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“Financial Plan” means the financial model delivered by the Company to the Facility Agent pursuant to Clause 4.1 (Initial Conditions Precedent), and as updated from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

“Financial Quarter” means the period commencing on the day after one Quarter Date and ending on the next Quarter Date.

“Financial Statements” means Annual Financial Statements and Quarterly Financial Statements.

“Financial Year” means the annual accounting period of the Company ending on the Accounting Reference Date in each year.

“Funding Rate” means any individual rate notified by a Lender to the Facility Agent pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Clause ‎10.5 (Cost of Funds).

“Group” means the Company and its Subsidiaries for the time being.

“Group Structure Chart” means the group structure chart provided to the Facility Agent pursuant to Clause 4.1 (Initial Conditions Precedent).

“Guarantor” means:

(a)

the Original Facility Guarantors;

(b)

the Original Nigeria Guarantors; and

(c)

each Additional Guarantor, unless it has ceased to be a Guarantor in accordance with Clause 27 (Changes to the Obligors).

“Guarantor Accession Date” means, in relation to any Subsequent Bond Obligor or member of the Nigeria Group, the date on which that Subsequent Bond Obligor or member of the Nigeria Group becomes an Additional Guarantor pursuant to Clause 22.24 (Conditions Subsequent).

“Historic Term SOFR” means, in relation to any Loan in dollars, the most recent applicable Term SOFR for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan and which is as of a day which is no more than two US Government Securities Business Days before the Quotation Day.

“Holdco” means IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V.

“Holding Company” means, in relation to a person, any other person in respect of which it is a Subsidiary.

“IFRS” means international accounting standards within the meaning of IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements.

“IHS Holding 2024 Term Facility” means the USD 270,000,000 term credit facility agreement dated 8 March 2024 between, amongst others, the Company and Standard Chartered Bank as facility agent.

“IHS Holding Senior Notes” means:

(a)

the 2026 Notes;

(b)

the 2028 Notes; and

(c)

any additional notes issued from time to time under the IHS Holding Senior Notes Indenture entered into by the Company as issuer.

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“IHS Holding Senior Notes Indenture” means the senior notes indenture dated 29 November 2021 in connection with the IHS Holding Senior Notes between, among others, the Company as issuer, Lucid Trustee Services Limited as trustee and Citibank N.A., London Branch as principal paying agent, transfer agent and registrar, as amended and supplemented from time to time.

“IHS Holding USD Term Facility” means the USD 600,000,000 term credit facility agreement dated 28 October 2022 between, amongst others, the Company and Citibank N.A., London Branch as facility agent.

“Impaired Agent” means the Facility Agent at any time when:

(a)

it has failed to make (or has notified a Party that it will not make) a payment required to be made by it under the Finance Documents by the due date for payment;

(b)

the Facility Agent otherwise rescinds or repudiates a Finance Document;

(c)

(if the Facility Agent is also a Lender) it is a Defaulting Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of Defaulting Lender; or

(d)

an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Facility Agent,

unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:

(i)

its failure to pay is caused by:

(A)

administrative or technical error; or

(B)

a Disruption Event; and

payment is made within three Business Days of its due date; or

(ii)

the Facility Agent is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question.

“Increase Confirmation” means a confirmation substantially in the form set out in Schedule 7 (Form of Increase Confirmation).

“Increase Lender” has the meaning given to it in Clause 2.2 (Increase).

“Increased Costs” has the meaning given to it in Clause 13 (Increased Costs).

“Insolvency Event” in relation to an entity means that the entity:

(a)

is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

(b)

becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(c)

makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors;

(d)

institutes or has instituted against it, by a regulator, supervisor or any similar official with primary insolvency, rehabilitative or regulatory jurisdiction over it in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organisation or the jurisdiction of its head or home office, a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation by it or such regulator, supervisor or similar official;

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(e)

has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation, and, in the case of any such proceeding or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition is instituted or presented by a person or entity not described in paragraph (d) above and:

(i)

results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its winding-up or liquidation; or

(ii)

is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within 30 days of the institution or presentation thereof;

(f)

has exercised in respect of it one or more of the stabilisation powers pursuant to Part 1 of the Banking Act 2009 and/or has instituted against it a bank insolvency proceeding pursuant to Part 2 of the Banking Act 2009 or a bank administration proceeding pursuant to Part 3 of the Banking Act 2009;

(g)

has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

(h)

seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets (other than, for so long as it is required by law or regulation not to be publicly disclosed, any such appointment which is to be made, or is made, by a person or entity described in paragraph (d) above);

(i)

has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within 30 days thereafter;

(j)

causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (a) to (i) above; or

(k)

takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts.

“Interest Period” means each period determined under this Agreement by reference to which interest on a Loan or an Unpaid Sum is calculated.

“Interpolated Reference Rate” means, in relation to any Loan, the rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as Term SOFR (in respect of a Loan in dollars) or JIBAR (in respect of a Loan in ZAR) which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:

(a)

the applicable Term SOFR (in respect of a Loan in dollars) or JIBAR (in respect of a Loan in ZAR) for the longest period (for which such rate is available) which is less than the Interest Period of that Loan; and

(b)

the applicable Term SOFR (in respect of a Loan in dollars) or JIBAR (in respect of a Loan in ZAR) for the shortest period (for which such rate is available) which exceeds the Interest Period of that Loan,

each as of the Specified Time for the currency of that Loan.

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“ITNG” means IHS Towers NG Limited (formerly known as Helios Towers Nigeria Limited), a company incorporated under the laws of Nigeria, with registration number 448308, and having its registered office at Plot 935, Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

“JIBAR” means the mid market rate for deposits in ZAR for the relevant period, before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator, which appears on the Reuters Screen SAFEY Page alongside the caption “YIELD” at the applicable time (or any replacement Reuters page which displays that rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Reuters). If such page or service ceases to be available, the Facility Agent may specify another page or service displaying the appropriate rate after consultation with the Company.

“Joint Venture” means any joint venture entity, whether a company, unincorporated firm, undertaking, association, joint venture, partnership or any other entity.

“Lease” means any lease which would, in accordance with IFRS, be treated as a lease liability.

“Legal Opinion” means any legal opinion delivered to the Facility Agent under Clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent) or Clause 27 (Changes to the Obligors).

“Legal Reservations” means:

(a)

the principle that certain remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of the court, the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, court schemes, moratoria, administration and other laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and secured creditors;

(b)

the time barring of claims under applicable limitation laws (including the Limitation Acts) and defences of acquiescence, set-off or counterclaim and the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for or to indemnify a person against non-payment of stamp duty may be void;

(c)

the principle that in certain circumstances Security granted by way of fixed charge may be recharacterised as a floating charge or that Security purported to be constituted as an assignment may be recharacterised as a charge;

(d)

the principle that the creation or purported creation of Security over any contract or agreement which is subject to a prohibition on transfer, assignment or charging may be void, ineffective or invalid and may give rise to a breach of the contract or agreement over which Security has purportedly been created;

(e)

the principle that additional interest imposed pursuant to any relevant agreement may be held to be unenforceable on the grounds that it is a penalty and thus void;

(f)

similar principles, rights and defences under the laws of any relevant jurisdiction; and

(g)

any other matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations (however described) as to matters of law in any Legal Opinion.

“Lender” means:

(a)

an Original Lender; or

(b)

any bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which has become a Party as a Lender in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase), Clause 2.3 (Facility Increase) or Clause 25 (Changes to the Lenders),

which, in each case, has not ceased to be a Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

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“Limitation Acts” means the Limitation Act 1980 and the Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984.

“Loan” means a Facility A Loan or a Facility B Loan.

“Majority Lenders” means, at any time, a Lender or Lenders:

(a)

whose participation in the outstanding Loans and whose Available Commitments then aggregate 66⅔% or more of the aggregate of all the outstanding Loans and the Available Commitments of all the Lenders;

(b)

if there is no Loan then outstanding, whose Commitments then aggregate 66⅔% or more of the Total Commitments; or

(c)

if there is no Loan then outstanding and the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, whose Commitments aggregated 66⅔% or more of the Total Commitments immediately before the reduction.

“Majority USD Lenders” means a Lender or Lenders whose Facility A Commitments aggregate more than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66⅔%) of the Total Facility A Commitments (or, if the Total Facility A Commitments have been reduced to zero (0), aggregated more than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66⅔%) of the Total Facility A Commitments immediately prior to the reduction).

“Majority ZAR Lenders” means a Lender or Lenders whose Facility B Commitments aggregate more than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66⅔%) of the Total Facility B Commitments (or, if the Total Facility B Commitments have been reduced to zero (0), aggregated more than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66⅔%) of the Total Facility B Commitments immediately prior to the reduction).

“Margin” means 4.50 % per annum.

“Market Capitalisation” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock or common equity interests of a relevant issuer of an “Equity Offering” (as defined in the IHS Holding Senior Notes Indenture) on the date of the declaration of the relevant dividend multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common stock or common equity interests for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such dividend.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on:

(a)

the business, operations, assets or financial condition of (i) the Company or (ii) the Group taken as a whole;

(b)

the ability of the Obligors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Finance Documents or the ability of the Company to comply with its obligations under Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) (and, for the purposes of determining the ability of the Company to comply with its obligations under Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) taking into account any contractual commitment of any Affiliate of the Company (other than a member of the Group) to provide an Additional Investment under Clause 20.4 (Equity Cure)); or

(c)

subject to the Legal Reservations and Perfection Requirements, the validity or enforceability of, or the effectiveness or ranking of any Security granted or purported to be granted pursuant to any of, the Finance Documents or the rights or remedies of any Finance Party under any of the Finance Documents.

“Material Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Company the gross assets, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as EBITDA) or turnover of which accounts for at least 5% of the gross assets, EBITDA or turnover of the Group (the “Material Subsidiary Test”), provided that:

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(a)

subject to paragraph (ix) below, the contribution of a Subsidiary of the Company will be determined from its financial statements which were consolidated into the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company;

(b)

the financial condition of the Group will be determined from the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company;

(c)

if a Subsidiary of the Company becomes a member of the Group after the date on which the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company were prepared:

(i)

the contribution of that Subsidiary will be determined from its latest financial statements; and

(ii)

the financial condition of the Group will be determined from the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company but adjusted to take into account any subsequent acquisition or disposal of a business or a company (including that Subsidiary);

(d)

subject to paragraph (ix) below, the contribution of a Subsidiary will, if it has Subsidiaries, be determined from its consolidated financial statements;

(e)

if a Material Subsidiary disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to another member of the Group, it will immediately cease to be a Material Subsidiary and the other member of the Group (if it is not the Company or already a Material Subsidiary) will immediately become a Material Subsidiary;

(f)

if a Material Subsidiary disposes of all or a material part of its assets to a person that is not a member of the Group, the Material Subsidiaries will be determined based on the most recent financial statements referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii) (or, if applicable paragraph (iii)) above with a pro forma adjustment applied to take account of such disposal;

(g)

a Subsidiary of the Company (if it is not already a Material Subsidiary) will become a Material Subsidiary on completion of any other intra-Group transfer or reorganisation if it would have been a Material Subsidiary had the intra-Group transfer or reorganisation occurred on the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company;

(h)

except as specifically mentioned in paragraph (v) above, a member of the Group will remain a Material Subsidiary until the next audited consolidated financial statements of the Company delivered to the Facility Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) of Clause 19.1 (Financial Statements) show otherwise;

(i)

any Subsidiary of the Company (a “Relevant Subsidiary”) that is itself a Holding Company and which has no operations and does not undertake or carry on any business other than the ownership of shares in a Subsidiary or activities consequential on, or incidental to, its role as a Holding Company, will not be a Material Subsidiary, unless:

(i)

such Relevant Subsidiary is a borrower of Financial Indebtedness in excess of USD 10,000,000 (or the equivalent in any other currency) which is provided by a creditor that is not a member of the Group; and

(ii)

the Material Subsidiary Test is met in relation to it,

provided further that any Relevant Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary solely as a result of the application of this paragraph (ix) will be deemed to be a “Material Subsidiary” for the purposes of Clause 22.9 (Negative Pledge), Clause 22.10 (Disposals) and Clause 22.19 (Loans or Credit); and

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(j)

any Subsidiary of the Company incorporated in Rwanda or Zambia shall not, at any time, constitute a Material Subsidiary unless, after the date of this Agreement:

(i)

a Material Subsidiary or other Subsidiary of the Company (other than a Subsidiary of the Company that is incorporated in Rwanda or Zambia as at the date of this Agreement) transfers sufficient assets, business or undertakings to the relevant Subsidiary incorporated in Zambia or Rwanda (as applicable) and that Subsidiary satisfies the Material Subsidiary Test; or

(ii)

the relevant Subsidiary of the Company incorporated in Rwanda or Zambia ceases to operate all or substantially all of its business, or all or substantially all of its assets and undertaking cease to be situated, in each case within its jurisdiction of incorporation (where such business, assets or undertaking is instead located in a different jurisdiction).

If there is a dispute as to whether or not a member of the Group is a Material Subsidiary, a certificate of the Auditors is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive.

“Material Subsidiary Event of Default” means:

(a)

an event of default (however defined or described) under any document evidencing Financial Indebtedness of an Original Material Subsidiary or a Material Subsidiary where the aggregate principal amount outstanding of that Financial Indebtedness is equal to or more than USD 75,000,000 (or the equivalent in any other currency);

(b)

an Event of Default that would arise under Clause 23.5 (Misrepresentation) in respect of paragraph (c) of Clause 18.2 (Status) if the references in that Clause 23.5 (Misrepresentation) to an Obligor were references to a Material Subsidiary; or

(c)

an Event of Default that would arise under Clause 23.8 (Insolvency) to Clause 23.11 (Cessation of Business) (inclusive), Clause 23.15 (Failure to Comply with Court Judgment) and Clause 23.16 (Litigation) if, in each case, the references in such Clauses to the Company (or, as applicable, an Obligor) were references to a Material Subsidiary (other than a Guarantor) provided that:

(i)

(insofar as such Clause refers to a Material Subsidiary by virtue of this paragraph) the reference in Clause 23.15 (Failure to Comply with Court Judgment) to “having a value of at least USD 75,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency)” shall be deemed instead to be a reference to “which has or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect”; and

(ii)

where the term Permitted Reorganisation is used in such Clauses, the references in the definition of Permitted Reorganisation to the Company shall be deemed to include references to a Material Subsidiary (other than a Guarantor) and shall be subject to the condition that the relevant Permitted Reorganisation would not result in, or be reasonably likely to result in, the occurrence of a Material Subsidiary Event of Default.

“Money Laundering Laws” means money laundering laws, rules and regulations from time to time, in each case applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries.

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“Month” means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, except that:

(a)

(subject to paragraph (c) (below)) if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, that period will end on the next Business Day in the calendar month in which that period is to end if there is one, or if there is not, on the immediately preceding Business Day;

(b)

if there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which that period is to end, that period will end on the last Business Day in that calendar month;

(c)

if an Interest Period begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month, that Interest Period will end on the last Business Day in the calendar month in which that Interest Period is to end.

The rules above will only apply to the last Month of any period.

“New Lender” has the meaning given to it in Clause 25 (Changes to the Lenders).

“New Shareholder Injections” means the net cash proceeds received by the Company after the first Utilisation Date from any of the Company’s direct or indirect shareholders from any subscription by that shareholder in cash for shares of the Company or capital contribution to the Company that does not result in the occurrence of a Change of Control.

“Nigeria” means the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Nigeria Guarantee” means the English law governed guarantee agreement dated on or around the date of this Agreement, between each Original Nigeria Guarantor each as an original Nigeria guarantor, the Company and the Facility Agent.

“Nigeria Guarantor” means:

(a)each Original Nigeria Guarantor; and

(b)

each other member of the Nigeria Group that is incorporated in Nigeria and which is an Additional Guarantor.

“Nigeria Group” means IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V. and its Subsidiaries from time to time.

“Nigeria Group Credit Facility” means:

(a)

the up to NGN 165,000,000,000 term credit facility agreement dated on 3 January 2023 between, amongst others, each of IHS (Nigeria) Limited, INT Towers Limited and ITNG as borrowers, Ecobank Nigeria Limited as agent and each of the financial institutions named therein as original lenders, as amended from time to time; and

(b)

the up to NGN 55,000,000,000 revolving credit facility agreement dated on 3 January 2023 between, amongst others, each of IHS (Nigeria) Limited, INT Towers Limited and ITNG as borrowers, Ecobank Nigeria Limited as agent and each of the financial institutions named therein as original lenders, as amended from time to time.

“Nigeria Obligor” means each Obligor incorporated in Nigeria.

“Nigeria Shareholder Loan” means any loan made by the Company, IHS Netherlands (Interco) Coöperatief U.A. or an Affiliate of the Company (other than any member of the Nigeria Group) to any of IHS (Nigeria) Limited, IHS Towers NG Limited, INT Towers Limited or Holdco which is subordinated to the claims of the Finance Parties under this Agreement pursuant to the Subordination Agreement or otherwise on terms satisfactory to the Majority Lenders.

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“Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender who does not and continues not to consent or agree to a waiver or amendment where:

(a)

the Company or the Facility Agent (at the request of the Company) has requested the Lenders to give a consent in relation to, or to agree to a waiver or amendment of, any provisions of the Finance Documents;

(b)

the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the approval of all the Lenders; and

(c)

the Majority Lenders have consented or agreed to such waiver or amendment.

“Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction” has the meaning given to that term in paragraph (b) of Clause 26.2 (Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions Entered into by Affiliates).

“Obligor” means the Company and each Guarantor.

“Obligors’ Agent” means the Company, appointed to act on behalf of each Obligor in relation to the Finance Documents pursuant to Clause 2.5 (Obligors’ Agent).

“Original Bond Obligor” means a member of the Group that issues the Senior Notes or is a guarantor of the Senior Notes as at the date of issuance of the Senior Notes.

“Original Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for its financial year ended 31 December 2023.

“Original Material Subsidiary” means each of IHS (Nigeria) Limited, INT Towers Limited, ITNG, IHS Cameroon S.A., IHS Côte d’Ivoire S.A., IHS Towers South Africa Proprietary Limited, IHS Brasil – Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A. and I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A..

“Original Nigeria Guarantor” means each of IHS Towers NG Limited, IHS (Nigeria) Limited, INT Towers Limited and INT Towers NG Finco 1 Plc.

“Original Obligor” means the Company, each Original Facility Guarantor and each Original Nigeria Guarantor.

“Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Union that has the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

“Party” means a party to this Agreement.

“Perfection Requirements” means the making or the procuring of the necessary registrations, acknowledgements of registration, filing, endorsements, notations in stock registries (accompanied by any necessary certifications), notarisation, stampings and/or notifications of the Security Documents and/or the Security created thereunder in each case necessary for the perfection, priority, validity, enforceability and admissibility of the Security created under the Security Documents.

“Performance Standards” means the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards on Social & Environmental Sustainability, effective 1 January 2012.

“Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition:

(a)

pursuant to a Permitted Reorganisation or Permitted Transaction;

(b)

to which the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) has given prior written consent;

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(c)

of assets, a person, of shares, securities or a business or undertaking (or, in each case, any interest in any of them) or the incorporation of a company (or purchase of shares in a shelf company) for the purpose of effecting such acquisition, but only if:

(i)

no (A) Default is continuing or (B) mandatory prepayment event under Clause 7.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Sanctions Etc.) has occurred and either the 15 Business Day period or 20 day notice period referred to in paragraph (c) of Clause 7.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Sanctions Etc.) has not expired in relation to any Lender, in each case, on the date on which the relevant member of the Group enters into a legal commitment for that acquisition or is incorporated, or is reasonably likely to occur as a result of that acquisition or that legal incorporation;

(ii)

without prejudice to Clause 22.4 (Sanctions), the assets the subject of the acquisition are not subject to Sanctions and the assets are not located in, nor does the person the subject of the acquisition carry out any of its business in, a Sanctioned Country at the time of the acquisition;

(iii)

subject to Clause 22.24 (Conditions Subsequent); if, upon the acquisition or incorporation of the relevant company it would become a member of the Nigeria Group, the relevant company becomes an Additional Guarantor in accordance with Clause 27.2 (Additional Guarantors); and

(iv)

in the case of an acquisition by a member of the Group of a person that would become a Material Subsidiary (or a Holding Company of such person) only, the relevant member of the Group has delivered to the Facility Agent, not later than the date falling 10 Business Days after the date on which the relevant member of the Group enters into a legal commitment for the relevant acquisition, an updated Financial Plan assuming completion of such acquisition on that date, for the period until the Termination Date from the date on which the relevant member of the Group enters into a legal commitment for such proposed acquisition, and the revised Financial Plan shows that the Company will not be in breach or default in respect of any of the financial covenants set out in Clause 20 (Financial Covenants) at any time during that period;

(d)

made between members of the Group;

(e)

pursuant to an issue of shares by a member of the Group (other than a member of the Nigeria Group) to another member of the Group, by a member of the Nigeria Group to another member of the Nigeria Group, or by the Company to the extent not giving rise to a Change of Control; and

(f)

comprising the acquisition of securities which are Cash Equivalent Investments.

“Permitted Disposal” means any sale, lease, transfer or disposal:

(a)

of assets by the Group in the ordinary course of trading or business activities;

(b)

between members of the Group (other than by a member of the Nigeria Group);

(c)

between members of the Nigeria Group;

(d)

of assets in exchange for other assets comparable or superior as to type, value or quality;

(e)

the decommissioning of any towers, including but not limited to in connection with tower consolidation purposes;

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(f)

of obsolete or redundant assets no longer required for the relevant person’s business;

(g)

of cash by way of a Permitted Loan;

(h)

of cash pursuant to Clause 22.18 (Dividends and Share Redemption) or a “Permitted Payment”;

(i)

of Cash Equivalent Investments for a comparable amount of cash or in exchange for a comparable amount of other Cash Equivalent Investments;

(j)

arising as a result of the creation of any Permitted Security, or (in the case of any member of the Group which is not an Obligor) the creation of any Security to the extent not prohibited by the terms of the Agreement, a Permitted Reorganisation or a Permitted Transaction;

(k)

of cash to the extent not otherwise prohibited by the terms of this Agreement;

(l)

constituted by a licence of intellectual property rights;

(m)

constituted by a licence or sub-licence in the ordinary course of trading or business activities;

(n)

constituted by a lease or licence of real property arising in the ordinary course of trading or business activities of the disposing entity;

(o)

any share sale or issuance by the Company, a Guarantor or a Material Subsidiary or share issuance by any member of the Group or arising as a result of such share sale or issuance;

(p)

arising as a result of the sale of towers, provided that such towers are replaced by towers with an aggregate fair market value that is equal to or greater than the aggregate fair market value of the towers sold;

(q)

of trade receivables earned during a previous accounting period on a non-recourse basis (which may include recourse in respect of warranties and indemnities as to title and validity that are customarily provided in such non-recourse arrangements) and provided that such transaction does not have the commercial effect of a borrowing;

(r)

arising as a result of the disposition of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of trading or business activities or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements;

(s)

arising as a result of a foreclosure, condemnation or any similar action with respect to any property or other assets or a surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

(t)

arising as a result of a seizure, expropriation, nationalisation, intervention, restriction or other action by or on behalf of any governmental, regulatory or other authority which in each case does not constitute (i) an Event of Default pursuant to Clause 23.10 (Creditors’ Process or Expropriation) or (ii) a mandatory prepayment event pursuant to Clause 7.3 (Mandatory Prepayment – Material Subsidiary Event of Default);

(u)

of treasury shares by any member of the Group that are held following the exercise, in each case on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis, of any option to purchase corporate stock, shares or membership interests granted to any future, present or former employee, director, officer, contractor or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to any employee benefit plans or arrangements, including for

22


Graphic

the purpose of satisfying any taxes (including estimated taxes) due as a result of the exercise of any such option;

(v)

by the Group (other than an Obligor or a Material Subsidiary) to the extent not otherwise restricted by the terms of this Agreement;

(w)

to a Joint Venture, to the extent permitted by Clause 22.12 (Joint Ventures); and

(x)

arising under any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a fair market value of less than the greater of USD 25,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) and an amount equal to zero point eight per cent. (0.8%) of Total Assets.

“Permitted Financial Indebtedness” means any Financial Indebtedness:

(a)

arising under the Finance Documents;

(b)

arising under a Nigeria Group Credit Facility;

(c)

arising under the Revolving Credit Facility;

(d)

arising under the IHS Holding 2024 Term Facility;

(e)

arising under the IHS Holding USD Term Facility;

(f)

arising under any commercial paper or bond issuance which is denominated in NGN, provided that the maximum principal amount of Financial Indebtedness arising under such instruments does not exceed NGN 800,000,000,000;

(g)

arising under any revolving credit facility or local term loan financing entered into in the ordinary course of business, in each case which is denominated in NGN, provided that the maximum aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness arising under such instruments does not exceed the NGN equivalent of USD 200,000,000 (calculated as at the date of entry into such relevant instrument);

(h)

arising under a Senior Notes Indenture;

(i)

arising under a Permitted Loan or a Permitted Guarantee;

(j)

under any Lease;

(k)

comprising of deferred consideration arising in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, provided that:

(i)

such deferred consideration shall not exceed 75% of the total consideration (excluding any post-completion adjustments and/or earnouts) for that Permitted Acquisition;

(ii)

the deferred consideration is payable in full by no later than the date falling 18 months after the completion date for that Permitted Acquisition; and

(iii)

if such deferred consideration is not paid or discharged when due, it shall be either:

(A)

automatically converted into an equitable interest in the Company, with the Company having no residual indebtedness or other liability in connection with such deferred consideration following such conversion; or

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Graphic

(B)

subordinated to the claims of the Finance Parties under this Agreement on terms satisfactory to the Majority Lenders;

(l)

under derivative transactions entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any interest or currency rates or commodity prices that arise in the ordinary course of trading or business, but not transactions for investment or speculative purposes;

(m)

of a member of the Group (other than the Company or any member of the Nigeria Group), provided that such Financial Indebtedness does not exceed the Priority Debt Cap at any time;

(n)

arising under any refinancing of any Permitted Financial Indebtedness;

(o)

arising under any Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility;

(p)

of any person acquired by the Company or any member of the Group after the date of this Agreement (which is incurred under arrangements in existence at the date of acquisition, but not incurred or increased in contemplate of, or since, that acquisition), provided that such acquisition is a Permitted Acquisition and the Company has delivered to the Facility Agent a Financial Plan referred to in paragraph (c) of the definition of Permitted Acquisition;

(q)

arising under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptances, overdrafts or daylight borrowing facilities entered into by a member of the Group in the ordinary course of trading or business activities;

(r)

any liability arising as a result of a fiscal unity (fiscale eenheid) for Dutch corporate tax or VAT purposes or of any other jurisdiction having similar effect;

(s)

any liability in respect of any member of the Group incorporated in The Netherlands arising under a declaration of joint and several liability (hoofdelijke aansprakelijkheid) as referred to in Section 2:403 of the Dutch Civil Code; and

(t)

of a member of the Group, which is not permitted by the preceding paragraphs, provided that the Leverage Ratio and Interest Cover Ratio, calculated by reference to the most recent Annual Financial Statements or Quarterly Financial Statements delivered to the Facility Agent in accordance with Clause 19.1 (Financial Statements) and the relevant Compliance Certificate, after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Financial Indebtedness in full and adjusted for the incurrence of other indebtedness since the last Quarter Date and including any other relevant adjustments to take into account the activities of the Group since the last Quarter Date, comply with the covenanted ratios for the immediately following Quarter Date set out in Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition).

“Permitted Guarantee” means:

(a)

the endorsement of negotiable instruments in the ordinary course of trading or business activities of any member of the Group;

(b)

any guarantee, performance or similar bond guaranteeing performance by any member of the Group under any contract entered into in the ordinary course of trading or business activities of the Group;

(c)

any guarantee given by a member of the Group in relation to or comprising of Permitted Financial Indebtedness (other than under paragraph (i) or paragraph (m) of the definition of Permitted Financial Indebtedness);

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Graphic

(d)

any guarantee given by a member of the Group (other than by any member of the Nigeria Group) in relation to any Financial Indebtedness incurred under paragraph (m) of the definition of Permitted Financial Indebtedness;

(e)

any guarantee given by the Company in favour of a creditor in respect of any Financial Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Company, where the aggregate Financial Indebtedness of that Subsidiary does not exceed 1.5 times its equity value (being the sum of that Subsidiary’s paid up capital and the amount of any shareholder loans made available to it, calculated by reference to the pro forma financial statements of that Subsidiary);

(f)

any guarantee listed in Schedule 12 (Existing Guarantees), together with any guarantees replacing any of the same where the aggregate liability under the replacement guarantee is not greater than the aggregate liability under the guarantee being replaced (or to the extent greater, would be permitted under another paragraph of this definition);

(g)

any guarantee or indemnity given by the Company in connection with an acquisition or disposal transaction which is a Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Disposal which guarantee or indemnity is in customary form and subject to customary limitations;

(h)

any indemnity given in the ordinary course of the documentation of an acquisition or disposal transaction which is a Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Disposal which indemnity is in a customary form and subject to customary limitations;

(i)

any liability arising as a result of a fiscal unity (fiscale eenheid) for Dutch corporate tax or value added tax purposes or of any other jurisdiction having similar effect;

(j)

any liability in respect of any member of the Group incorporated in The Netherlands arising under a declaration of joint and several liability (hoofdelijke aansprakelijkheid) as referred to in Section 2:403 of the Dutch Civil Code;

(k)

any guarantee not otherwise permitted given by a member of the Group in respect of any indebtedness the principal amount of which (when aggregated with the principal amount of any other indebtedness guaranteed by any member of the Group under this paragraph, without double counting) does not at any time exceed the greater of USD 75,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) and 3.0% of the Total Assets, provided that the aggregate principal amount of indebtedness guaranteed by a member of the Nigeria Group under this paragraph shall not at any time (when aggregated with the principal amount of any other indebtedness guaranteed by any other member of the Nigeria Group under this paragraph, without double counting) exceed USD 75,000,000; and

(l)

guarantees not otherwise permitted where the aggregate liability of members of the Group under all such guarantees does not exceed USD 10,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) in total at any time.

“Permitted Joint Venture” means any investments in any Joint Venture, but only if:

(a)

no:

(i)

Default is continuing; or

(ii)

mandatory prepayment event under Clause 7.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Sanctions Etc.) has occurred and either the 15 Business Day period or 20 day notice period referred to in paragraph (c) of Clause 7.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Sanctions Etc.) has not expired in relation to any Lender,

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Graphic

in each case, on the date the Company (or, as applicable, member of the Group) enters into a legal commitment to make an investment in the Joint Venture, or is reasonably likely to occur as a result of the Company’s (or, as applicable, member of the Group’s) investment into that Joint Venture;

(b)

no co-investor, partner or other investor in such Joint Venture is a Restricted Party;

(c)

none of the assets owned by, or the subject of, the Joint Venture are located in a Sanctioned Country; and

(d)

none of the Joint Venture’s business operations is or will be carried out in any Sanctioned Country and the Joint Venture is not incorporated or established in a Sanctioned Country,

and further provided that, solely in relation to any investment by any member of the Nigeria Group, in any Financial Year the aggregate of:

(i)

all amounts subscribed for shares in, lent to, or invested in all such Joint Ventures by any member of the Nigeria Group;

(ii)

the contingent liabilities of any member of the Nigeria Group under any guarantee given in respect of the liabilities of any such Joint Venture; and

(iii)

the market value of any assets transferred by any member of the Nigeria Group to any such Joint Venture,

does not exceed USD50,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies).

“Permitted Loan” means:

(a)

any trade credit extended by the Company, an Obligor or a Material Subsidiary to its customers on normal commercial terms and in the ordinary course of trading or business activities;

(b)

any loan made by any member of the Group to any other member of the Group, provided that the aggregate amount of all loans made by any member of the Nigeria Group to Subsidiaries of the Company (other than to a member of the Nigeria Group) does not exceed USD 50,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) at any time;

(c)

a loan made by the Company, an Obligor or a Material Subsidiary to an employee or director of the Group, provided that the amount of that loan when aggregated with the amount of all loans to employees and directors by the Company, an Obligor or a Material Subsidiary does not exceed the greater of USD 20,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) and an amount equal to zero point five per cent. (0.5%) of Total Assets at any time;

(d)

a loan made by the Company to any party that is a co-investor with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in a Joint Venture, for the purposes of funding that co-investor’s investment in the Joint Venture, provided that such Joint Venture is consolidated for accounting purposes by the Company on or promptly after the date of such investment; and

(e)

any loans or credit not falling into any of the above paragraphs provided that the aggregate principal amount of all such loans or credit does not at any time exceed USD 55,000,000 (or the equivalent in any other currency).

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Graphic

“Permitted Payment” means:

(a)

a payment of scheduled interest and or principal payment under loans permitted under paragraph (b) of Permitted Loan;

(b)

a payment by the Company in connection with management and related holding company fees and expenses payable to any of its Affiliates, provided that:

(i)

no Default has occurred and is continuing at such time or would result from the making of the payment; and

(ii)

the Relevant Test set out in paragraph (f) below is satisfied in respect of such payment;

(c)

repurchases of management equity in an amount of up to the greater of USD 20,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) and an amount equal to zero point five per cent. (0.5%) of Total Assets at any time in any Financial Year, provided that:

(i)

no Default has occurred and is continuing at such time or would result from the making of the payment; and

(ii)

the Relevant Test set out in paragraph (f) below is satisfied in respect of such payment;

(d)

payments made or expected to be made by the Company pursuant to the exercise, in each case on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis, of any option to purchase corporate stock, shares or membership interests granted to any future, present or former employee, director, officer, contractor or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to any employee benefit plans or arrangements, including for the purpose of satisfying any taxes (including estimated taxes) due as a result of the exercise of any such option;

(e)

a declaration and payment by the Company of dividends on the common stock or common equity interests of the Company or any Holding Company following an Equity Offering of such common stock or common equity interests, provided that:

(i)

no Default has occurred and is continuing at such time or would result from the making of the payment; and

(ii)

such amount does not exceed in any fiscal year:

(A)

6.00% of the net cash proceeds received by the Company from such Equity Offering or contributed to the equity (other than through the issuance of “Disqualified Stock” or “Designated Preference Shares” (each as defined in the IHS Holding Senior Notes Indenture) or through an “Excluded Contribution” or “Excluded Amounts” or a “Parent Debt Contribution” (each as defined in the IHS Holding Senior Notes Indenture)) of the Company; and

(B)

following an Equity Offering, an amount equal to 6.00% of the Market Capitalisation provided that, in the case of this paragraph (B) after giving pro forma effect to such loans, advances, dividends or distributions, the Leverage Ratio shall be equal to or less than 4.00 to 1.00; and

(f)

a payment not otherwise permitted by the preceding paragraphs, by the Company, provided that:

27


Graphic

(i)

no Default has occurred and is continuing at such time or would result from the making of the payment; and

(ii)

the Leverage Ratio and Interest Cover Ratio, calculated at the time such payment is to be made (on a pro forma basis after including in the calculations of such ratio the amount of the payment to be made), calculated by reference to the most recent Annual Financial Statements or Quarterly Financial Statements delivered to the Facility Agent in accordance with Clause 19.1 (Financial Statements) and the relevant Compliance Certificate, adjusted for the incurrence of any Financial Indebtedness since the last Quarter Date and including any other relevant adjustments to take into account the activities of the Group since the last Quarter Date, comply with the covenanted ratios for the immediately following Quarter Date set out in Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) (the “Relevant Test”),

and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Relevant Test will also apply to any payment referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) above.

“Permitted Redomiciliation” means the redomiciliation of any Obligor (other than the Company or any Original Nigeria Guarantor) from its jurisdiction of incorporation, provided that:

(a)

the relevant Obligor redomiciles within an Approved Jurisdiction;

(b)

no later than 15 Business Days prior to the proposed date for completion of the redomiciliation of the relevant Obligor taking effect, the Company notifies the Facility Agent of the proposed redomiciliation;

(c)

there is no change to the legal identity or assets or liabilities of the relevant Obligor (other than as permitted under paragraph (d) of the definition of Permitted Reorganisation), prejudice or effect on the identity or continuity or its properties as a result of such redomiciliation;

(d)

no Event of Default is continuing as at the date notice is provided under paragraph (b) above and no Default or mandatory prepayment event under Clause 7.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Sanctions Etc.) or Clause 7.2 (Mandatory Prepayment – Change of control) would occur as a result of such redomiciliation;

(e)

all assets of, and shares in, the relevant Obligor are not subject to Security under a Security Document at the date of completion of the redomiciliation;

(f)

the constitutional documents of the relevant Obligor and a legal opinion in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent (acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders, acting reasonably) from legal advisers in the relevant jurisdiction of the redomiciliation are delivered to the Facility Agent as soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event, within 30 days) following the date on which the relevant Obligor receives evidence of the completion of the final redomiciliation of the relevant Obligor; and

(g)

if the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, acting reasonably and taking into account advice of the legal counsel to the Finance Parties in the relevant jurisdiction) requests any amendment to the Finance Documents that is necessary under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the final redomiciliation occurs in order to ensure that the rights, powers and remedies of the Secured Parties under the Finance Documents are not materially affected by such redomiciliation, the Facility Agent and the Obligor shall enter into negotiations on a good faith basis (for a period of not more than 30 days) with a view to agreeing such amendments,

28


Graphic

and, after such redomiciliation has occurred in accordance with this definition, the jurisdiction of incorporation of the relevant Obligor shall be deemed to be the Approved Jurisdiction where such redomiciliation is completed for the purposes of this Agreement.

“Permitted Reorganisation” means:

(a)

a reorganisation on a solvent basis involving the business or assets of, or shares of any member of the Group:

(i)

where a relevant member of the Group remains the surviving entity and the jurisdiction of incorporation of such member of the Group remains the same (subject to any Permitted Redomiciliation); and

(ii)

where the Finance Parties (or the Security Agent on their behalf) will continue to have the same or substantially equivalent security over the same or substantially equivalent assets (to the extent such assets, shares or other interests are not disposed of as permitted under this Agreement) and, to the extent applicable, benefit from the same or substantially equivalent guarantees, but subject always to, the terms of this Agreement (and the Facility Agent has received a legal opinion to this effect in form and substance satisfactory to it);

(b)

for the purposes of the definitions of Permitted Acquisition and Permitted Disposal only, in respect of a Material Subsidiary which is not a Guarantor, a reorganisation involving the business or assets of, or shares of that entity where the relevant entity remains the surviving entity and the jurisdiction of incorporation of the relevant entity remains the same;

(c)

a transfer of all of the issued share capital of the Company to a newly incorporated holding company, subject to the conditions in the definition of Change of Control;

(d)

any merger or reorganisation of two or more members of the Group (other than the Company) (either as part of or separate to a Permitted Redomiciliation) where either:

(i)

one of such members of the Group is the surviving entity; or

(ii)

the issued share capital of all such entities is transferred to another existing member of the Group or a newly incorporated entity,

in each case, provided that:

(A)

where a member of the Group is the surviving entity, the jurisdiction of incorporation of such member of the Group remains the same or is an Approved Jurisdiction;

(B)

where a newly incorporated entity is the surviving entity, its jurisdiction of incorporation is the same as that of any member of the Group undergoing such merger or reorganisation or is an Approved Jurisdiction; and

(C)

where any such member of the Group subject to such merger or reorganisation is an Obligor:

(1)

the surviving entity is an Obligor; or

(2)

if, as a result of the laws applicable in the jurisdiction of the entities subject to such merger or reorganisation, it is not possible for the surviving entity to effectively accede to this Agreement as a Guarantor prior to the date of such merger or reorganisation, the Company shall provide written notice to

29


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the Facility Agent on or around the date of completion of the relevant merger or reorganisation of such merger or reorganisation occurring (the “Effective Reorganisation Date”) and procure that the surviving entity shall accede to this Agreement promptly and in any event within no more than 10 Business Days of the Effective Reorganisation Date;

(e)

a Permitted Redomiciliation; and

(f)

any other reorganisation approved by the Majority Lenders.

“Permitted Security” means:

(a)

any charge or lien (including any netting or set-off as a result of a fiscal unity (fiscale eenheid) for Dutch tax purposes) arising by operation of law and in the ordinary course of trading or business activities of the Company or a Material Subsidiary and not as a result of any default or omission by the Company or the Material Subsidiary;

(b)

any retention of title arrangements, hire purchase or conditional sale arrangement or arrangements having similar effect arising in the ordinary course of trading or business activities of the Company or a Material Subsidiary with suppliers of goods to the Company or a Material Subsidiary on the supplier’s standard or usual terms and not arising as a result of any default or omission by the Company or the relevant Material Subsidiary and which is discharged within a period of time customary for such arrangements;

(c)

any Security created:

(i)

under or pursuant to any Finance Document (including the Security Documents); or

(ii)

in connection with a Bridge Facility, provided that the Security granted is only over the shares (or similar ownership interests) in, or any receivables owed to or by, or any assets of:

(A)

the relevant target acquired using funds made available pursuant to that Bridge Facility;

(B)

the relevant bidco or bidcos incorporated for the purposes of acquiring that target or its assets; and/or

(C)

the Holding Company (other than an Obligor) of that bidco or bidcos;

(d)

any Security or Quasi-Security listed in Schedule 11 (Existing Security), together with any Security or Quasi-Security replacing any of the same where the assets subject to the replacement Security or Quasi-Security are the same (or part of the same) assets subject to the Security or Quasi-Security being replaced;

(e)

any netting or set-off arrangement entered into under a derivative transaction and excluding any Security or Quasi-Security under a credit support arrangement;

(f)

any Security over or affecting any asset acquired by the Company or a Material Subsidiary after the date of this Agreement, if:

(i)

the Security was not created in contemplation of the acquisition of that asset by the Company or the Material Subsidiary;

30


Graphic

(ii)

the principal amount secured has not been increased in contemplation of or since the acquisition of that asset by the Company or the Material Subsidiary; and

(iii)

such Security is released or discharged within three months of the date of acquisition of the asset (unless permitted to remain under any other paragraph of this definition);

(g)

any Security arising under any Lease over the operating asset subject to the Lease provided that the Financial Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted pursuant to the Finance Documents;

(h)

any Security over goods and documents of title to goods arising in the ordinary course of a documentary credit transaction entered into in the ordinary course of trading or business activities of the Company or a Material Subsidiary;

(i)

any netting or set-off arrangement entered into by the Company or a Material Subsidiary arising in connection with a cash management or pooling arrangement entered into in the ordinary course of its banking arrangements for the purpose of netting debit and credit balances of the Company or a Material Subsidiary but only so long as (i) such arrangement is not established with the primary intention of preferring any lenders, and (ii) any overdraft facility connected with such arrangement is permitted under the Finance Documents;

(j)

any Security over rental deposits arising in the ordinary course of trading or business activities of the Company or a Material Subsidiary in respect of any property leased or licensed by the Company in respect of amounts representing not more than 12 Months’ rent payments for that property;

(k)

any Security over bank accounts granted as part of that the relevant bank’s standard terms and conditions (including but not limited to any Security or Quasi-Security arising under clause 24 or 25 of the general banking conditions (algemene bankvoorwaarden) of any member of the Dutch Bankers’ Association (Nederlandse Vereniging van Banken) or any similar term applied by a financial institution in a jurisdiction where a member of the Group has a bank account pursuant to its general terms and conditions);

(l)

any Security relating to payments into court or arising under any court order or injunction or security for costs arising in connection with any litigation or court proceedings being contested by the Company or a Material Subsidiary in good faith (and which do not otherwise give rise to an Event of Default);

(m)

any Security arising pursuant to an order of attachment or injunction restraining disposal of assets or similar legal process arising in connection with court proceedings which are contested by the Company or a Material Subsidiary in good faith by appropriate proceedings and which do not otherwise give rise to an Event of Default and would not otherwise be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(n)

any Security over cash paid into an escrow account by any third party, the Company, an Obligor or a Material Subsidiary pursuant to any customary deposit or retention of purchase price arrangements entered into pursuant to any Permitted Acquisition;

(o)

any Security arising automatically by operation of law in favour of any government authority or organisation in respect of taxes, assessments or governmental charges which are being contested by the Company or a Material Subsidiary in good faith by appropriate proceedings and which would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and in respect of which the Company or a Material Subsidiary has made adequate reserves;

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(p)

any cash collateral provided in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees to the issuer of such letters of credit or bank guarantees to the extent the Financial Indebtedness in relation to which such letters of credit or bank guarantees relate is permitted under the Finance Documents;

(q)

any Security on property or assets of a member of the Group (that is not a member of the Nigeria Group) to secure indebtedness of that member of the Group or any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a member of the Nigeria Group, to the extent such Security is securing Financial Indebtedness incurred under paragraph (m) of the definition of Permitted Financial Indebtedness;

(r)

any Security or Quasi-Security to secure the performance of statutory obligations, trade contracts, insurance, surety or appeal bonds, workers compensation obligations, leases (including, without limitation, statutory and common law landlord’s liens), performance bonds, surety and appeal bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred (including to secure letters of credit issued to assure payment of such obligations) or in connection with bids, tenders, contracts or leases to secure licenses, public or statutory obligations, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of trading or business;

(s)

any Security or Quasi-Security on cash, Cash Equivalent Investments or other property arising in connection with the defeasance, discharge or redemption of Financial Indebtedness in the ordinary course of such Financial Indebtedness provided that no Event of Default is continuing at the date such Security or Quasi-Security is granted;

(t)

any Security or Quasi-Security on specific items of inventory or other goods (and the proceeds thereof) of any person securing such person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created in the ordinary course of business for the account of such person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(u)

any Security or Quasi-Security on property or assets under construction (and related rights) in favour of a contractor or developer or arising from progress or partial payments by a third party relating to such property or assets provided that such Security or Quasi-Security is released as soon as reasonably practicable (taking into consideration any relevant local law limitations and formalities) upon the discharge or release in full of the obligations secured by such Security or Quasi-Security;

(v)

any Security or Quasi-Security created with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders; and

(w)

any Security securing indebtedness the principal amount of which (when aggregated with the principal amount of any other indebtedness which has the benefit of Security given by the Company or any member of the Group other than any permitted under the preceding paragraphs) does not at any time exceed the greater of USD 100,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) and 2.0% of the Total Assets at any time outstanding.

“Permitted Transaction” means:

(a)

any transaction (other than (i) any sale, lease, license, transfer or other disposal and (ii) the granting or creation of Security or the incurring or permitting to subsist of Financial Indebtedness) conducted in the ordinary course of trading or business activities of the relevant person on arm’s length terms;

(b)

the liquidation (solvent or otherwise) of any member of the Group that is not a Material Subsidiary and is not an Obligor and which, at such point in time, is not a party to any agreement or other transactions and does not trade and provided that:

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(i)

as a result of such liquidation, all assets (to the extent existing after the relevant liquidation or to the extent not otherwise permitted to be disposed of) of that member of the Group are transferred to another member of the Group; and

(ii)

such liquidation could not reasonably be expected to have a material and adverse impact (directly or indirectly) on the Company, any other Obligor or any Material Subsidiary (whether pursuant to any requirement to make payment under a guarantee or otherwise);

(c)

the solvent liquidation or sale, lease, license, transfer or other disposal of Nigeria Tower Interco B.V.; and

(d)

a Permitted Redomiciliation.

“Priority Debt Cap” means the greater of USD 1,890,000,000 and 200% of EBITDA of the Group.

“Pro Rata Share” means, at any time:

(a)

for the purpose of determining a Lender’s participation in a Utilisation, the proportion which its Available Commitment then bears to the Available Facility; and

(b)

for any other purpose:

(i)

the proportion which a Lender’s participation in the Loans then bears to all the Loans;

(ii)

if there is no Loan then outstanding, the proportion which its Commitment then bears to the Total Commitments; or

(iii)

if there is no Loan then outstanding and the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, the proportion which its Commitment bore to the Total Commitments immediately before the reduction.

“QPP Certificate” has the meaning given to it in Clause 12.1 (Definitions).

“QPP Lender” has the meaning given to it in Clause 12.1 (Definitions).

“Quarterly Financial Statements” has the meaning given to it in of Clause 19.1 (Financial Statements).

“Quasi-Security” has the meaning given to it in Clause 22.9 (Negative Pledge).

“Quotation Day” means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be determined:

(a)

(if the currency is dollars) two US Government Securities Business Days before the first day of that period;

(b)

(if the currency is ZAR) the first day of that period,

(unless market practice differs in the Relevant Market for that currency, in which case the Quotation Day will be determined by the Facility Agent in accordance with market practice in the Relevant Market (and if quotations would normally be given on more than one day, the Quotation Day will be the last of those days)).

“Receiver” means a receiver, a receiver and manager, or an administrative receiver of the whole or any part of the Security Assets.

“Reference Bank Quotation” means any quotation supplied to the Facility Agent by a Reference Bank.

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Graphic

“Reference Bank Rate” means, in relation to JIBAR, the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Facility Agent at its request by the Reference Banks:

(a)

(other than where paragraph (b) below applies) as the rate at which the relevant Reference Banks could borrow funds in the Relevant Market in ZAR and for the relevant period, were it to do so by asking for and then accepting interbank offers for deposits in reasonable market size in that currency and for that period; or

(b)

if different, as the rate (if any and applied to the relevant Reference Bank and the relevant currency and period) which contributors to JIBAR are asked to submit to the relevant administrator.

“Reference Banks” means the principal Johannesburg offices of such entities as may agree to be appointed by the Facility Agent in consultation with the Company.

“Reference Rate” means:

(a)

in relation to any Loan in dollars:

(i)

the applicable Term SOFR as of the Specified Time for dollars and for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan; or

(ii)

as otherwise determined pursuant to Clause 10.1 (Unavailability of Term SOFR); and

(b)

in relation to any Loan in ZAR:

(i)

the applicable JIBAR as of the Specified Time for the offering of deposits in ZAR for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of the relevant Loan; or

(ii)

as otherwise determined pursuant to Clause 10.2 (Unavailability of JIBAR),

and if, in either case, that rate is less than zero, the relevant Reference Rate shall be deemed to be zero.

“Refinancing Facility” means any facility which refinances (a) any Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility provided to a Material Subsidiary at the date of this Agreement or (b) another Refinancing Facility.

“Related Fund” in relation to a fund (the “first fund”) means:

(a)

a fund which is managed or advised by the same investment manager or investment adviser as the first fund; or

(b)

if it is managed by a different investment manager or investment adviser, a fund whose investment manager or investment adviser is an Affiliate of the investment manager or investment adviser of the first fund.

“Relevant Jurisdiction” means in relation to an Obligor or, where applicable, a Material Subsidiary:

(a)

its jurisdiction of incorporation and, following a Permitted Redomiciliation, its jurisdiction of domicile following that Permitted Redomiciliation; and

(b)

any jurisdiction where any asset subject to any Security created or expressed to be created by it under a Security Document is situated.

“Relevant Lenders” has the meaning given to it in Clause 4.1 (Initial Conditions Precedent).

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“Relevant Market” means, in respect of USD, the market for overnight cash borrowing collateralised by US Government securities or, in respect of ZAR, the South African interbank market .

“Relevant Period” has the meaning given to it in Clause 20.1 (Financial Definitions).

“Repeating Representations” means:

(a)

in relation to the Company, each of the representations and warranties set out in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Clause 18.2 (Status), Clauses 18.3 (Binding Obligations) to 18.7 (Governing Law and Enforcement) (inclusive), and paragraph (a) of Clause 18.10 (No Default), Clause 18.15 (Good Title) and paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 18.20 (Sanctions); and

(b)

in relation to a Guarantor, each of the representations and warranties set out in paragraph (b) of Clause 18.2 (Status), Clause 18.3 (Binding Obligations), Clause 18.4 (Non-Conflict with other Obligations), Clause 18.5 (Power and Authority), Clause 18.6 (Validity and Admissibility in Evidence), Clause 18.7 (Governing Law and Enforcement), paragraph (a) of Clause 18.10 (No Default) and paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 18.20 (Sanctions).

“Representative” means any delegate, agent, manager, administrator, nominee, attorney, trustee or custodian.

“Resignation Letter” means a letter substantially in the form set out in Schedule 9 (Form of Resignation Letter), with any amendments the Facility Agent and the Company may agree.

“Resolution Authority” means any body which has authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers.

“Restricted Party” means a person that is:

(a)

listed on, or owned or controlled by a person listed on, or acting on behalf or at the direction of a person listed on, any Sanctions List;

(b)

located in, incorporated under the laws of, or owned or (directly or indirectly) controlled by, or acting on behalf or at the direction of, a person located in or organised under the laws of a country or territory which is a Sanctioned Country; or

(c)

otherwise a target of Sanctions (“target of Sanctions” meaning a person with whom a US person or other legal or natural person subject to the jurisdiction or authority of a Sanctions Authority would be prohibited or restricted by law from engaging in trade, business or other activities without all appropriate licenses or exemptions issued by all applicable Sanctions Authorities).

“Revolving Credit Facility” means the up to USD 300,000,000 revolving credit facility dated 30 March 2020 between, amongst others, the Company and Citibank Europe PLC, UK Branch as facility agent, as amended and restated pursuant to an amendment and restatement agreement dated 2 June 2021, as amended on 29 September 2021, as further amended and restated on 6 November 2023 and as may be further amended and/or restated from time to time.

“Sanctioned Country” means a country or territory which is, or whose government is, the subject or target of comprehensive country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions (being, at the date of this Agreement, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria and the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic and Crimea region of Ukraine).

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“Sanctions” means the trade, economic or financial sanctions laws, regulations, embargoes or restrictive measures administered, enacted or enforced by:

(a)

the United States of America;

(b)

the United Nations;

(c)

the European Union;

(d)

the United Kingdom;

(e)

France;

(f)

the Cayman Islands government, including pursuant to any sanctions legislation extended to the Cayman Islands by order of the His Majesty in Council; and/or

(g)

the respective governmental institutions and agencies of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of Treasury, the United States Department of State and His Majesty’s Treasury,

(together, the “Sanctions Authorities”).

“Sanctions List” means the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons”, the “Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List” and the “List of Foreign Sanctions Evaders” maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the “Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets” and the “List of Persons Subject to Restrictive Measures in View of Russia’s Actions Destabilising the Situation in Ukraine” maintained by His Majesty’s Treasury, or any similar list maintained by, or public announcement of Sanctions designation made by, any of the Sanctions Authorities.

“Secured Party” means a Finance Party, Receiver or Delegate.

“Security” means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, assignment by way of security, hypothecation or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect.

“Security Agent” means any person which accedes to this Agreement in such a capacity in accordance with Clause 28.12 (Appointment and Resignation of an Agent).

“Security Asset” means each asset of the Company which from time to time is, or is intended to be, subject to a Security Document.

“Security Document” means any document evidencing or creating (or expressed to evidence or create) security over any asset to secure any obligation of the Company under the Finance Documents.

“Selection Notice” means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part 2 of Schedule 3 (Requests and Notices) given in accordance with Clause 9 (Interest Periods) in relation to a Facility.

“Senior Notes” means

(a)

the 2027 Notes; and

(b)

the IHS Holding Senior Notes.

“Senior Notes Indenture” means:

(a)

the 2027 Notes Indenture; and

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(b)

the IHS Holding Senior Notes Indenture.

“Shareholder Loan” means:

(a)

a Company Shareholder Loan; and

(b)

any Nigeria Shareholder Loan.

“SOFR” means the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) published (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any other person which takes over publication of that rate).

“Specified Time” means a day or time determined in accordance with Schedule 13 (Timetables).

“Sponsor Affiliate” means an Affiliate of the Company provided that any direct or indirect shareholder of the Company shall not constitute a Sponsor Affiliate (save for a shareholder which owns, legally and beneficially, more than 50% of the shares in the Company).

“Subordination Agreement” means the subordination agreement entered into on or around the date of this Agreement between the Company, Holdco, IHS (Nigeria) Limited, IHS Towers NG Limited, INT Towers Limited, INT Towers NG Finco 1 Plc, IHS Netherlands (Interco) Coöperatief U.A., IHS FinCo Management Limited and the Facility Agent.

“Subsequent Bond Obligor” means a member of the Group (other than the Company or any Original Bond Obligor) which is a guarantor in respect of the Senior Notes.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified person:

(a)

any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person (or a combination thereof);

(b)

any partnership or limited liability company of which (a) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (b) such person or any Subsidiary of such person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity; or

(c)

any corporation, company, association, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity which is or is eligible to be consolidated in the financial statements of such person in accordance with IFRS.

“Syndication Date” means the day on which the Bookrunner and Initial Mandated Lead Arranger confirms that the primary syndication of the Facility has been completed.

“Tax” means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of them) imposed or demanded by a governmental or other related authority.

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“Tax Deduction” means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document, other than a FATCA Deduction.

“Tax Payment” means either an increase in a payment made by the Company to a Finance Party under Clause 12.2 (Tax Gross-Up) or a payment under Clause 12.3 (Tax Indemnity).

“Termination Date” means the date falling 60 months from the date of this Agreement.

“Term SOFR” means the term SOFR reference rate administered by CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period published (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) by CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the publication of that rate)

“Third Parties Act” means the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

“Total Commitments” means the aggregate of the Total Facility A Commitments and the Total Facility B Commitments.

“Total Facility A Commitments” means the aggregate of the Facility A Commitments, being USD 255,000,000 as at the date of this Agreement.

“Total Facility B Commitments” means the aggregate of the Facility B Commitments, being ZAR 3,246,000,000 as at the date of this Agreement.

“Trade Instruments” means any performance bonds, advance payment bonds or documentary letters of credit issued in respect of the obligations of any member of the Group arising in the ordinary course of trading or business of that member of the Group which, in each case, is not (or will not be) outstanding for a period longer than 12 months from the date such instrument is issued.

“Transfer Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 4 (Form of Transfer Certificate), with any amendments the Facility Agent may approve or reasonably require, or any other form agreed between the Facility Agent and the Company.

“Transfer Date” means, in relation to an assignment or a transfer, the later of:

(a)

the proposed Transfer Date specified in the relevant Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate; and

(b)

the date on which the Facility Agent executes the relevant Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate.

“UK” means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

“UK Bail-In Legislation” means Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 and any other law or regulation applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (otherwise than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

“Unpaid Sum” means any sum due and payable but unpaid by the Company under the Finance Documents.

“US” means the United States of America.

“US Government Securities Business Day” means any day other than:

(a)

a Saturday or Sunday; or

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(b)

a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (or any successor organisation) recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in US Government securities.

“USD Lender” means, at any time, each Lender (or Affiliate of a Lender) which has a Facility A Commitment.

“Utilisation” means a utilisation of a Facility.

“Utilisation Date” means the date of a Utilisation, being the date on which the relevant Loan is or is to be made.

“Utilisation Request” means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part 1 of Schedule 3 (Requests and Notices)

“VAT” means:

(a)

any value added tax imposed by the Value Added Tax Act 1994;

(b)

any Tax imposed in compliance with Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112); and

(c)

any other Tax of a similar nature whether imposed in the United Kingdom or in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such Tax referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above, or imposed elsewhere.

“White List” means the list of entities set out in Schedule 16 (White List).

“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means:

(a)

in relation to any Bail-In Legislation described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time, the powers described as such in relation to that Bail-In Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule;

(b)

in relation to the UK Bail-In Legislation, any powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and

(c)

in relation to any other applicable Bail-In Legislation:

(i)

any powers under that Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and

(ii)

any similar or analogous powers under that Bail-In Legislation.

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“ZAR Lender” means, at any time, each Lender (or Affiliate of a Lender) which has a Facility B Commitment.

1.2

Construction

(a)

Unless this Agreement expressly provides to the contrary, any reference in this Agreement to:

(i)

a Party or any other person includes its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees to, or of, all or any combination of its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents;

(ii)

agreed form means the form agreed between the Company and the Facility Agent (acting on instructions of the Majority Lenders);

(iii)

an amendment includes a supplement, novation, extension (whether of maturity or otherwise), restatement, re-enactment or replacement (however fundamental and whether or not more onerous) and amended will be construed accordingly;

(iv)

assets includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description;

(v)

a Lender’s “cost of funds” in relation to its participation in a Loan is a reference to the average cost (determined either on an actual or a notional basis) which that Lender would incur if it were to fund, from whatever source(s) it may reasonably select, an amount equal to the amount of that participation in that Loan for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan;

(vi)

disposal includes a sale, transfer, assignment, grant, lease, licence, declaration of trust or other disposal, whether voluntary or involuntary, and dispose will be construed accordingly;

(vii)

guarantee means (other than in Clause 16 (Guarantee and Indemnity) and the Nigeria Guarantee) any guarantee, letter of credit, bond, indemnity or similar assurance against loss, or any obligation, direct or indirect, actual or contingent, to purchase or assume any indebtedness of any person or to make an investment in or loan to any person or to purchase assets of any person where, in each case, such obligation is assumed in order to maintain or assist the ability of such person to meet its indebtedness;

(viii)

a Finance Document or any other agreement or instrument includes (without prejudice to any restriction on amendments) any amendment to that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument, including any change in the purpose of, any extension of or any increase in the amount of a facility or any additional facility;

(ix)

a group of Lenders includes all the Lenders and a group of Finance Parties includes all the Finance Parties;

(x)

indebtedness includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent;

(xi)

know your customer checks is the identification checks that a Finance Party requests to meet its obligations under any applicable law or regulation to identify a person who is (or is to become) its customer;

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(xii)

a person includes any individual, firm, company, exempted company, corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association or body (including a partnership, trust, fund, joint venture or consortium), or any other entity (whether or not having separate legal personality);

(xiii)

a regulation includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law but, if not having the force of law, being of a type with which a person to which it applies is generally accustomed to comply) of any governmental, inter- governmental or supranational body, agency or department, or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation;

(xiv)

a currency is a reference to the lawful currency for the time being of the relevant country;

(xv)

a provision of law is a reference to that provision as amended and includes any subordinate legislation; and

(xvi)

a time of day is a reference to London time.

(b)

The determination of the extent to which a rate is for a period equal in length to an Interest Period will disregard any inconsistency arising from the last day of that Interest Period being determined pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(c)

A Clause or a Schedule is a reference to a clause of or a schedule to this Agreement.

(d)

The headings in this Agreement are for ease of reference only and do not affect its interpretation.

(e)

EUR denotes the lawful currency of the Participating Member States.

(f)

NGN denotes the lawful currency of Nigeria.

(g)

ZAR or South African Rand denotes the lawful currency of South Africa.

(h)

$, USD, US dollars and dollars denote the lawful currency of the United States of America.

(i)

“USD equivalent amount” means:

(i)

in respect of any amount in USD, such amount; and

(ii)

in respect of any amount denominated in a currency other than USD, that amount in USD as determined on the basis of the rate of exchange displayed on the relevant page of the Bloomberg screen or the Bloomberg page (or, if such rate is not available, any other publicly available spot rate of exchange selected by the Company and the Facility Agent (acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders) (in each case, acting reasonably)) for the purchase of the relevant currency with USD in the London foreign exchange market at or about 11:00am on the relevant day on which it is to be calculated (or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the preceding Business Day).

(j)

Unless this Agreement expressly provides to the contrary:

(i)

a term used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning in that Finance Document or notice as in this Agreement;

(ii)

a Default (including an Event of Default) is continuing if it has not been remedied or waived and an Event of Default is also continuing if the Facility

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Agent has accelerated in full all amounts outstanding under the Finance Documents at a time when an Event of Default was otherwise continuing; and

(iii)

any obligation of an Obligor under the Finance Documents which is not a payment obligation remains in force for so long as any payment obligation of any Obligor is outstanding or any Commitment is in force under the Finance Documents.

(k)

Any reference within a Clause to this Clause means the entirety of that Clause.

(l)

A reference in this Agreement to a page or screen of an information service displaying a rate shall include:

(i)

any replacement page of that information service which displays that rate; and

(ii)

the appropriate page of such other information service which displays that rate from time to time in place of that information service,

and, if such page or service ceases to be available, shall include any other page or service displaying that rate specified by the Facility Agent after consultation with the Company.

1.3

Third Party Rights

(a)

Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document, a person who is not a Party has no right under the Third Parties Act to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.

(b)

Subject to paragraph (d) of Clause 38.3 (Other Exceptions) but otherwise notwithstanding any term of any Finance Document, the consent of any person who is not a Party is not required to rescind or vary this Agreement at any time.

1.4

Dutch Terms

In this Agreement, where it relates to a Dutch person or the context so requires, a reference to:

(a)

The Netherlands means the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Dutch means in or of The Netherlands;

(b)

works council means each works council (ondernemingsraad) or central or groups works council (central of groeps ondernemingsraad) having jurisdiction over that person;

(c)

a necessary action to authorise includes any action required to comply with the Works Councils Act of The Netherlands (Wet op de ondernemingsraden), followed by a positive advice (advies) from the works council of that person;

(d)

financial assistance includes any act contemplated by Section 2:98c of the Dutch Civil Code;

(e)

constitutional documents means the articles of association (statuten) and deed of incorporation (akte van oprichting) and an up-to-date extract of registration of the Trade Register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce;

(f)

a security interest or security includes any mortgage (hypotheek), pledge (pandrecht), retention of title arrangement (eigendomsvoorbehoud), right of retention (recht van retentie), right to reclaim goods (recht van reclame) and any right in rem (beperkt recht) created for the purpose of granting security (goederenrechtelijke zekerheid);

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(g)

a winding-up, administration or dissolution includes declared bankrupt (failliet verklaard) or dissolved (ontbonden);

(h)

a moratorium includes surseance van betaling and a moratorium is declared includes surseance verleend;

(i)

any procedure or step taken in connection with insolvency proceedings includes that person having filed a notice under Section 36 of the Tax Collection Act of The Netherlands (Invorderingswet 1990);

(j)

a liquidator includes a curator;

(k)

an administrator includes a bewindvoerder, a herstructureringsdeskundige or an observator;

(l)

a receiver or an administrative receiver does not include a curator or bewindvoerder; and

(m)

an attachment includes a beslag.

1.5

Exchange Rate Fluctuations and Baskets

(a)

When applying any baskets, monetary limits, thresholds and other exceptions to the representations and warranties, undertakings, Events of Default and Material Subsidiary Events of Default under the Finance Documents, the equivalent to an amount in dollars as on the date of the relevant member of the Group incurring or making the relevant disposal, acquisition, investment, lease, loan, debt or guarantee or other relevant action shall be applicable. No Event of Default, Material Subsidiary Event of Default or breach of any representation and warranty or undertaking under the Finance Documents shall arise merely as a result of a subsequent change in the dollar equivalent.

(b)

In ascertaining the Lenders or the Majority Lenders or whether any given percentage of the Total Commitments has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents the Facility B Commitment of a Lender shall be deemed to be the Base Currency Amount of its Commitment.

1.6

Electronic Signatures

The Parties acknowledge and agree that they may execute the Finance Documents and any variation or amendment to the same, by electronic instrument. The Parties agree that the electronic signatures appearing on the document shall have the same effect as handwritten signatures and the use of an electronic signature on any Finance Document shall have the same validity and legal effect as the use of a signature affixed by hand and is made with the intention of authenticating such Finance Document, and evidencing the parties’ intention to be bound by the terms and conditions contained herein. For the purposes of using an electronic signature, the Parties authorise each other to the lawful processing of personal data of the signers for contract performance and their legitimate interests including contract management.

2.

The Facilities

2.1

The Facilities

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Company:

(a)

a dollar term loan facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Facility A Commitments; and

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(b)

a ZAR term loan facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Facility B Commitments.

2.2

Increase

(a)

The Company may by giving prior notice to the Facility Agent by no later than the date falling 30 Business Days after the effective date of a cancellation of:

(i)

the Available Commitments of a Defaulting Lender in accordance with Clause 7.10 (Right of Cancellation in Relation to a Defaulting Lender);

(ii)

the Commitments of a Lender in accordance with:

(A)

Clause 7.1 (Mandatory Prepayment – Illegality); or

(B)

Paragraph (a) of Clause 7.9 (Right of Replacement or Repayment and Cancellation in Relation to a Single Lender);

request that the Commitments relating to any Facility be increased (and the Commitments relating to that Facility shall be so increased) in an aggregate amount of up to the amount of the Available Commitments or Commitments relating to that Facility so cancelled as follows:

(C)

the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Lenders or other banks or financial institutions (each an “Increase Lender”) selected by the Company and each of which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of a Lender corresponding to that part of the increased Commitments which it is to assume, as if it had been an Original Lender (for the avoidance of doubt, no Party shall be obliged to assume the obligations of a Lender pursuant to this Clause 2.2 without the prior consent of that Party);

(D)

the Company and any Increase Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another as the Company and the Increase Lender would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

(E)

each Increase Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender” and any Increase Lender and each of the other Finance Parties shall assume obligations towards one another and acquire rights against one another as that Increase Lender and those Finance Parties would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

(F)

the Commitments of the other Lenders shall continue in full force and effect; and

(G)

any increase in the Commitments relating to a Facility shall take effect on the date specified by the Company in the notice referred to above or any later date on which the conditions set out in paragraph (b) below are satisfied.

(b)

An increase in the Commitments relating to a Facility will only be effective on:

(i)

the execution by the Facility Agent of an Increase Confirmation from the relevant Increase Lender; and

(ii)

in relation to an Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior to the relevant increase the performance by the Facility Agent of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and

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regulations in relation to the assumption of the increased Commitments by that Increase Lender, the completion of which the Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Increase Lender.

(c)

Each Increase Lender, by executing the Increase Confirmation, confirms (for the avoidance of doubt) that the Facility Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the increase becomes effective.

(d)

The Company shall promptly on demand pay the Facility Agent and the Security Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by either of them and, in the case of the Security Agent, by any Receiver or Delegate in connection with any increase in Commitments under this Clause 2.2.

(e)

The Company may pay (or procure the payment) to the Increase Lender a fee in the amount and at the times agreed between the Company and the Increase Lender in a Fee Letter.

(f)

Each Party shall co-operate to ensure that, on and following the date on which any increase in Commitments is effective, the proportion of the aggregate amount of all Loans under the affected Facility which each Lender holds is the same as the proportion which the Commitment of each Lender at such time bears to the Total Commitments.

(g)

Clause 25.4 (Limitation of Responsibility of Existing Lenders) shall apply mutatis mutandis in this Clause 2.2 in relation to an Increase Lender as if references in that Clause to:

(i)

an “Existing Lender” were references to all the Lenders immediately prior to the relevant increase;

(ii)

the “New Lender” were references to that “Increase Lender”; and

(iii)

a re-transfer and re-assignment were references to respectively a transfer and assignment.

2.3

Facility Increase

(a)

At any time during the period from the date of this Agreement until (and including) the date falling six months from the date of this Agreement, the Company may, on one or more (but no more than five) occasions by giving ten Business Days’ prior notice to the Facility Agent, request that the Total Commitments be increased (and the Total Commitments shall be so increased) as follows (provided that the aggregate amount of the Total Commitments (including any increase already made pursuant to this Clause 2.3) does not at any time exceed the USD equivalent amount of USD 500,000,000)):

(i)

the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Lenders or other banks or financial institutions (each a “Facility Increase Lender”) selected by the Company and each of which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of a Lender corresponding to that part of the increased Commitments which it is to assume, as if it had been an Original Lender (for the avoidance of doubt, no Party shall be obliged to assume the obligations of a Lender pursuant to this Clause 2.3 without the prior written consent of that Party);

(ii)

the Company and any Facility Increase Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another as the Company

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and the Facility Increase Lender would have assumed and/or acquired had the Facility Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

(iii)

each Facility Increase Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender” and any Facility Increase Lender and each of the other Finance Parties shall assume obligations towards one another and acquire rights against one another as that Facility Increase Lender and those Finance Parties would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Facility Lender been an Original Lender;

(iv)

the Commitments of the other Lenders shall continue in full force and effect; and

(v)

any increase in the Total Commitments shall take effect on the date on which the conditions set out in paragraph (b) below are satisfied or, if later, the date specified by the Company in the notice referred to in paragraph (a) above.

(b)

An increase in the Total Commitments will only be effective on:

(i)

the execution by the Facility Agent of an Increase Confirmation from the relevant Facility Increase Lender; and

(ii)

in relation to a Facility Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior to the relevant increase the performance by the Facility Agent of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assumption of the increased Commitments by that Facility Increase Lender, the completion of which the Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Facility Increase Lender:

(c)

Each Facility Increase Lender, by executing the Increase Confirmation, confirms (for the avoidance of doubt) that the Facility Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the increase becomes effective.

(d)

The Company shall promptly on demand pay the Facility Agent and the Security Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by either of them and, in the case of the Security Agent, by any Receiver or Delegate in connection with any increase in Commitments under this Clause 2.3.

(e)

The Company may pay (or procure the payment) to the Facility Increase Lender a fee in the amount and at the times agreed between the Company and the Facility Increase Lender in a Fee Letter.

(f)

Clause 25.4 (Limitation of Responsibility of Existing Lenders) shall apply mutatis mutandis in this Clause 2.2 in relation to a Facility Increase Lender as if references in that Clause to:

(i)

an “Existing Lender” were references to all the Lenders immediately prior to the relevant increase;

(ii)

the “New Lender” were references to that “Facility Increase Lender”; and

(iii)

a re-transfer and re-assignment were references to respectively a transfer and assignment.

2.4

Finance Parties’ Rights and Obligations

(a)

The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several.

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(b)

Failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents.

(c)

No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents.

(d)

The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents are separate and independent rights and they include the right to repayment of any debt owing to that Finance Party under the Finance Documents.

(e)

Any debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party is a separate and independent debt. Any part of a Loan or any other amount owed by an Obligor which relates to a Finance Party’s participation in a Facility or its role under a Finance Document is a debt owing to that Finance Party by that Obligor (including if it is payable to an Agent on that Finance Party’s behalf).

(f)

A Finance Party may, except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, separately enforce its rights under or in connection with the Finance Documents.

2.5

Obligors’ Agent

(a)

Each Obligor (other than the Company) by its execution of this Agreement or an Accession Letter irrevocably appoints the Company (acting through one or more authorised signatories) to act on its behalf as its agent in relation to the Finance Documents and irrevocably authorises:

(i)

the Company on its behalf to supply all information concerning itself contemplated by this Agreement to the Finance Parties and to give all notices and instructions, to make such agreements and to effect the relevant amendments, supplements and variations capable of being given, made or effected by any Obligor notwithstanding that they may affect the Obligor, without further reference to or the consent of that Obligor; and

(ii)

each Finance Party to give any notice, demand or other communication to that Obligor pursuant to the Finance Documents to the Company,

and in each case the Obligor shall be bound as though the Obligor itself had given the notices and instructions or executed or made the agreements or effected the amendments, supplements or variations, or received the relevant notice, demand or other communication.

(b)

Every act, omission, agreement, undertaking, settlement, waiver, amendment, supplement, variation, notice or other communication given or made by the Obligors’ Agent or given to the Obligors’ Agent under any Finance Document on behalf of another Obligor or in connection with any Finance Document (whether or not known to any other Obligor and whether occurring before or after such other Obligor became an Obligor under any Finance Document) shall be binding for all purposes on that Obligor as if that Obligor had expressly made, given or concurred with it. In the event of any conflict between any notices or other communications of the Obligors’ Agent and any other Obligor, those of the Obligors’ Agent shall prevail.

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3.

Purpose

3.1

Purpose

The Company must apply all amounts borrowed by it under a Facility towards the following purposes:

(a)

the prepayment and cancellation in full (or the reimbursement of the Company for any prior prepayment) of the IHS Holding USD Term Facility;

(b)

general corporate purposes of the Group, including, but not limited to, capital expenditure and the financing of working capital requirements of the Group; and/or

(c)

payment of costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Finance Documents.

3.2

Monitoring

No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any utilisation of any Facility.

4.

Conditions of Utilisation

4.1

Initial Conditions Precedent

No Utilisation Request may be given unless the Facility Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent) in form and substance satisfactory to the Majority Lenders and each Original Lender and/or each Affiliate of an Original Lender that has become a Lender after the date of this Agreement but prior to the date of delivery of that first Utilisation Request (the “Relevant Lenders”) (or the receipt of such documents and evidence has been waived by the Relevant Lenders). The Facility Agent must notify the Company promptly upon the Relevant Lenders being so satisfied.

4.2

Further Conditions Precedent

The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 (Lenders’ Participation) if on the date of the Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date for the relevant Loan:

(a)

no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan;

(b)

the Repeating Representations are correct in all material (except where that representation and warranty is already qualified by materiality under Clause 18 (Representations)) respects; and

(c)

no Material Subsidiary Event of Default is continuing.

4.3

Maximum Number

(a)

No Utilisation Request may be given if, as a result of the proposed Utilisation more than four Facility A Loans or four Facility B Loans would be outstanding.

(b)

The Company may not request that a Loan be consolidated or divided.

5.

Utilisation

5.1

Delivery of a Utilisation Request

The Company may borrow a Loan by delivery to the Facility Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than the Specified Time.

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5.2

Completion of a Utilisation Request

(a)

A Utilisation Request for a Loan is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless:

(i)

it identifies that each Facility is to be utilised;

(i)

it identifies that Facility A and Facility B are to be utilised and will be drawn on the same Utilisation Date pro rata (by reference to the amount of each proposed Utilisation as against the Available Commitments for each Facility immediately prior to the Utilisation of each Facility);

(ii)

the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period;

(iii)

the currency and amount of the Loan comply with Clause 5.3 (Currency and Amount); and

(iv)

the proposed Interest Period of the Loan complies with Clause 9 (Interest Periods).

(b)

Only one Facility A Loan and one Facility B Loan may be requested in each Utilisation Request.

5.3

Currency and Amount

(a)

The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be:

(i)

in relation to Facility A, dollars; or

(ii)

in relation to Facility B, ZAR.

(b)

The amount of the proposed Loan must be:

(i)

in relation to Facility A, a minimum of USD 10,000,000 and an integral multiple of USD 5,000,000 or, if less, the Available Facility

(ii)

in relation to Facility B, a minimum of ZAR 200,000,000 and an integral multiple of ZAR 100,000,000 or, if less, the Available Facility; or

(iii)

such other amount as the Facility Agent may agree,

and, in any event, such that it is less than or equal to the relevant Available Facility.

5.4

Lenders’ Participation

(a)

If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met each Lender must make its participation in a requested Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office to the Facility Agent.

(b)

The amount of each Lender’s participation in a Loan will be its Pro Rata Share immediately before making the Loan.

(c)

No Lender is obliged to participate in a Loan if, as a result:

(i)

its participation in the Loans would exceed its Commitment; or

(ii)

the Loans would exceed the Total Commitments.

(d)

The Facility Agent must notify each Lender of the details of each Loan and the amount of its participation in that Loan and, if different, the amount of that participation to be

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made available in accordance with Clause 32.1 (Payments to the Facility Agent) by the Specified Time.

6.

Repayment

6.1

Repayment of Loans

(a)

The Company shall repay the aggregate outstanding amount of the Facility A Loans in full on the Termination Date.

(b)

The Company shall repay the aggregate outstanding amount of the Facility B Loans in full on the Termination Date.

(c)

The Company may not reborrow any part of a Facility which is repaid.

7.

Prepayment and Cancellation

7.1

Mandatory Prepayment – Illegality

(a)

If, in any applicable jurisdiction, it becomes unlawful for a Lender or any of its Affiliates for that Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by any Finance Document or to fund, issue or maintain its participation in any Loan, that Lender must notify the Facility Agent promptly on becoming aware of that event.

(b)

After a Lender notifies the Facility Agent under paragraph (a) above:

(i)

that Lender will not be obliged to fund a Loan;

(ii)

the Facility Agent must notify the Company promptly;

(iii)

with immediate effect, that Lender will not be obliged to fund any Loan; and

(iv)

unless that Lender’s participation and Commitment have been transferred pursuant to paragraph (d) of Clause 7.9 (Right of Replacement or Repayment and Cancellation in Relation to a Single Lender), on the date specified in paragraph (c) below:

(A)

the Company must repay or prepay that Lender’s participation in each Loan; and

(B)

that Lender’s Commitment will be cancelled.

(c)

The date for:

(i)

repayment or prepayment of a Lender’s participation in a Loan and cancellation of its corresponding Commitment will be:

(A)

the last day of the Interest Period of that Loan; or

(B)

if earlier, the date specified in that Lender’s notice to the Facility Agent under paragraph (a) above (which must be no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law); and

(ii)

cancellation of that Lender’s other Commitment will be the date specified in the Lender’s notice to the Facility Agent under paragraph (a) above (which must be no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law),

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provided that such a date must fall within 20 days after the Facility Agent has notified the Company under paragraph (b)(ii) above.

7.2

Mandatory Prepayment – Change of Control

(a)

For the purposes of this Clause 7.2:

a “Change of Control” occurs if any person or group of persons acting in concert (other than any Permitted Transferee) gains direct or indirect control over the Company, provided that a Change of Control will not occur:

(i)

solely as a result of all of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding any part of that issued share capital that carries no right to participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution of either profits or capital) being transferred to a newly-incorporated holding company (“TopCo”) if:

(A)

as a result of such transfer no person or persons acting in concert other than TopCo acquires direct or indirect control (as defined below) of the Company;

(B)

TopCo is not a Restricted Party;

(C)

prior to such transfer each Lender has received such documentation and evidence in respect of TopCo as necessary to pass all know your customer and similar checks; and

(D)

no person or persons acting in concert (other than any Permitted Transferee) shall acquire:

(1)

the power (whether by way of ownership of shares, proxy, contract, agency or otherwise) to:

(I)

cast, or control the casting of, more than 50% of the maximum number of votes that might be cast at a general meeting of TopCo;

(II)

appoint or remove all, or the majority, of the directors or other equivalent officers of TopCo; or

(III)

give directions with respect to the operating and financial policies of TopCo with which the directors or other equivalent officers of TopCo are obliged to comply; or

(2)

legally or beneficially more than 50% of the issued share capital of TopCo excluding any part of that issued share capital that carries no right to participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution of either profits or capital;

(ii)

for the avoidance of doubt, as a result of the admission of any part of the share capital of the Company (or TopCo) to trading on any recognised stock or investment exchange or any other sale or issue of share capital of the Company (or TopCo) by way of flotation or public offering provided that, all of the conditions set out in paragraph (i) above are complied with; or

(iii)

as a result of any re-domiciliation of TopCo for internal structuring purposes provided that, all of the conditions set out in paragraph (i) above are complied with.

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“acting in concert” means acting together pursuant to an agreement or understanding (whether formal or informal);

“control” means:

(i)

the power (whether by way of ownership of shares, proxy, contract, agency or otherwise) to:

(A)

cast, or control the casting of, more than 50% of the maximum number of votes that might be cast at a general meeting of the Company;

(B)

appoint or remove all, or the majority, of the directors or other equivalent officers of the Company; or

(C)

give directions with respect to the operating and financial policies of the Company with which the directors or other equivalent officers of the Company are obliged to comply; or

(ii)

acquiring or holding beneficially more than 50% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding any part of that issued share capital that carries no right to participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution of either profits or capital); and

“Permitted Transferee” means:

(i)

any of African Tower Investment Limited, AIIF2 Towers Mauritius, ECP IHS (Mauritius) Limited, ECPIV-IHS Limited, ELQ Investors VIII Ltd, IFC Global Infrastructure Fund LP, International Finance Corporation, Korea Investment Corporation, Mobile Telephone Networks Netherlands BV, Towers One Limited, Towers Two Limited, Towers Three Limited, Emerging Capital Associates III LLC, ECP Manager LP, Ninety One Africa Private Equity Fund 2 LP, Ninety One Africa Frontier Private Equity Fund LP, Ninety One Fund Managers SA RF Proprietary Limited, Ninety One Africa Frontier Private Equity Associate Fund LP, Nederlandse Financierings-Maatscha PPIJ voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V., Oranje-Nassau Developpement SCA FIAR, UBC Services Inc. and Warrington Investment PTE Ltd or any of their successors;

(ii)

a wholly-owned Subsidiary of any of the persons or entities listed in paragraph (i) above; and

(iii)

any person agreed between the Company and the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders),

and in each case, which is not a Restricted Party.

(b)

The Company must notify the Facility Agent promptly on becoming aware of any Change of Control. The Facility Agent must then promptly notify the Lenders of that event occurring.

(c)

After the occurrence of a Change of Control, no Lender will be obliged to fund a Loan and if a Lender so requires and notifies the Facility Agent within 20 Business Days of the Company notifying the Facility Agent of the Change of Control, the Facility Agent must, by not less than 30 days’ notice to the Company:

(i)

cancel the Commitment of that Lender; and

(ii)

declare the participation of that Lender in all outstanding Loans, together with accrued interest and all other amounts accrued or outstanding to that Lender under the Finance Documents, to be immediately due and payable.

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Any such notice will take effect in accordance with its terms.

7.3

Mandatory Prepayment – Material Subsidiary Event of Default

(a)

The Company must notify the Facility Agent promptly upon becoming aware of a Material Subsidiary Event of Default. The Facility Agent must notify the Lenders of the occurrence of a Material Subsidiary Event of Default promptly upon becoming aware of it (whether by way of a notification from the Company or otherwise).

(b)

While a Material Subsidiary Event of Default is continuing, if a Lender so requires and notifies the Facility Agent no later than 15 Business Days of the Company notifying the Facility Agent of such Material Subsidiary Event of Default:

(i)

that Lender will not be obliged to fund a Loan;

(ii)

the Company must repay or prepay that Lender’s participation in each Loan on the date specified in paragraph (c) below; and

(iii)

that Lender’s Commitment will be immediately cancelled,

Any such notice will take effect in accordance with its terms.

(c)

The date for repayment or prepayment of a Lender’s participation in a Loan will be the date falling three Business Days after the date of the notification to the Company under paragraph (b) above.

(d)

For the purpose of paragraph (b) above, a Material Subsidiary Event of Default is continuing until the later of the date on which (i) the Material Subsidiary Event of Default is no longer continuing in accordance with this Agreement or the relevant document evidencing the relevant Financial Indebtedness, as the case may be, and (ii) the Company notifies the Facility Agent in writing that such Material Subsidiary Event of Default is not continuing in accordance with this Agreement or the relevant document evidencing the relevant Financial Indebtedness.

7.4

Mandatory Prepayment – Sanctions Etc.

If any representation, warranty or statement made by an Obligor under or in connection with Clause 18.20 (Sanctions) or 18.21 (Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws) is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any respect, or an Obligor breaches any of its obligations under Clause 22.4 (Sanctions) or Clause 22.5 (Anti-Bribery and Corruption and Anti-Money Laundering):

(a)

the Company must notify the Facility Agent promptly upon becoming aware of that event;

(b)

a Lender shall not be obliged to fund a Loan; and

(c)

if a Lender so requires and notifies the Facility Agent no later than 15 Business Days of the Company notifying the Facility Agent of that event, the Facility Agent must, by not less than 20 days’ notice to the Company:

(i)

declare the participation of that Lender in all outstanding Loans, together with accrued interest and all other amounts accrued or outstanding to that Lender under the Finance Documents, to be immediately due and payable; and/or

(ii)

immediately cancel that Lender’s Commitment.

Any such notice will take effect in accordance with its terms.

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7.5

Note Maturity Event

(a)

The Company must notify the Facility Agent promptly on becoming aware of any Note Maturity Event. The Facility Agent must then promptly notify the Lenders of that event occurring.

(b)

If on the Note Maturity Test Date a Note Maturity Event has occurred, no Lender will be obliged to fund a Loan and if a Lender so requires and notifies the Facility Agent within 20 Business Days of the Company notifying the Facility Agent of the Note Maturity Event, the Facility Agent must, by not less than 30 days’ notice to the Company:

(i)

cancel each Commitment of that Lender; and

(ii)

declare the participation of that Lender in all outstanding Loans, together with accrued interest and all other amounts accrued or outstanding to that Lender under the Finance Documents, to be immediately due and payable.

Any such notice will take effect in accordance with its terms.

(c)

For the purposes of this Clause 7.5:

a “Note Maturity Event” shall occur if, on 18 March 2027 (the “Note Maturity Test Date”), the 2027 Notes remain outstanding in an aggregate principal amount outstanding greater than USD 500,000,000, provided that if any principal amount of the 2027 Notes is prepaid or repaid prior to the Note Maturity Test Date using the proceeds of Financial Indebtedness in the form of a loan, bond or comparable debt instrument entered into by an Obligor after the date of this Agreement from any creditor other than the Company or any Affiliate of the Company and which has a maturity date (howsoever described) falling prior to the Termination Date (“Refinancing Debt”), then that principal amount prepaid or repaid from the proceeds of such Refinancing Debt shall be deemed for the purpose of this definition to be outstanding on the Note Maturity Test Date.

7.6

Voluntary Cancellation

(a)

The Company may, if it gives the Facility Agent not less than five Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) notice, cancel the whole or any part of an Available Facility.

(b)

Partial cancellation of an Available Facility under this Clause 7.5 must be in a minimum amount of (i) USD 10,000,000 in respect of Facility A and (ii) ZAR 200,000,000 in respect of Facility B, provided that Facility A and Facility B must be cancelled on a pro rata basis.

(c)

Any cancellation in part under this Clause 7.5 will reduce the Commitments of the Lenders under that Facility pro rata.

7.7

Voluntary Prepayment

(a)

The Company may, if it gives the Facility Agent not less than five Business Days’ (or in any case any such shorter period as the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and the Facility Agent (acting on its own behalf) may agree) prior notice, prepay the whole or any part of a Loan at any time.

(b)

A prepayment of part of a Loan under this Clause 7.7 must be in a minimum amount of (i) USD 10,000,000 in respect of Facility A and (ii) ZAR 200,000,000 in respect of Facility B, provided that Facility A and Facility B must be prepaid on a pro rata basis.

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7.8

Automatic Cancellation

(a)

Subject to paragraph (b) below, the unutilised Commitment of each Lender will be automatically cancelled at close of business on the last day of the Availability Period.

(b)

If a Material Subsidiary Event of Default is continuing for a continuous period of more than 180 days following notification to the Facility Agent of such Material Subsidiary Event of Default under Clause 7.3 (Mandatory Prepayment – Material Subsidiary Event of Default) above, the Total Commitments will be automatically cancelled in full.

7.9

Right of Replacement or Repayment and Cancellation in Relation to a Single Lender

(a)

If:

(i)

any sum payable to any Lender by an Obligor is required to be increased under paragraph (c) of Clause 12.2 (Tax Gross-Up);

(ii)

any Lender claims any amount from the Company under Clause 12.3 (Tax Indemnity) or Clause 13 (Increased Costs);

(iii)

any Lender invokes a market disruption under Clause 10.3 (Market Disruption); or

(iv)

any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender,

the Company may, while the circumstances giving rise to the requirement for that increase or payment of that amount continue, give notice to the Facility Agent of its intention to cancel the Commitment of that Lender and repay or prepay that Lender’s participation in all outstanding Loans, or of its intention to replace that Lender in accordance with paragraph (d) below.

(b)

On receipt of a notice of prepayment and cancellation under paragraph (a) above in relation to a Lender:

(i)

the Commitment of that Lender will immediately be reduced to zero; and

(ii)

the Company must repay or prepay that Lender’s participation in each Loan on the date specified in paragraph (c) below.

(c)

The date for repayment or prepayment of a Lender’s participation in a Loan will be:

(i)

the last day of the Interest Period for that Loan which is current on the date of the notice under paragraph (a) above; or

(ii)

if earlier, the date specified in the Company’s notice to the Facility Agent under paragraph (a) above.

(d)

If:

(i)

any of the circumstances set out in paragraph (a) above apply to a Lender; or

(ii)

the Company becomes obliged to pay an amount in accordance with Clause 7.1 (Mandatory Prepayment – Illegality) to a Lender,

the Company may, on not less than five Business Days’ notice to the Facility Agent and that Lender, replace that Lender by requiring that Lender to (and, to the extent permitted by law, that Lender must) transfer pursuant to Clause 25 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Lender or other bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (a “Replacement Lender”) selected by the Company, which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of the transferring Lender in accordance with this Agreement for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of the transfer in an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans and all accrued interest (to the extent that the Facility Agent has not given a notification under Clause 25.9 (Pro Rata Interest Settlement)), Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation to it under the Finance Documents.

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(e)

The replacement of a Lender pursuant to paragraph (d) above will be subject to the following conditions:

(i)

in the event of a replacement of a Non-Consenting Lender, such replacement or prepayment must occur during a period of 60 days commencing on the date on which the relevant consent is requested;

(ii)

the Company will have no right to replace the Facility Agent;

(iii)

neither the Facility Agent nor any Lender will have any obligation to find a Replacement Lender;

(iv)

the Lender to be replaced will not be required to pay or surrender to such Replacement Lender any of the fees received by that Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents; and

(v)

the Lender to be replaced will only be obliged to transfer its rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (d) above once it is satisfied that it has complied with any “know your customer” checks or other similar checks required under any applicable law or regulation in relation to that transfer.

(f)

A Lender to be replaced must perform the checks described in paragraph (e)(v) above as soon as reasonably practicable after delivery of a notice under paragraph (d) above and must notify the Facility Agent and the Company promptly when it is satisfied that it has complied with those checks.

7.10

Right of Cancellation in Relation to a Defaulting Lender

(a)

If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Company may, at any time whilst the Lender continues to be a Defaulting Lender, give the Facility Agent five Business Days’ notice of cancellation of each Available Commitment of that Lender.

(b)

On the notice referred to in paragraph (a) above becoming effective, each Available Commitment of the Defaulting Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.

(c)

The Facility Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (a) above, notify all the Lenders.

7.11

Prepayment of Loans

No Loan (or participation in a Loan) that is prepaid may be re-borrowed except (in the case of Clause 7.3 (Mandatory Prepayment – Material Subsidiary Event of Default) or Clause 7.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Sanctions Etc.)) in accordance with the terms of Clause 7.13 (Reinstatement of Commitment) or in the case of Clause 7.7 (Voluntary Prepayment).

7.12

Miscellaneous

(a)

Any notice of cancellation or prepayment under this Clause:

(i)

is irrevocable; and

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(ii)

unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, must specify:

(A)

the date on which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made; and

(B)

the amount of that cancellation or prepayment.

(b)

Any prepayment under this Agreement must be made together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, subject to any Break Cost, without premium or penalty.

(c)

No prepayment or cancellation is allowed except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement.

(d)

Subject to Clause 2.2 (Increase) and Clause 7.13 (Reinstatement of Commitment), no amount of the Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated.

(e)

If the Facility Agent receives a notice under this Clause, it must promptly forward a copy of that notice to either the Company or the affected Lender(s), as appropriate.

(f)

If all or part of a Lender’s participation in a Loan is repaid or prepaid and is not available for re- borrowing, an equivalent amount of that Lender’s Commitment will be deemed to be cancelled on the date of repayment or prepayment (and for these purposes this includes any amount which may be reinstated under Clause 7.13 (Reinstatement of Commitment)).

7.13

Reinstatement of Commitment

(a)

If all or any part of a Lender’s Commitment has been cancelled pursuant to paragraph (b) of Clause 7.3 (Mandatory Prepayment – Material Subsidiary Event of Default) or paragraph (c) of Clause 7.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Sanctions Etc.), the Company may, by notice to the Facility Agent, request that Lender to reinstate its Commitment, and the cancelled Commitment of that Lender shall be so reinstated if that Lender confirms its willingness to reinstate its cancelled Commitment in writing to the Company and the Facility Agent.

(b)

The reinstatement of a Lender’s Commitment under paragraph (a) above shall take effect on the date the Facility Agent receives (or is deemed to have received, pursuant to Clause 34.3 (Delivery)) that Lender’s written confirmation of its willingness to reinstate its cancelled Commitment.

7.14

Application of Prepayments

(a)

Any prepayment of a Facility A Loan pursuant to Clause 7.7 (Voluntary Prepayment) will be applied pro rata to each Lender’s participation in that Facility A Loan.

(b)

Any prepayment of a Facility B Loan pursuant to Clause 7.7 (Voluntary Prepayment) will be applied pro rata to each Lender’s participation in that Facility B Loan.

8.

Interest

8.1

Calculation of Interest

The rate of interest on each Loan for an Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable:

(a)

Margin; and

(b)

Reference Rate for the currency of that Loan.

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8.2

Payment of Interest

Except where this Agreement expressly provides to the contrary, the Company must pay accrued interest on each Loan on the last day of each Interest Period (and, if the Interest Period is longer than six Months, on the dates falling at six-Monthly intervals after the first day of the Interest Period).

8.3

Default Interest

(a)

If an Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest will accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to paragraph (c) below, is 2% per annum higher than the rate which would have been payable if the overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan in the currency of the overdue amount for successive Interest Periods, each with a duration and Quotation Day selected by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably).

(b)

Any interest accruing under this Clause 8.3 will be immediately payable by the Obligor on demand by the Facility Agent.

(c)

If any overdue amount consists of all or part of a Loan which became due on a day which was not the last day of its Interest Period:

(i)

the first Interest Period for that overdue amount will have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the then current Interest Period relating to that Loan; and

(ii)

the rate of interest applying to the overdue amount during that first Interest Period will be 2% per annum higher than the rate which would have applied if the overdue amount had not become due.

(d)

Unpaid interest arising on an overdue amount will be compounded with the overdue amount at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that overdue amount but will remain immediately due and payable.

8.4

Notification of Rates of Interest

(a)

The Facility Agent must notify each relevant Party promptly of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement.

(b)

The Facility Agent must notify the Company promptly of each Funding Rate relating to a Loan.

(c)

This Clause 8.4 shall not require the Facility Agent to make any notification to any Party on a day which is not a Business Day.

9.

Interest Periods

9.1

Selection of Interest Periods

(a)

The Company must select the Interest Period for a Loan in the applicable Utilisation Request for that Loan or in a Selection Notice.

(b)

Each Selection Notice is irrevocable and must be delivered to the Facility Agent by the Company not later than the Specified Time.

(c)

If the Company fails to deliver a Selection Notice to the Facility Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above, the relevant Interest Period will be three Months.

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(d)

Subject to the other provisions of this Clause, the Company may select an Interest Period for a Loan of three Months or any other period agreed by the Company, the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of all Lenders) and the Facility Agent (acting on its own behalf).

(e)

Each Interest Period for a Loan will start on the Utilisation Date or (if already made) on the last day of its preceding Interest Period.

(f)

No Interest Period for a Loan shall extend beyond the Termination Date.

(g)

Prior to the Syndication Date, Interest Periods shall be one Month or such other period as the Facility Agent and the Company may agree and any Interest Period which would otherwise end during the Month preceding or extend beyond the Syndication Date shall end on the Syndication Date.

9.2

Non-Business Days

If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, it will instead end on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

9.3

No Overrunning the Termination Date

If an Interest Period would otherwise end after the Termination Date, it will be shortened so that it ends on the Termination Date.

9.4

Notification

The Facility Agent must notify each relevant Party of the duration of each Interest Period promptly after ascertaining it.

9.5

Consolidation of Loans

If two or more Interest Periods relate to Loans and end on the same date, those Loans will be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan on the last day of the Interest Period.

10.

Changes to the Calculation of Interest

10.1

Unavailability of Term SOFR

(a)

Interpolated Reference Rate: If no Term SOFR is available for the Interest Period of a Loan, the applicable Reference Rate shall be the Interpolated Reference Rate for dollars for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan.

(b)

Shortened Interest Period: If no Term SOFR is available for the Interest Period of a Loan and it is not possible to calculate the Interpolated Reference Rate for dollars, the Interest Period of that Loan shall (if it is longer than the applicable Fallback Interest Period) be shortened to the applicable Fallback Interest Period and the applicable Reference Rate for that shortened Interest Period shall be determined pursuant to the definition of “Reference Rate”.

(c)

Shortened Interest Period and Historic Term SOFR: If the Interest Period of a Loan in dollars is, after giving effect to paragraph (b) above, either the applicable Fallback Interest Period or shorter than the applicable Fallback Interest Period and, in either case, no Term SOFR is available for the Interest Period of that Loan and it is not possible to calculate the Interpolated Reference Rate, the applicable Reference Rate shall be the Historic Term SOFR for that Loan.

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(d)

Cost of Funds: if no Term SOFR is available for the Interest Period of a Loan in dollars and it is not possible to calculate the Historic Term SOFR for that Loan, there will be no Reference Rate for that Loan and, Clause ‎10.5 (Cost of Funds) shall apply to that Loan for that Interest Period.

10.2

Unavailability of JIBAR

(a)

Interpolated Reference Rate: If no JIBAR is available for the Interest Period of a Loan, the applicable Reference Rate for ZAR shall be the Interpolated Reference Rate for ZAR for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan.

(b)

Reference Bank Rate: If paragraph (a) above applies but it is not possible to calculate the Interpolated Reference Rate, the applicable Reference Rate shall be the Reference Bank Rate as of the Specified Time for ZAR and for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan.

(c)

Cost of Funds: If paragraph (b) above applies but no Reference Bank Rate is available then there shall be no JIBAR for that Loan and Clause ‎10.5 (Cost of Funds) shall apply to that Loan for that Interest Period.

10.3

Market Disruption

If before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Facility Agent receives notification from a Lender or Lenders under a Loan (whose participations in that Loan exceed 35% of that Loan) that its costs of funds relating to its participation in that Loan would be in excess of Term SOFR or, if applicable, JIBAR, then Clause ‎10.5 (Cost of Funds) will apply to that Loan for the relevant Interest Period.

10.4

Calculation of Reference Bank Rate

(a)

Subject to paragraph (b) below, if the Reference Rate for ZAR is to be determined on the basis of a Reference Bank Rate but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by the Specified Time, the relevant Reference Bank Rate shall be calculated on the basis of the quotations of the remaining relevant Reference Banks.

(b)

If at or about noon (Johannesburg time) on the Quotation Day, none or only one of the Reference Banks supplies a quotation, there shall be no Reference Bank Rate for the relevant Interest Period.

10.5

Cost of Funds

(a)

If this Clause ‎10.5 applies to a Loan for an Interest Period the rate of interest on each Lender’s share of the relevant Loan for the relevant Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the sum of:

(i)

the applicable Margin; and

(ii)

the weighted average of the rates notified to the Facility Agent by each Lender as soon as practicable but in any event within five Business Days before the date on which interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period, to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum its cost of funds relating to its participation in that Loan.

(b)

If this Clause ‎10.5 applies and the Facility Agent or the Company so requires, the Facility Agent and the Company must enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than 30 days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest.

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(c)

Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to paragraph ‎(b) above shall, with the prior consent of the Majority USD Lenders (in relation to any alternative basis for a Facility A Loan) or the Majority ZAR Lenders (in relation to any alternative basis for Facility B Loan) and the Company, be binding on all Parties.

(d)

If this Clause ‎10.5 applies to a Loan but any Lender does not notify the Facility Agent of a rate by the time specified in paragraph (a)(ii) above, the rate of interest on the relevant Loan for the Interest Period will be calculated on the basis of the rates notified by the other Lenders.

10.6

Notification to Company

If Clause ‎10.5 applies the Facility Agent shall, as soon as is practicable, notify the Company.

10.7

Break Costs

(a)

The Company must pay to a Finance Party its Break Costs if all or any part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum is paid on a day other than the last day of an applicable Interest Period.

(b)

Each Lender must, as soon as reasonably practicable after a request by the Facility Agent or the Company, provide a certificate confirming the amount of any Break Costs it claims.

11.

Fees

11.1

Commitment Fee

(a)

The Company must pay to the Facility Agent (for the account of each Lender) a commitment fee computed at the rate of 35% of the Margin on that Lender’s Available Commitment.

(b)

The commitment fee shall accrue on a daily basis for each day on which the Available Facility is greater than zero, from and including the date of this Agreement.

(c)

The accrued commitment fee is payable on the last day of each successive period of three Months commencing on or after the date of this Agreement and ending during the Availability Period, on the last day of the Availability Period, and, if cancelled in full, on the cancelled amount of a Lender’s Commitment at the time the cancellation is effective.

11.2

Upfront Fee

The Company must pay to each Original Lender (for its own account) a participation fee in the amount and manner agreed in a Fee Letter.

11.3

Facility Agent’s Fee

The Company must pay to the Facility Agent (for its own account) an agency fee in the amount and manner agreed in a Fee Letter.

12.

Tax Gross Up and Indemnities

12.1

Definitions

(a)

In this Clause:

“Cancelled Certificate” means any QPP Certificate in respect of which HM Revenue & Customs has given a notification under regulation 7(4)(b) of the QPP Regulations so that such QPP Certificate is a cancelled certificate for the purposes of the QPP Regulations.

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“Company DTTP Filing” means an HM Revenue & Customs’ Form DTTP2 duly completed and filed by the Company, which:

(i)

where it relates to a Treaty Lender that is an Original Lender, contains the scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence stated opposite that Lender’s name in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (The Original Parties) and is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of the date of this Agreement; or

(ii)

where it relates to a Treaty Lender that is a New Lender or an Increase Lender, contains the scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence stated in respect of that Lender in the documentation which it executes on becoming such a Lender and is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of that date.

“Protected Party” means a Finance Party which is subject to any liability, or is required to make any payment for Tax in relation to a sum received or receivable under a Finance Document.

“QPP Certificate” means a creditor certificate for the purposes of the QPP Regulations, given, in the case of an Original Lender, in the form set out in Part 3 of Schedule 1 (The Parties), or, in the case of a New Lender, in the form set out in Schedule 2 of Schedule 4 (Form of Transfer Certificate), or Schedule 2 of Schedule 5 (Form of Assignment Agreement), or, in the case of an Increase Lender, in the form set out in Schedule 2 of Schedule 7 (Form of Increase Confirmation), as applicable.

“QPP Lender” means a Lender which has delivered a QPP Certificate to the Company, provided that such QPP Certificate is not a Withdrawn Certificate or a Cancelled Certificate.

“QPP Regulations” means the Qualifying Private Placement Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/2002).

“Qualifying Lender” means:

(i)

a Lender which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document and is:

(A)

a Lender:

(1)

which is a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the ITA) making an advance under a Finance Document and is within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that advance or would be within such charge as respects such payments apart from section 18A of the CTA; or

(2)

in respect of an advance made under a Finance Document by a person that was a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the ITA) at the time that that advance was made and within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that advance; or

(B)

a Lender which is:

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(1)

a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes;

(2)

a partnership each member of which is:

(I)

a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or

(II)

a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA;

(3)

a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company; or

(4)

a Lender which is:

(I)

the scheme administrator of a registered pension scheme (as those terms are defined in section 989 of the ITA) (or a nominee thereof); or

(II)

any other person or body listed in section 936(2) of the ITA (or a nominee thereof); or

(C)

a Treaty Lender; or

(D)

a QPP Lender.

“Tax Confirmation” means a confirmation by a Lender that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:

(i)

a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes;

(ii)

a partnership each member of which is:

(A)

a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or

(B)

a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA; or

(iii)

a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company; or

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(iv)

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(A)

a scheme administrator of a registered pension scheme (as those terms are defined in section 989 of the ITA) (or a nominee thereof); or

(B)

any other person or body listed in section 936(2) of the ITA (or a nominee thereof).

“Tax Credit” means a credit against, relief or remission for, payment of, repayment of, or on account of, any Tax.

“Treaty Lender” means a Lender, which is not a QPP Lender, and which:

(i)

is treated as a resident of a Treaty State for the purposes of the relevant Treaty;

(ii)

does not carry on a business in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment with which that Lender’s participation in a Loan is effectively connected; and

(iii)

meets all other conditions in the Treaty and/or under the laws of the United Kingdom (subject to the completion of any necessary procedural formalities) for full exemption from United Kingdom taxation on interest which relate to the Lender.

“Treaty State” means a jurisdiction having a double taxation agreement (a “Treaty”) with the United Kingdom which makes provision for full exemption from tax imposed by the United Kingdom on interest.

“UK Non-Bank Lender” means a Lender which is not an Original Lender and which gives a Tax Confirmation in the documentation which it executes on becoming a Party.

“Withdrawn Certificate” means a withdrawn certificate for the purposes of the QPP Regulations.

(b)

Unless this Clause expressly provides to the contrary, in this Clause a reference to determines or determined means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination.

(c)

For the avoidance of doubt, where a Lender is a partnership, that Lender shall only be a QPP Lender to the extent that each partner (or a person acting on their behalf) has delivered a QPP Certificate to the Company, provided that such QPP Certificate is not a Withdrawn Certificate or a Cancelled Certificate. A reference to a QPP Lender shall refer to a partner of that partnership as the context requires.

12.2

Tax Gross-Up

(a)

All payments shall be made by each Obligor under each Finance Document without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law.

(b)

The Company shall promptly upon becoming aware that an Obligor must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is a change in the rate or the basis of any Tax Deduction), notify the Facility Agent accordingly. A Lender must notify the Facility Agent promptly on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender. If the Facility Agent receives such notification, it must notify the affected Parties promptly.

(c)

Subject to the limitations and exclusions herein, if a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by an Obligor, the amount of the payment due from that Obligor must be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required.

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(d)

A payment shall not be increased under paragraph (c) above by reason of a Tax Deduction on account of Tax imposed by the United Kingdom, if on the date on which the payment falls due:

(i)

the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a Tax Deduction if the Lender had been a Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any change after the date it became a Lender under this Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application of) any law or Treaty or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority; or

(ii)

the relevant Lender is a Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of paragraph (i)(B) of the definition of “Qualifying Lender” and:

(A)

an officer of H.M. Revenue & Customs has given (and not revoked) a direction (a “Direction”) under section 931 of the ITA which relates to the payment and that Lender has received from the Obligor making the payment or from the Company a certified copy of that Direction; and

(B)

the payment could have been made to the Lender without any Tax Deduction if that Direction had not been made; or

(iii)

the relevant Lender is a Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of paragraph (i)(B) of the definition of “Qualifying Lender” and:

(A)

the relevant Lender has not given a Tax Confirmation to the Company; and

(B)

the payment could have been made to the Lender without any Tax Deduction if the Lender had given a Tax Confirmation to the Company, on the basis that the Tax Confirmation would have enabled the Company to have formed a reasonable belief that the payment was an “excepted payment” for the purpose of section 930 of the ITA; or

(iv)

the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the Obligor making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the Tax Deduction had that Lender complied with its obligations under paragraph (g) or (h) (as applicable) below.

(e)

If an Obligor is required by law to make a Tax Deduction, that Obligor must make that Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed by law and in the minimum amount required by law.

(f)

Within 30 days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Obligor making that Tax Deduction or payment must deliver to the relevant Facility Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment a statement under section 975 of the ITA or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) the appropriate payment has been made to the relevant Tax authority.

(g)

(i)

Subject to paragraph (ii) below, a Treaty Lender and each Obligor which makes a payment to which that Treaty Lender is entitled shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for that relevant Obligor to obtain authorisation to make that payment without a Tax Deduction.

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(ii)(A)A Treaty Lender which is an Original Lender and that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall confirm its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence opposite its name in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (The Original Parties); and

(B)

a Treaty Lender which is not an Original Lender and that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall confirm its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in the documentation which it executes on becoming a Party as a Lender,

and, having done so, that Lender shall be under no obligation pursuant to sub-paragraph (i) above.

(h)

If a Lender has confirmed its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with paragraph (g)(ii) above and:

(i)

The Company has not made a Company DTTP Filing in respect of that Lender; or

(ii)

The Company has made a Company DTTP Filing in respect of that Lender but:

(A)

that Company DTTP Filing has been rejected by HM Revenue & Customs;

(B)

HM Revenue & Customs has not given the Company authority to make payments to that Lender without a Tax Deduction within 60 days of the date of the Company DTTP Filing; or

(C)

HM Revenue & Customs has given the Company authority to make payments to that Lender without a Tax Deduction but such authority has subsequently been revoked or expired,

and in each case, the Company has notified that Lender in writing, that Lender and the Company shall co-operate in completing any additional procedural formalities necessary for the Company to obtain authorisation to make that payment without a Tax Deduction.

(i)

If a Lender has not confirmed its scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with paragraph (g)(ii) above, the Company shall not make a Company DTTP Filing or file any other form relating to the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme in respect of that Lender’s Commitment(s) or its participation in any Utilisation unless the Lender otherwise agrees.

(j)

The Company shall, promptly on making a Company DTTP Filing, deliver a copy of that Company DTTP Filing to the Facility Agent for delivery to the relevant Lender.

(k)

A UK Non-Bank Lender which is an Original Lender gives a Tax Confirmation to the Company by entering into this Agreement.

(l)

A UK Non-Bank Lender shall promptly notify the Company and the Facility Agent if there is any change in the position from that set out in the Tax Confirmation.

(m)

If the Company receives a notification from HM Revenue & Customs that a QPP Certificate given by a Lender has no effect, the Company shall promptly deliver a copy of that notification to that Lender.

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12.3

Tax Indemnity

(a)

Except as provided in paragraph (b) below, the Company shall, within five Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent, pay to a Protected Party an amount equal to the cost, loss or liability which that Protected Party determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly) incurred for or on account of Tax by that Protected Party in respect of a Finance Document.

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply:

(i)

with respect to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party:

(A)

under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident for tax purposes; or

(B)

under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party’s Facility Office is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in that jurisdiction,

if that Tax is imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or receivable (but not any sum deemed to be received or receivable) by that Finance Party; or

(ii)

if and to the extent that a cost, loss or liability:

(A)

is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 12.2 (Tax Gross-Up); or

(B)

would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 12.2 (Tax Gross-Up) but was not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions in paragraph (d) of Clause 12.2 (Tax Gross-Up) applied; or

(C)

is in respect of an amount of (i) stamp duty, registration or other similar Tax or (ii) VAT (which shall be dealt with in Clause 12.6 (Stamp Taxes) and Clause 12.7 (VAT) respectively); or

(D)

relates to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party.

(c)

A Protected Party making, or intending to make, a claim under paragraph (a) above must notify the Facility Agent promptly of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent must notify the Company promptly.

(d)

A Protected Party must, on receiving a payment from an Obligor under this Clause 12.3 (Tax Indemnity), notify the Facility Agent promptly.

12.4

Tax Credit

If an Obligor makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:

(a)

a Tax Credit is attributable to:

(i)

an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part; or

(ii)

that Tax Payment; or

(iii)

a Tax Deduction in consequence of which that Tax Payment was required; and

(b)

that Finance Party has obtained and utilised that Tax Credit,

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the Finance Party must pay an amount to the relevant Obligor which that Finance Party determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by the Obligor.

12.5

Lender status confirmation

Each New Lender or Increase Lender shall indicate, in the documentation which it executes on becoming such a Lender, and for the benefit of the Facility Agent and without liability to any Obligor, which of the following categories it falls in:

(a)

not a Qualifying Lender;

(b)

a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender or a QPP Lender); or

(c)

a Treaty Lender; or

(d)

a QPP Lender.

If such a Lender fails to indicate its status in accordance with this Clause 12.5 then that Lender shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement (including by each Obligor) as if it is not a Qualifying Lender until such time as it notifies the Facility Agent which category applies (and the Facility Agent, upon receipt of such notification, shall inform the Company). For the avoidance of doubt, the documentation which a New Lender or Increase Lender executes on becoming such a Lender shall not be invalidated by any failure of a Lender to comply with this Clause12.5.

12.6

Stamp Taxes

The Company shall pay and, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Secured Party against any cost, loss or liability that Secured Party incurs in relation to any stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document, save in respect of a transfer, assignment, sub-participation, subcontract or derivative transaction (which transfers any discretion with regard to the exercise of voting rights) by a Lender of any of its rights and/or obligations under a Finance Document (except where such transfer, assignment, sub-participation, subcontract or derivative transaction (which transfers any discretion with regard to the exercise of voting rights) is made pursuant to Clause 15 (Mitigation by the Lenders) or at the request of an Obligor).

12.7

VAT

(a)

All amounts expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any Party to a Finance Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for a supply or supplies for VAT purposes are deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on such supply or supplies, and accordingly, subject to paragraph (b) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply or supplies made by any Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document, and such Finance Party is required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, that Party must pay to such Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying the consideration for such supply or supplies) an amount equal to the amount of the VAT (and such Finance Party must promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to that Party).

(b)

If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party (the “Supplier”) to any other Party (the “Recipient”) under a Finance Document, and any Party other than the Recipient (the “Relevant Party”) is required by the terms of any Finance Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for that supply to the

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Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse or indemnify the Recipient in respect of that consideration):

(i)

(where the Supplier is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT), the Relevant Party must also pay to the Supplier (at the same time as paying that amount) an additional amount equal to the amount of such VAT. The Recipient must (where this paragraph (i) applies) promptly pay to the Relevant Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment the Recipient receives from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines relates to the VAT chargeable on that supply; and

(ii)

(where the Recipient is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT), the Relevant Party must promptly, following demand from the Recipient, pay to the Recipient an amount equal to the VAT chargeable on that supply but only to the extent that the Recipient reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority in respect of that VAT.

(c)

Where VAT is or becomes chargeable in Nigeria on any supply made by the Supplier to the Recipient under a Finance Document, and the Recipient is required by law to withhold, remit and make returns on the VAT to the relevant Tax authority, the Recipient shall do so on or before the due date for the remittance or making the returns, and shall promptly provide the Supplier evidence of the Recipient’s compliance.

(d)

Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Finance Party for any cost or expense, that Party must reimburse and indemnify (as the case may be) the Finance Party against any VAT incurred by the Finance Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Finance Party reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.

(e)

Any reference in this Clause 12.7 to any Party will, at any time when that Party is treated as a member of a group or unity (or fiscal unity) for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the person who is treated at that time as making the supply, or (as appropriate) receiving the supply, under the VAT grouping rules (provided for in sections 43 to 43D of the Value Added Tax Act 1994, Article 11 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC (or as implemented by the relevant member state of the European Union) or any other similar provision in any jurisdiction which is not a member state of the European Union or the United Kingdom) so that a reference to a Party shall be construed as a reference to that Party or the relevant group or unity (or fiscal unity) of which that Party is a member for VAT purposes at the relevant time or the relevant representative member (or head) of that group or unity (or fiscal unity) at the relevant time (as the case may be).

(f)

In relation to any supply made by a Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document, if reasonably requested by such Finance Party, that Party must promptly provide such Finance Party with details of that Party’s VAT registration and such other information as is reasonably requested in connection with such Finance Party’s VAT reporting requirements in relation to such supply.

12.8

FATCA Information

(a)

Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Party must, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party:

(i)

confirm to that other Party whether it is:

(A)

a FATCA Exempt Party; or

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(B)

not a FATCA Exempt Party;

(ii)

supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other Party requests to enable that other Party to comply with FATCA; and

(iii)

supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with any other law, regulation, or exchange of information regime.

(b)

If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not, or has ceased to be, a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party must notify that other Party reasonably promptly.

(c)

Paragraph (a) above shall not oblige any Finance Party to do anything, and paragraph (a)(iii) above shall not oblige any other Party to do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of:

(i)

any law or regulation;

(ii)

any fiduciary duty; or

(iii)

any duty of confidentiality.

(d)

If a Party fails to confirm whether or not it is a FATCA Exempt Party or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with paragraph (a) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where paragraph (c) above applies), then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments under them) as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party until such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.

12.9

FATCA Deduction

(a)

Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party shall be required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction.

(b)

Each Party shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction), notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, shall notify the Company and the Facility Agent, and the Facility Agent shall notify the other Finance Parties.

13.

Increased Costs

13.1

Definitions

In this Agreement:

“Basel III” means:

(a)

the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and

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banking systems”, “Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” and “Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated;

(b)

the rules for global systemically important banks contained in “Global systemically important banks: assessment methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirement – Rules text” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented or restated; and

(c)

any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to “Basel III”.

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), of any of the following:

(a)

the adoption or introduction of any law, rule, regulation or treaty;

(b)

any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof;

(c)

the making or issuance of any binding guideline or binding directive by any governmental authority; provided that, for purposes of this Agreement, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives in connection therewith are deemed to have gone into effect and adopted after the date of this Agreement;

(d)

any change in Basel III or CRD IV; or

(e)

compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement.

“CRD IV” means:

(a)

Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms; and

(b)

Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms.

“Increased Costs” means:

(a)

a reduction in the rate of return from the Facility or on a Finance Party’s (or its Affiliate’s) overall capital;

(b)

an additional or increased cost; or

(c)

a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document,

which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates to the extent that it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into a Finance Document or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.

13.2

Increased Costs

Subject to Clause 13.4 (Exceptions) below, the Company shall, within three Business Days of a demand by the Facility Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of any Change in Law.

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13.3

Increased Costs Claims

(a)

A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 13.2 (Increased Costs) must notify the Facility Agent of the circumstances giving rise to and the amount of the claim, following which the Facility Agent must promptly notify the Company.

(b)

Each Finance Party must, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Facility Agent, provide a certificate (giving reasonable details of the circumstances giving rise to such claim and the calculation of the Increased Cost provided that such Finance Party shall not be required to disclose any information where disclosure of such information would breach any law or regulation to which such Finance Party is subject) confirming the amount of its Increased Costs, a copy of which shall be provided to the Company.

13.4

Exceptions

Clause 13.2 (Increased Costs) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is:

(a)

attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by an Obligor;

(b)

attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party;

(c)

compensated for by Clause 12.3 (Tax Indemnity) (or would have been compensated for under Clause 12.3 (Tax Indemnity) but was not compensated for solely because any of the exclusions in paragraph (b) of Clause 12.3 (Tax Indemnity) applied);

(d)

in respect of an amount of (i) stamp duty, registration or other similar Tax or (ii) VAT (which shall be dealt with in Clause 12.6 (Stamp Taxes) and Clause 12.7 (VAT) respectively);

(e)

attributable to the implementation or application of or compliance with the “International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised Framework” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in June 2004 in the form existing on the date of this Agreement (or, if later, the date the relevant Finance Party becomes a Party to this Agreement) (“Basel II”) or any other law or regulation which implements Basel II (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, Finance Party or any of its Affiliates);

(f)

attributable to implementation, application or compliance with Basel III or CRD IV other than to the extent that the Basel III or CRD IV have been amended and such amendments are not contemplated as at the date of this Agreement;

(g)

attributable to the wilful breach by any Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation or the terms of any Finance Document;

(h)

attributable to a change (whether in the rate basis, timing or otherwise) of Tax on the overall net income of the Finance Party (or any Affiliate of it) making such claim or of the branch or office through which it lends a Loan; or

(i)

attributable to any penalty having been imposed by the relevant central bank or monetary or fiscal authority upon the Finance Party (or any Affiliate of it) making such claim by virtue of its having exceeded any country or sector borrowing limits or breached any directives imposed upon it; or

(j)

not notified to the Facility Agent or the Company.

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14.

Other Indemnities

14.1

Currency Indemnity

(a)

If any sum due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (a “Sum”), or any order, judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the “First Currency”) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the “Second Currency”) for the purpose of:

(i)

making or filing a claim or proof against that Obligor; or

(ii)

obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings,

the Company shall as an independent obligation, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Secured Party to whom that Sum is due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum.

(b)

Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable.

14.2

Other Indemnities

(a)

The Company shall within three Business Days of demand indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by it as a result of:

(i)

the occurrence of any Event of Default;

(ii)

a failure by the Company to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability resulting from any distribution or redistribution of any amount among the Lenders under this Agreement ;

(iii)

funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Loan requested in a Utilisation Request but not made by reason of the operation of any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone); or

(iv)

a Loan (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with the Finance Documents .

(b)

The Company’s liability in each case includes any cost, loss or liability incurred on account of funds borrowed, contracted for or utilised to fund any Loan or any other amount payable under any Finance Document.

14.3

Indemnity to the Facility Agent

The Company shall indemnify the Facility Agent within three Business Days of demand against:

(a)

any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of:

(i)

investigating any event which the Facility Agent reasonably believes is a Default;

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(ii)

acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which the Facility Agent reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; or

(iii)

instructing lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts as permitted under this Agreement; and

(b)

any cost, loss or liability (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) incurred by the Facility Agent otherwise than by reason of the Facility Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability arising pursuant to Clause 32.10 (Disruption to Payment Systems), notwithstanding the Facility Agent’s negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever, other than any claim based on the fraud of the Facility Agent in acting as Facility Agent under the Finance Documents).

14.4

Indemnity to the Security Agent

(a)

The Company must indemnify the Security Agent and each Receiver and Delegate within three Business Days of demand against any cost, loss or liability incurred by any of them as a result of:

(i)

any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Clause 17 (Costs and Expenses);

(ii)

acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which the Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;

(iii)

the taking, holding, protection or enforcement of the Security under the Security Documents;

(iv)

the exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions and remedies vested in the Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate by the Finance Documents or by law;

(v)

any default by any Obligor in the performance of any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents;

(vi)

instructing lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts as permitted under this Agreement;

(vii)

acting as Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate under the Finance Documents or which otherwise relates to any of the Security Assets (otherwise, in each case, than by reason of the relevant Security Agent’s, Receiver’s or Delegate’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct).

(b)

The Security Agent and each Receiver and Delegate may, in priority to any payment to the Secured Parties, indemnify itself out of the Security Assets in respect of, and pay and retain, all sums necessary to give effect to the indemnity in this Clause 14.4 (Indemnity to the Security Agent) and Clause 17.3 (Enforcement Costs) and will have a lien on the Security under the Security Documents and the proceeds of enforcement of those Security for all moneys payable to it.

(c)

The rights conferred by this Clause 14.4 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall continue notwithstanding any disposal of any asset subject to the Finance Documents and are without prejudice to any right to indemnity by law given to trustees generally and to any provision of the Finance Documents entitling the Security Agent or any other person to an indemnity in respect of, and/or reimbursement of, any liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by it in connection with any of the

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Finance Documents or the performance of any duties under any of the Finance Documents.

15.

Mitigation by the Lenders

15.1

Mitigation

(a)

Each Finance Party must, in consultation with the Company, take all reasonable steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which would result in a Facility ceasing to be available or any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or being cancelled pursuant to, any of Clause 7.1 (Mandatory Prepayment – Illegality), Clause 12 (Tax Gross Up and Indemnities), Clause 13 (Increased Costs) including without limitation transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office.

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not in any way limit the obligations of any Obligor under the Finance Documents.

15.2

Limitation of Liability

(a)

The Company must indemnify each Finance Party promptly for any cost, loss or liability reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under this Clause.

(b)

A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under this Clause if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.

16.

Guarantee and Indemnity

16.1

Guarantee and Indemnity

Each Facility Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally jointly and severally:

(a)

guarantees to each Finance Party punctual performance by the Company of all of the Company’s payment obligations under the Finance Documents;

(b)

undertakes with each Finance Party that whenever the Company does not pay any amount when due under or in connection with any Finance Document, that Facility Guarantor must immediately on demand pay that amount as if it were the principal obligor in respect of that amount; and

(c)

agrees with each Finance Party that if any obligation guaranteed by that Facility Guarantor is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and primary obligation, indemnify that Finance Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability that Finance Party incurs as a result of the Company not paying any amount which would, but for such unenforceability, invalidity or illegality, have been payable by the Company under any Finance Document on the date when it would have been due. The amount payable by a Facility Guarantor under this indemnity will not exceed the amount it would have had to pay under this Clause if the amount claimed had been recoverable on the basis of a guarantee.

16.2

Continuing Guarantee

This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums payable by any Obligor under the Finance Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part.

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16.3

Reinstatement

If any discharge, release or arrangement (whether in respect of the obligations of any Obligor or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is made by a Finance Party in whole or in part on the basis of any payment, security or other disposition which is avoided or must be restored in insolvency, liquidation, administration or otherwise, without limitation, then the liability of each Facility Guarantor under this Clause will continue or be reinstated as if the discharge, release or arrangement had not occurred.

16.4

Facility Guarantor Intent

Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 16.5 (Waiver of Defences), each Facility Guarantor expressly confirms that it intends that this guarantee shall extend from time to time to any (however fundamental) variation, increase, extension or addition of or to any of the Finance Documents and/or any facility or amount made available under any of the Finance Documents for the purposes of or in connection with any of the following: business acquisitions of any nature; increasing working capital; enabling investor distributions to be made; carrying out restructurings; refinancing existing facilities; refinancing any other indebtedness; making facilities available to new borrowers; any other variation or extension of the purposes for which any such facility or amount might be made available from time to time; and any fees, costs and/or expenses associated with any of the foregoing.

16.5

Waiver of Defences

The obligations of each Facility Guarantor under this Clause will not be affected by an act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this Clause, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this Clause including (without limitation and whether or not known to it or any Finance Party):

(a)

any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor or other person;

(b)

the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group;

(c)

the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any Obligor or other person;

(d)

any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security;

(e)

any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of an Obligor or any other person;

(f)

any amendment, novation, supplement, extension (however fundamental and whether or not more onerous) or replacement of any Finance Document or any other document or security including without limitation any change in the purpose of, any extension of or any increase in any facility or the addition of any new facility under any Finance Document or other document or security;

(g)

any unenforceability, illegality, invalidity or non-provability of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document or any other document or security; or

(h)

any insolvency, resolution or similar proceedings.

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16.6

Immediate Recourse

(a)

Each Facility Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or claim payment from any person before claiming from that Facility Guarantor under this Clause.

(b)

This waiver applies irrespective of any law or any provision of a Finance Document to the contrary.

16.7

Appropriations

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may:

(a)

refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received by that Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or apply and enforce them in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and no Facility Guarantor will be entitled to the benefit of such moneys, security or rights; and

(b)

hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys received from any Facility Guarantor or on account of any Facility Guarantor’s liability under this Clause.

16.8

Deferral of Facility Guarantors’ Rights

(a)

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full or unless the Facility Agent otherwise directs, no Facility Guarantor will exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under the Finance Documents or by reason of any amount being payable, or liability arising under this Clause:

(i)

to be indemnified by an Obligor;

(ii)

to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of any Obligor’s obligations under the Finance Documents;

(iii)

to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or of any other guarantee or security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Finance Documents by any Finance Party;

(iv)

to bring legal or other proceedings for an order requiring any Obligor to make any payment, or perform any obligation, in respect of which any Facility Guarantor has given a guarantee, undertaking or indemnity under this Clause;

(v)

to exercise any right of set-off against any Obligor; and/or

(vi)

to claim or prove as a creditor of any Obligor in competition with any Finance Party.

(b)

If a Facility Guarantor receives any benefit, payment or distribution in relation to such rights it must hold that benefit, payment or distribution to the extent necessary to enable all amounts which may be or become payable to the Finance Parties by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents to be repaid in full on trust for the Finance Parties and must promptly pay or transfer them to the Facility Agent or as the

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Facility Agent may direct for application in accordance with Clause 32 (Payment Mechanics).

16.9

Release of Facility Guarantors’ Right of Contribution

If any Facility Guarantor (a “Retiring Guarantor”) ceases to be a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents for the purpose of any sale or other disposal of that Retiring Guarantor then on the date such Retiring Guarantor ceases to be a Guarantor:

(a)

that Retiring Guarantor is released by each other Facility Guarantor from any liability (whether past, present or future and whether actual or contingent) to make a contribution to any other Facility Guarantor arising by reason of the performance by any other Facility Guarantor of its obligations under the Finance Documents; and

(b)

each other Facility Guarantor waives any rights it may have by reason of the performance of its obligations under the Finance Documents to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under any Finance Document or of any other security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, any Finance Document where such rights or security are granted by or in relation to the assets of the Retiring Guarantor.

16.10

Additional Security

This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held by any Finance Party.

16.11

Limitations

(a)

This guarantee does not apply to any liability to the extent that it would result in this guarantee constituting unlawful financial assistance within the meaning of any applicable provisions under the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the relevant Facility Guarantor.

(b)

The obligations of any Facility Guarantor are subject to any limitations set out in the Accession Letter executed by that Facility Guarantor.

(c)

Without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (a) and (b) above any guarantee and/or indemnity under this Clause given by a Facility Guarantor incorporated in The Netherlands does not apply to any liability to the extent that it would result in such guarantee and/or indemnity constituting unlawful financial assistance within the meaning of any applicable provisions under Dutch law.

17.

Costs and Expenses

17.1

Transaction Expenses

The Company shall within ten Business Days of demand pay the Facility Agent, each Arranger and the Security Agent (and, in the case of the Security Agent, any Receiver or Delegate) the amount of all reasonable costs and expenses including, but not limited to, legal fees (subject to caps (if any)) properly incurred by any of them in relation to the arrangement, negotiation, preparation, printing, execution, syndication and perfection of:

(a)

this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement or in a Security Document; and

(b)

any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement.

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17.2

Amendment Costs

If an Obligor requests an amendment, waiver or consent (or any amendment or waiver is contemplated or agreed pursuant to Clause 38.4 (Changes to reference rates), the Company shall, within ten Business Days of demand, reimburse each of the Facility Agent and the Security Agent for the amount of all agreed third-party costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, legal fees) properly incurred by the Facility Agent and the Security Agent (and, in the case of the Security Agent, by any Receiver or Delegate) in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.

17.3

Enforcement Costs

The Company shall, within ten Business Days of demand, pay to each Secured Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, legal fees) incurred by it in connection with the enforcement of or the preservation of any rights under any Finance Document and the Security created under the Security Documents and any proceedings instituted by or against the Security Agent as a consequence of taking or holding the Security created under the Security Documents or enforcing these rights.

18.

Representations

18.1

Representations

(a)

The representations and warranties set out in this Clause (other than the representation and warranty set out in paragraph (b) of Clause 18.25 (Insolvency)) are made by the Company to each Finance Party on the dates set out in Clause 18.26 (Times for Making Representations).

(b)

Each Guarantor makes the representations and warranties set out in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Clause 18.2 (Status), Clause 18.3 (Binding Obligations), Clause 18.4 (Non-Conflict with other Obligations), Clause 18.5 (Power and Authority), Clause 18.6 (Validity and Admissibility in Evidence), Clause 18.7 (Governing Law and Enforcement), Clause 18.8 (Deduction of Tax), Clause 18.9 (No Filing or Stamp Taxes), paragraphs (a) and (c) of Clause 18.10 (No Default), Paragraph (a) of Clause 18.14 (Pari Passu Ranking), Clause 18.15 (Good Title), Clause 18.17 (Security and Financial Indebtedness), Clause 18.18 (No Proceedings Pending or Threatened), Clause 18.19 (No Breach of Laws), Clause 18.20 (Sanctions), Clause 18.21 (Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws), Clause 18.23 (No Immunity), Clause 18.24 (No Adverse Consequences) and paragraph (b) of Clause 18.25 (Insolvency) on the date set out in paragraph (b) of Clause 18.26 (Times for Making Representations).

18.2

Status

(a)

It is a limited liability company, duly incorporated and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation (or, in the case of the Company, it is an exempted company registered by way of continuation with limited liability, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands) (or, in the case of an Obligor that has completed a Permitted Redomiciliation or a Permitted Reorganisation into an Approved Jurisdiction, a limited liability company duly incorporated or registered under the law of an Approved Jurisdiction).

(b)

It has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted.

(c)

Each Material Subsidiary is a limited liability company, limited liability partnership or corporation, duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and each Material Subsidiary has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted.

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18.3

Binding Obligations

Subject to the Legal Reservations and, in the case of the Security Documents, the Perfection Requirements:

(a)

its obligations under the Finance Documents to which it is a party are legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations; and

(b)

(without limiting the generality of paragraph (a) above), each of the Security Documents to which it is party creates the security interests which that Security Document purports to create and those security interests are valid and effective.

18.4

Non-Conflict with other Obligations

The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents do not conflict with:

(a)

any law or regulation applicable to it;

(b)

its constitutional documents; or

(c)

any agreement or instrument binding on it or any of its assets, to an extent which has or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

18.5

Power and Authority

It has the power to enter into and perform, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its entry into and performance of, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated by those Finance Documents.

18.6

Validity and Admissibility in Evidence

All Authorisations required:

(a)

to enable it lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations in the Finance Documents to which it is a party; and

(b)

to make the Finance Documents to which it is a party, subject to the Legal Reservations and, in the case of the Security Documents, the Perfection Requirements, admissible in evidence in its Relevant Jurisdictions,

have been obtained or effected and are, subject to the Legal Reservations and, in the case of the Security Documents, Perfection Requirements, in full force and effect other than in respect of stamping and registration of the Security Documents.

18.7

Governing Law and Enforcement

(a)

Subject to the Legal Reservations, any:

(i)

submission under a Finance Document to the jurisdiction of particular courts or to arbitration (as applicable); and

(ii)

agreement as to the governing law of a Finance Document,

is legal, valid and binding under the laws of its Relevant Jurisdictions.

(b)

Subject to the Legal Reservations, any arbitral award or judgment obtained in the courts to whose jurisdiction it submitted, in each case, in relation to a Finance Document will be recognised and enforced by the courts of its Relevant Jurisdictions.

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18.8

Deduction of Tax

The Company is not required to make any Tax Deduction from any payment it may make under any Finance Document to a Lender which is:

(a)

a Qualifying Lender:

(i)

falling within paragraph (i)(A) of the definition of “Qualifying Lender”; or

(ii)

except where a Direction has been given under section 931 of the ITA in relation to the payment concerned, falling within paragraph (i)(B) of the definition of “Qualifying Lender”; or

(iii)

that is a QPP Lender; or

(b)

a Treaty Lender and the payment is one specified in a direction given by the Commissioners of HM Revenue & Customs under Regulation 2 of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (General) Regulations 1970 (SI 1970/488),

and no Guarantor is required to make any such Tax Deduction from any such payment to any Lender, other than the obligation of the Nigeria Obligors to deduct withholding tax on account of Nigerian withholding tax on interest from interest payments under this Agreement.

18.9

No Filing or Stamp Taxes

Under the laws of its Relevant Jurisdictions it is not necessary that any stamp, registration, notarial or similar Taxes or fees be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents except for:

(a)

any stamping, filing, recording or enrolling or any tax or fee payable in connection with assignments or transfers made pursuant to Clause 25 (Changes to the Lenders) or, as the case may be, to the enforcement of the Security created under the Security Documents and, subject to the Perfection Requirements, it is not necessary that the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction, except for any filing, recording or enrolling which is referred to in any Legal Opinion and which will be made within the time period allowed by applicable law or the relevant Finance Document;

(b)

any stamping, filing, recording or enrolling or any tax or fee payable in connection with the Security created under the Security Documents;

(c)

any stamping, filing, recording or enrolling or any tax or fee payable in connection with the Finance Documents (other than the Security Documents) in Nigeria, to the extent any person incorporated or established in Nigeria is a party to that Finance Document; and

(d)

any stamping, filing, recording or enrolling or any tax or fee payable in connection with any Finance Documents or Security Document that is executed in or brought to the Cayman Islands or produced before a court in the Cayman Islands.

18.10

No Default

(a)

No Event of Default has occurred (or, when this representation is made on the date of this Agreement, no Default) and is continuing or would reasonably be expected to result from any Loan or the entry into or the performance of, or any transaction contemplated by, any Finance Document.

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(b)

No other event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes a default (howsoever described or defined) under any agreement to which it is party and which would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)

In the case of a Guarantor only, no Default would (when this representation is made by a Guarantor on the date of this Agreement or (as applicable) the Guarantor Accession Date applicable to it) reasonably be expected to result from the entry by that Guarantor into, or the performance by that Guarantor of, or any transaction of that Guarantor contemplated by, any Finance Document.

18.11

No Material Subsidiary Event of Default

No Material Subsidiary Event of Default is continuing.

18.12

No Misleading Information

(a)

The Financial Plan has been prepared in accordance with IFRS, and the financial projections contained in the Financial Plan are fair and based on reasonable assumptions and have been approved by the board of directors of the Company.

(b)

Any financial projection or forecast contained in the Financial Plan has been prepared on the basis of reasonable assumptions and was fair (as at the date of the relevant report or document containing the projection or forecast) and arrived at after careful consideration.

18.13

Financial Statements

(a)

Its audited financial statements most recently delivered to the Facility Agent (which, at the date of this Agreement, are its Original Financial Statements) were prepared in accordance with IFRS, consistently applied.

(b)

There has been no material adverse change in its business or financial condition (consolidated if applicable) since the date to which its Original Financial Statements were drawn up.

18.14

Pari Passu Ranking

(a)

Its payment obligations under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu in right and priority of payment with all its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness (actual or contingent) except indebtedness preferred by laws of general application.

(b)

Subject to Legal Reservations and Perfection Requirements, any Security has or will have the ranking in priority which it is expressed to have in the Security Documents.

18.15

Good Title

It has good, valid and marketable title to, or valid leases or licences of, or is otherwise entitled to use, all assets necessary for the conduct of the business as it is presently being conducted, where failure to do so would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

18.16

Group Structure Chart and Subsidiaries

The Group Structure Chart accurately records in all material respects (other than any nominal shareholdings required by law) the structure of the Company and its operating Subsidiaries as at the date of this Agreement.

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18.17

Security and Financial Indebtedness

(a)

No Security or Quasi-Security exists over all or any of the present or future assets of the Company other than as permitted or not prohibited by the Finance Documents.

(b)

No Security or Quasi-Security exists over all or any of the present or future assets of any Material Subsidiary other than:

(i)

Permitted Security; or

(ii)

as permitted or not prohibited by the terms of the relevant Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility.

(c)

Neither the Company nor any Material Subsidiary has any Financial Indebtedness outstanding other than as permitted or not prohibited by the Finance Documents.

18.18

No Proceedings Pending or Threatened

No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings or investigation of or before any court, arbitral body or agency which, if adversely determined, would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect has been started or, to the best of its knowledge, is threatened, has been started or is pending against it or any of its Material Subsidiaries.

18.19

No Breach of Laws

Neither it nor any Material Subsidiary has breached any law or regulation which breach has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

18.20

Sanctions

(a)

Neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor its joint venture entities, nor any of their respective directors, officers or employees nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any persons acting on any of their behalf:

(i)

is a Restricted Party;

(ii)

has received notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation against it with respect to Sanctions by any Sanctions Authority;

(iii)

has been engaged in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or breaches or attempts to breach, directly or indirectly, any Sanctions; or

(iv)

has been engaged, directly or indirectly, in any trade, business or other activities with or for the benefit of any Restricted Party or which is in breach of any Sanctions.

(b)

Subject to paragraph (c) below, any representation made or deemed to be made pursuant to paragraph (a) above shall not apply for the benefit of a Finance Party to the extent that giving, complying with or receiving the benefit of (as applicable) such representation results in a breach of any applicable Blocking Law.

(c)

In relation to each Finance Party that notifies the Facility Agent and the Company to this effect, any provision of or representation made or deemed to be made pursuant to paragraph (a) that results in that Finance Party breaching any applicable Blocking Law will continue to apply for the benefit of that Finance Party notwithstanding such breach, and accordingly paragraph (b) will not apply to that Finance Party to this degree.

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18.21

Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws

(a)

The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has implemented policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance by it and its respective directors, officers and employees with Anti- Corruption Laws.

(b)

To the best of its knowledge, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has conducted its businesses in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws.

18.22

Environmental Compliance

(a)

It is in compliance with Clause 22.6 (Environmental Compliance) and to the best of its knowledge and belief (having made due and careful enquiry) no circumstances have occurred which would prevent such compliance in a manner or to an extent which would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)

No Environmental Claim has been commenced or (to the best of the Company’s knowledge and belief (having made due and careful enquiry)) is threatened against the Company where that claim would be reasonably likely, if adversely determined, to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse impact on the implementation or operation of the business of the Company in accordance with the Performance Standards.

18.23

No Immunity

In any proceedings taken in its jurisdiction of incorporation in relation to the Finance Documents to which it is a party, it will not be entitled to claim for itself or any of its assets immunity from suit, execution, attachment or other legal process.

18.24

No Adverse Consequences

(a)

It is not necessary under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation:

(i)

in order to enable any Finance Party that is a Party as at the date of this Agreement to enforce its rights under any Finance Document; or

(ii)

by reason of the entry into of any Finance Document in force as at the date of this Agreement or the performance by it of its obligations under any Finance Document,

that any Finance Party that is a Party as at the date of this Agreement should be licensed, qualified or otherwise entitled to carry on business in that jurisdiction.

(b)

No Finance Party that is a Party as at the date of this Agreement is or will be deemed to be resident, domiciled or carrying on business in that jurisdiction by reason only of the entry into, performance and/or enforcement of any Finance Document in force as at the date of this Agreement.

18.25

Insolvency

(a)

No:

(i)

corporate action, legal proceeding or other procedure or step described in paragraph (a) of Clause 23.9 (Insolvency Proceedings); or

(ii)

creditors’ process described in Clause 23.10 (Creditors’ Process or Expropriation),

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has been taken or, to its knowledge having made due and careful enquiry, is threatened in relation to it or any Material Subsidiary and none of the circumstances described in Clause 23.8 (Insolvency) applies to it or any Material Subsidiary.

(b)

No creditors’ process described in Clause 23.10 (Creditors’ Process or Expropriation) has been taken in respect of it nor, to its knowledge having made due and careful enquiry, is threatened in relation to it.

18.26

Times for Making Representations

(a)

The representations and warranties set out in this Clause are made by the Company on the date of this Agreement and on the date of the Nigeria Guarantee.

(b)

Each Guarantor shall make the representations and warranties listed in paragraph (b) of Clause 18.1 (Representations):

(i)

in the case of an Original Facility Guarantor, on the date of this Agreement;

(ii)

in the case of an Original Nigeria Guarantor, on the date of the Nigeria Guarantee; or

(iii)

in the case of an Additional Guarantor, on the Guarantor Accession Date applicable to that Additional Guarantor.

(c)

Each Obligor shall be deemed to repeat the Repeating Representations applicable to it on the date of each Utilisation Request, on each Utilisation Date and on the first day of each Interest Period.

(d)

The representation and warranty set out in paragraph (b) of Clause 18.14 (Pari Passu Ranking) is deemed to be made at the time a Security Document is entered into.

(e)

The representations and warranties set out in paragraph (a) of Clause 18.13 (Financial Statements) in respect of each set of audited financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 19.1 (Financial Statements) shall only be made once in respect of each set of audited financial statements on the date such Financial Statements are delivered.

(f)

Each representation or warranty deemed to be made after the date of this Agreement shall be deemed to be made by reference to the facts and circumstances existing at the date the representation or warranty is deemed to be made.

19.

Information Undertakings

19.1

Financial Statements

The Company must supply to the Facility Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders:

(a)

as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each of its Financial Years, its audited consolidated financial statements for that Financial Year (the “Annual Financial Statements”); and

(b)

as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three Financial Quarters of the Financial Year, its consolidated financial statements for the relevant Financial Quarter (the “Quarterly Financial Statements”).

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19.2

Compliance Certificate

(a)

The Company must supply to the Facility Agent a duly completed Compliance Certificate with each set of its financial statements delivered to the Facility Agent under paragraphs (a) or (b) of Clause 19.1 (Financial Statements).

(b)

A Compliance Certificate must be signed by an officer or a director of the Company.

(c)

Each Compliance Certificate must specify that no Default or Material Subsidiary Event of Default is continuing, and if this statement cannot be made the certificate should identify any Default that is continuing and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it.

19.3

Requirements as to Financial Statements

(a)

Each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 19.1 (Financial Statements):

(i)

gives (if audited) a true and fair view of, or (if unaudited) fairly represents, the financial condition (consolidated or otherwise) of the Company as at the date to which those financial statements were drawn up; and

(ii)

shall be prepared using IFRS, accounting practices and financial reference periods consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Financial Plan, unless, in relation to any set of financial statements, the Company notifies the Facility Agent that there has been a change in IFRS or the accounting practices and the Company delivers to the Facility Agent:

(A)

a description of any change necessary for those financial statements to reflect the IFRS or accounting practices upon which the Financial Plan was prepared; and

(B)

sufficient information, in form and substance as may be reasonably required by the Facility Agent, to enable the Lenders to determine whether Clause 20 (Financial Covenants) has been complied with and to make an accurate comparison between the financial position indicated in those financial statements and the Financial Plan.

(b)

Any reference in this Agreement to any financial statements shall be construed as a reference to those financial statements as adjusted to reflect the basis upon which the Financial Plan was prepared.

19.4

Information – Miscellaneous

The Company must supply to the Facility Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders if the Facility Agent so requests):

(a)

at the same time as they are dispatched, copies of all documents required by law to be dispatched by the Company to its creditors generally;

(b)

the details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings or investigations which are current, threatened or pending against any member of the Group and which have or might, if adversely determined, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c)

promptly but subject in any event to any applicable duty of confidentiality owed by a member of the Group to any person other than a member of the Group, the details of:

(i)

any amendment made or waiver granted in respect of the principal amount or tenor of, or financial covenants applicable under, any Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility or any Refinancing Facility;

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(ii)

any Refinancing Facility;

(iii)

any Bridge Facility; and

(iv)

any debt financing envisaged pursuant to Clause 22.23(b) (Distributions); and

(d)

upon request, such other information relating to the assets (which are as stated in the Company’s balance sheet from time to time), financial condition, business or operation of the Company, as the Facility Agent or any other Lender through the Facility Agent may from time to time reasonably request to monitor the compliance of the obligations of the Company.

19.5

Information – Senior Notes

While the Senior Notes remain outstanding, the Company shall procure that each issuer of the Senior Notes sends to the Facility Agent copies of the financial statements sent to the holders of the Senior Notes (or the trustee on their behalf) pursuant to section 4.03(a) of each Senior Notes Indenture.

19.6

Information – listing rules

Notwithstanding any provision of the Finance Documents requiring an Obligor to provide (or procure that a member of the Group provides) any information relating to an Obligor or the Group to any Finance Party (each such obligation, an “Information Obligation”), the Parties agree that, all Information Obligations shall be subject to legal regulatory and exchange requirements applicable to the Obligors in any relevant jurisdiction and no Default shall arise in relation to any Information Obligation as a result of any Obligor or member of the Group not providing information to any Finance Party where such provision would directly result in a breach of any law, regulation or listing rule which is applicable to that Obligor or member of the Group.

19.7

Notification of Default

(a)

The Company must notify the Facility Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) or any Material Subsidiary Event of Default promptly on becoming aware of its occurrence.

(b)

Promptly on request by the Facility Agent, the Company must supply to the Facility Agent a certificate, signed by a director or senior officer on its behalf, certifying that no Default is continuing (or, if a Default is continuing, specifying the Default and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it). The Facility Agent must notify the Lenders of the occurrence of an Event of Default promptly upon becoming aware of it (whether by way of notification from the Company or otherwise).

(c)

If any Lender (acting reasonably) suspects that a Material Subsidiary Event of Default has occurred, that Lender may notify the Facility Agent in writing to, and the Facility Agent shall, request the Company to confirm whether or not a Material Subsidiary Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. The Company must, promptly following receipt of any such request, supply to the Facility Agent a certificate, signed by a director or senior officer on its behalf, confirming that no Material Subsidiary Event of Default is continuing (or, if a Material Subsidiary Event of Default is continuing, specifying the relevant default and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it).

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19.8

Use of Websites

(a)

The Company may satisfy its obligation under this Agreement to deliver any information by posting such information onto an electronic website designated by the Company and the Facility Agent (a “Designated Website”).

(b)

The Facility Agent must supply each Lender with the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website following designation of that website by the Company and the Facility Agent.

(c)

The Company must promptly on becoming aware of its occurrence notify the Facility Agent if:

(i)

the Designated Website cannot be accessed due to technical failure;

(ii)

the password specifications for the Designated Website change;

(iii)

any new information which is required to be provided under this Agreement is posted onto the Designated Website;

(iv)

any existing information which has been provided under this Agreement and posted onto the Designated Website is amended; or

(v)

the Company becomes aware that the Designated Website or any information posted onto the Designated Website is or has been infected by any electronic virus or similar software.

(d)

If the Company notifies the Facility Agent under paragraph (c)(i) or paragraph (c)(v) above, all information to be provided by the Company under this Agreement after the date of that notice must be supplied in paper or alternative electronic form unless and until the Facility Agent (acting reasonably) is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the notification are no longer continuing.

19.9

“Know Your Customer” Checks

(a)

Subject to paragraph (b) below, the Company must, promptly on request by any Finance Party, supply any documentation or other evidence requested by that Finance Party (whether for itself, or on behalf of any other Finance Party or any prospective new Lender) to enable a Finance Party or prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied with the results of any “know your customer” checks or other similar checks required under any applicable law or regulation in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents.

(b)

The Company is only required to supply any information under paragraph (a) above, if the information is not already available to the relevant Finance Party and the requirement arises as a result of:

(i)

the introduction of, or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of), any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement;

(ii)

a Permitted Redomiciliation or any change in the status of the Company after the date of this Agreement; or

(iii)

a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and/or obligations under any Finance Document to a person that is not a Lender before that assignment or transfer.

(c)

Each Lender must, promptly on request by the Facility Agent supply, or procure the supply of, any documentation or other evidence reasonably requested by the Facility

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Agent (for itself) to enable the Facility Agent to carry out and be satisfied with the results of any “know your customer” checks or other similar checks required under any applicable law or regulation in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents.

20.

Financial Covenants

20.1

Financial Definitions

“EBITDA” means, in respect of any period for any person, the Net Income for such period, excluding:

(a)

total Finance Costs;

(b)

total Finance Income;

(c)

total income tax (expense)/benefit as stated in the statement of profit or loss for the period;

(d)

all depreciation and amortisation expense of that person for such period;

(e)

any gains or losses from sales of assets other than inventory sold in the ordinary course of the business;

(f)

any impairment of property, plant and equipment and prepaid land rent, or WHT receivable;

(g)

any Exceptional Items;

(h)

share-based payment transactions;

(i)

any net gain or loss from the receipt of any insurance proceeds;

(j)

and other non-operating income and expenses; and

(k)

minority interest income and expenses,

in each case, to the extent added, deducted or taken into account, as the case may be, for the purposes of determining the Net Income.

“Exceptional Items” means items of income and expense that are sufficiently large and unusual due to the significance of their nature, size or incidence of occurrence as to distort comparisons from one period to the next (including, without limitation, any Transaction Costs that are sufficiently large and unusual due to the significance of their nature, size or incidence of occurrence as to distort comparisons from one period to the next).

“Finance Costs” means finance costs as presented in the Financial Statements of the Group as determined in accordance with IFRS.

“Finance Income” means finance income as presented in the Financial Statements of the Group as determined in accordance with IFRS.

“Interest Cover Ratio” means, in respect of any Relevant Period, the ratio of EBITDA of the Group in respect of that Relevant Period to Net Cash Finance Interest Adjusted For Leases in respect of that Relevant Period.

“Leverage Ratio” means, in respect of any Relevant Period, the ratio of Net Financial Indebtedness on the last day of that Relevant Period to EBITDA of the Group in respect of that Relevant Period.

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“Net Cash Finance Interest Adjusted For Leases” means, for any period:

(a)

the total cash interest or finance costs paid on Financial Indebtedness of the Group (excluding the Transaction Costs), as presented in the cash flow statements from the most recent Financial Statements of the Group, as determined in accordance with IFRS; plus

(b)

without duplication the interest expense on the Lease obligations of the Group for such period; less

(c)

the total cash finance income received by the Group as presented in the cash flow statements from the most recent Financial Statements of the Group resulting from investments and bank deposits in that period.

“Net Financial Indebtedness” means, in respect of any Relevant Period, the Financial Indebtedness of the Group on the last day of that Relevant Period (other than Financial Indebtedness in respect of hedging agreements or other treasury transactions, in each case to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement, except for any crystallised exposures under such hedging agreements or treasury transactions or Financial Indebtedness arising in respect of any terminated hedging agreements or other treasury transactions) less the aggregate amount of Cash (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any cash provided as margin in connection with any terminated hedging agreement or other treasury transaction which has not been applied in paying any relevant termination payment) and Cash Equivalent Investments held by the Group during that Relevant Period.

“Net Income” means, in respect of any Relevant Period, stated as the ‘Profit/(loss)’ for the period in the statement of profit or loss in the Financial Statements of the Group as determined in accordance with IFRS.

“Quarter Date” means each of 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December.

“Relevant Period” means each period of 12 Months ending on or about the last day of each Financial Quarter.

“Transaction Costs” means all arm’s length, fair market and bona fide fees, commissions, costs and expenses, and stamp, registration and other Taxes incurred by any member of the Group (including any member of the Nigeria Group) in connection with:

(a)

the Facilities, the Finance Documents, any Permitted Financial Indebtedness or any Permitted Acquisition; or

(b)

the Nigeria Group Credit Facility and any indebtedness or acquisition contemplated or permitted thereunder.

“Total Assets” means the total assets of the Group, calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS, excluding all intra-group items and investments in any member of the Group.

20.2

Financial Condition

The Company shall ensure that:

(a)

Interest Cover Ratio

On each Quarter Date, the Interest Cover Ratio shall not be less than:

(i)

in respect of any Relevant Period beginning with the Relevant Period ending on 30 September 2024 and up to and including the Relevant Period ending on 31 December 2026, 2.00:1;

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(ii)

in respect of any Relevant Period beginning with the Relevant Period ending on 31 March 2027 and up to and including the Relevant Period ending on 31 December 2028, 2.25:1; and

(iii)

in respect of any subsequent Relevant Period, 2.50:1.

(b)

Leverage Ratio

On each Quarter Date, the Leverage Ratio shall not be greater than:

(i)

in respect of any Relevant Period beginning with the Relevant Period ending on 30 June 2024 and up to and including the Relevant Period ending on 31 December 2025, 4.75:1; and

(ii)

in respect of any subsequent Relevant Period, 4.5:1.

20.3

Financial Testing

(a)

The financial covenants set out in Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) shall be calculated in accordance with IFRS and tested by reference to appropriate set of Annual Financial Statements and Quarterly Financial Statements and/or each Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Clause 19.2 (Compliance Certificate).

(b)

For the purpose of calculating the financial covenants set out in Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) for each of the Relevant Periods ending on a date which is less than 12 months after the date of completion of any Permitted Acquisition in relation to a person that becomes a member of the Group, EBITDA and Net Cash Finance Interest Adjusted for Leases in relation to that person acquired pursuant to such Permitted Acquisition shall be included for each full Relevant Period, annualised on a straight line basis.

(c)

No item shall be taken into account more than once in any calculation.

20.4

Equity Cure

(a)

If, in the event of a breach (or in anticipation of a breach) of paragraph (a) (Interest Cover Ratio) and/or paragraph (b) (Leverage Ratio) of Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition), the Company receives the proceeds of New Shareholder Injections or Company Shareholder Loans (such proceeds an “Additional Investment”) at any time prior to the date falling 20 Business Days after the final date for delivery of the Compliance Certificate in relation to such Relevant Period in respect of which such breach has occurred (or is believed will occur), Interest Cover Ratio and Leverage Ratio shall be recalculated as follows:

(i)

for the calculation of Interest Cover Ratio, the total amount of Financial Indebtedness on which “Net Cash Finance Interest Adjusted For Leases” is calculated in respect of the Relevant Period shall be deemed to have been reduced by the entire amount of the Additional Investment; and/or

(ii)

for the calculation of Leverage Ratio, “Net Financial Indebtedness” as at the last day of such Relevant Period shall be deemed to have been reduced by the entire amount of the Additional Investment.

(b)

If, after giving effect to the adjustments referred to in paragraph (a) above, the requirements of paragraphs (a) (Interest Cover Ratio) and/or (b) (Leverage Ratio) of Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) are met, the requirements of paragraphs (a) (Interest Cover Ratio) and/or (b) (Leverage Ratio) of Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) shall be deemed to have been satisfied as at the relevant original date of determination for the purposes of the Finance Documents.

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(c)

The relevant Additional Investment shall be applied solely for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with paragraphs (a) (Interest Cover Ratio) and/or (b) (Leverage Ratio) of Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) and for no other reason.

(d)

The rights of the Company under paragraph (a) above cannot be exercised more than four times during the life of the Facilities and, where the Company exercises its rights under paragraph (a) above (a “Cure”), it shall not be permitted to exercise its rights under paragraph (a) above again during the six Months in respect of the next two Quarter Dates following the date of exercise of a Cure.

(e)

If the amount of the Additional Investment is greater than the amount required to cure the relevant breach (such excess being the “Over-cure Amount”), the Company may elect to apply all or part of such Over-cure Amount towards curing any subsequent breach of paragraphs (a) (Interest Cover Ratio) and/or (b) (Leverage Ratio) of Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) (as applicable), and such application shall (together with the rest of the Additional Investment) be deemed to be one exercise of the Company’s rights under paragraph (a) above, provided that such Over-cure Amount has not already been applied for any other purpose and remains unspent and held with an Acceptable Bank and not committed to be spent in any manner. For the avoidance of doubt, Over-Cure Amounts are subject to the restriction in paragraph (d) above.

(f)

For the six-Month period commencing on the later of the date on which the proceeds of an Additional Investment are received by the Company and the date any Over-cure Amount is applied in accordance with this Clause 20.4, the Company shall not pay any dividend or other distribution to its shareholders and/or the person that provided the relevant Additional Investment.

21.

Stamping

Upon a Default that is continuing, the Company shall within five Business Days following the request of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) provide evidence that those Finance Documents to which a Nigerian member of the Group is a party have been stamped in Nigeria.

22.

General Undertakings

22.1

General

(a)

The Company agrees to be bound by the undertakings set out in this Clause 22 relating to it and, where an undertaking is expressed to apply to a Material Subsidiary, the Company shall ensure that each Material Subsidiary (which is not a Guarantor) performs that undertaking.

(b)

Subject to the other provisions of this Clause 22, each Guarantor agrees to be bound by the undertakings set out in this Clause 22 expressed to be binding on an Obligor.

(c)

Without prejudice to the obligations of the Guarantors under this Agreement, the Company’s procurement obligations in respect of each Material Subsidiary contained in paragraph (b) of Clause 22.2 (Authorisations and Consents), Clause 22.3 (Compliance with Laws), Clause 22.6 (Environmental Compliance), Clause 22.8 (Preservation of Assets), Clause 22.11 (Acquisitions), Clause 22.12 (Joint Ventures) and Clause 22.15 (Change of Business):

(i)

shall only apply to the extent the relevant action or inaction to be procured by the Company is not inconsistent with the obligations of that Material Subsidiary under any Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility and, if the

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relevant Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility does not contain any analogous obligation or undertaking of the relevant Material Subsidiary to the Company’s procurement obligation in respect of any of the clauses listed above, then that procurement obligation shall not apply in relation to that Material Subsidiary for so long as the relevant Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility continues in full force and effect; and

(ii)

will not cause a breach of an undertaking under this Clause 22 to occur in relation to that Material Subsidiary, if any fact, event or circumstance (that would otherwise give rise to a breach of such undertaking) would not constitute or give rise to a breach of an undertaking applicable to the relevant Material Subsidiary under any Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility (and no Default shall arise or be deemed to arise in respect thereof).

(d)

For the avoidance of doubt, except where expressly agreed otherwise, where an undertaking is expressed to apply to a member of the Group it shall include the Guarantors.

22.2

Authorisations and Consents

Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each Material Subsidiary will) promptly apply for, obtain and promptly renew from time to time and maintain in full force and effect all Authorisations, and comply with the terms of all such Authorisations, and promptly make and renew from time to time all such filings, as may be required under any applicable law or regulation of a Relevant Jurisdiction to:

(a)

carry out the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to which it is a party and to ensure that, subject to the Legal Reservations and Perfection Requirements, its obligations under the Finance Documents to which it is party are valid, legally binding and enforceable; and

(b)

carry on its business save to the extent failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

22.3

Compliance with Laws

Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall procure that each Material Subsidiary will) comply with all laws and regulations binding upon it, where failure to comply would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

22.4

Sanctions

(a)

No Obligor shall (and the Company shall procure that no Subsidiary, nor any other person acting on its or their behalf, will):

(i)

directly or indirectly, use, lend, make payments of, contribute or otherwise make available, all or any part of the proceeds of any Loan or other transaction(s) contemplated by this Agreement to finance any trade, business or other activities:

(A)

involving, or for the benefit of, any Restricted Party; or

(B)

in any other manner that would reasonably be expected to result in any Obligor, Material Subsidiary or any Finance Party being in breach of any Sanctions (if and to the extent applicable to either of them) or becoming a Restricted Party;

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(ii)

engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or breaches or attempts to breach, directly or indirectly, any Sanctions; or

(iii)

fund all or part of any payment in connection with a Finance Document out of proceeds derived from any action which is in breach of any Sanctions.

(b)

The Company shall ensure that appropriate controls and safeguards are put in place designed to prevent any action being taken that would be contrary to paragraph (a) above.

(c)

Subject to paragraph (d) below, this Clause 22.4 shall not apply for the benefit of any Finance Party if and to the extent that giving, complying with or receiving the benefit of (as applicable) such undertaking results in any breach by that Finance Party of any applicable Blocking Law.

(d)

In relation to each Finance Party that notifies the Facility Agent and the Company to this effect, any provision of or action required by paragraph (a) or (b) above that results in that Finance Party breaching any applicable Blocking Law will continue to apply for the benefit of that Finance Party notwithstanding such breach and accordingly paragraph (c) will not apply to that Finance Party to this degree.

22.5

Anti-Bribery and Corruption and Anti-Money Laundering

(a)

Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall procure it and that of its Subsidiaries will) conduct its business in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and Money Laundering Laws.

(b)

No Obligor shall (and the Company shall procure that each member of the Group and each of its respective directors, officers and employees will) not directly, or indirectly, use all or any of the proceeds of any Facility for any purpose which would breach Anti-Corruption Laws or Money Laundering Laws.

22.6

Environmental Compliance

Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall procure that each Material Subsidiary will) comply with all applicable requirements of the Performance Standards where failure to do so would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

22.7

Pari Passu Ranking

Each Obligor shall ensure that at all times any unsecured and unsubordinated claims of a Finance Party against it under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors except those creditors whose claims are mandatorily preferred by laws of general application to companies.

22.8

Preservation of Assets

The Company shall (and shall procure that each Material Subsidiary will) maintain in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) all of its assets in the conduct of its business where failure to do so would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

22.9

Negative Pledge

(a)

In this Clause 22.9 (Negative Pledge), “Quasi-Security” means an arrangement or transaction described in paragraph (d) below.

(b)

The Company shall not create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets.

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(c)

The Company shall procure that no Obligor or Material Subsidiary create or permit to subsist any Security or Quasi-Security over any of its assets.

(d)

The Company shall not (and shall procure that no Material Subsidiary will):

(i)

sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby they are or may be leased to or re-acquired by a member of the Group;

(ii)

sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse terms;

(iii)

enter into any arrangement under which money or the benefit of a bank or other account may be applied, set-off or made subject to a combination of accounts; or

(iv)

enter into any other preferential arrangement having a similar effect,

in circumstances where the arrangement or transaction is entered into primarily as a method of raising Financial Indebtedness or of financing the acquisition of an asset.

(e)

Paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) above do not apply to any Security or (as the case may be) Quasi-Security, which is Permitted Security.

22.10

Disposals

(a)

Except as provided under paragraph (b) below, the Company shall not (and shall procure that each Guarantor and Material Subsidiary will not), either in a single transaction or in a series of transactions (whether related or not), dispose of all or any part of any asset.

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to any Permitted Disposal or a Permitted Transaction.

22.11

Acquisitions

(a)

Except as provided under paragraph (b) below, the Company shall not (and shall procure that no member of the Group will) acquire any business, shares or other ownership interests in any other person.

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to a Permitted Acquisition or a Permitted Transaction.

22.12

Joint Ventures

(a)

Except as provided under paragraph (b) below, the Company shall not (and shall procure that no member of the Group will) enter into, invest in or acquire any Joint Venture.

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to, or in relation to, a Permitted Acquisition, a Permitted Transaction, a Permitted Loan, a Permitted Disposal or a Permitted Joint Venture.

22.13

Mergers

(a)

Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, no Obligor shall enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger or corporate reconstruction.

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to any Permitted Reorganisation.

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22.14

Financial Indebtedness

(a)

Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, the Company shall not (and shall ensure that no Material Subsidiary or Guarantor will) incur or allow to remain outstanding any Financial Indebtedness.

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to Permitted Financial Indebtedness.

22.15

Change of Business

The Company must ensure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of the business of any Obligor or any Material Subsidiary from that carried on at the date of this Agreement.

22.16

Loans or Credit

(a)

Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, neither the Company, an Obligor nor a Material Subsidiary shall be a creditor in respect of any Financial Indebtedness.

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to:

(i)

a Permitted Loan; or

(ii)

a Permitted Transaction.

22.17

Funding by the Company of Material Subsidiaries

(a)

If an Event of Default is continuing and has arisen solely as a result of an act or omission of the Company (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, for breach of a procurement obligation or as a result of a misrepresentation in respect of another party), the Company shall not provide any funding to any member of the Group for so long as that Event of Default is continuing, other than the proceeds of any New Shareholder Injection or Company Shareholder Loan which are to be used to on lend to that member of the Group to cure any default (however described and whether through repayment, prepayment or otherwise) under any financing arrangement of that member of the Group.

(b)

If a Material Subsidiary Event of Default is continuing, the Company shall not provide any funding to the Material Subsidiary which has given rise to that Material Subsidiary Event of Default, other than any amount which is used to on-lend to that Material Subsidiary to cure that Material Subsidiary Event of Default or to cure any default (howsoever described) in relation to any financial covenant of that Material Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries.

22.18

Dividends and Share Redemption

The Company shall not:

(a)

declare, make or pay any dividend, charge, fee or other distribution (or interest on any unpaid dividend, charge, fee or other distribution) (whether in cash or in kind) on or in respect of its share capital (or any class of its share capital);

(b)

pay or repay or allow any member of the Group to pay or repay any amounts in connection with any Financial Indebtedness owing by any member of the Group to any of the Company’s direct or indirect shareholders, other than any Financial Indebtedness in relation to which such a shareholder is a debt provider alongside, and on the same terms as, persons who are not direct or indirect shareholders of the Company.

(c)

pay or allow any member of the Group to pay any management, advisory or other fee to or to the order of any of the Company’s direct or indirect shareholders; or

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(d)

redeem, repurchase, defease, retire or repay any of its share capital or resolve to do so,

if, in each case, a Default is continuing or would result from any action contemplated under paragraphs (a) to (d) above (inclusive).

22.19

Taxes

(a)

Each Obligor shall pay and discharge all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties unless and only to the extent that:

(i)such payment is being contested in good faith;

(ii)adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes; and

(iii)

such payment can be lawfully withheld and failure to pay those Taxes would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)

The Company will remain resident for Tax purposes only in:

(i)

the UK and (as a result of its registration by way of continuation in the Cayman Islands) the Cayman Islands; or

(ii)

the UK.

(c)

Each Guarantor will remain resident for Tax purposes in its jurisdiction of incorporation or establishment or, following a Permitted Redomiciliation or Permitted Reorganisation by it in an Approved Jurisdiction, an Approved Jurisdiction.

22.20

Auditors

The Auditors shall be an internationally recognised independent public accounting firm.

22.21

Financial Assistance

The Company shall not (and will procure that no member of the Group will) use the proceeds of any Loan in a manner which would, or would be reasonably likely to:

(a)

result in the guarantee or indemnity from a Guarantor under Clause 16 (Guarantee and Indemnity) or the Nigeria Guarantee constituting unlawful financial assistance for the purposes of any law applicable to the relevant Guarantor; or

(b)

otherwise cause the guarantee or indemnity of a Guarantor under Clause 16 (Guarantee and Indemnity) or the Nigeria Guarantee to be void, avoidable, invalidated or otherwise ineffective.

22.22

Further Assurance

(a)

Each Obligor shall promptly do all such acts or execute all such documents (including assignments, transfers, mortgages, charges, notices and instructions) as the Security Agent may reasonably specify (and in such form as the Security Agent may reasonably require in favour of the Security Agent or its nominee(s)):

(i)

to perfect the Security created or intended to be created under or evidenced by the Security Documents (which may include the execution of a mortgage, charge, assignment or other Security over all or any of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Security) or for the exercise of any rights, powers and remedies of the Secured Parties provided by or pursuant to the Finance Documents or by law;

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(ii)

to confer on the Security Agent or confer on the Secured Parties, Security over any property and assets of that Obligor located in any jurisdiction equivalent or similar to the Security intended to be conferred by or pursuant to the Security Documents; and/or

(iii)

to facilitate the realisation of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Security.

(b)

Each Obligor shall take all such action as is available to it (including making all filings and registrations) as may be necessary for the purpose of the creation, perfection, protection or maintenance of any Security conferred or intended to be conferred on the Security Agent or the Secured Parties by or pursuant to the Finance Documents.

22.23

Distributions

After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall ensure that no Material Subsidiary (including a Material Subsidiary which is also a Guarantor) enters into any debt financing (or amends or otherwise modifies any Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility or Refinancing Facility or other debt financing) in such a way which materially restricts (or further materially restricts) the ability of a Material Subsidiary to directly or indirectly, pay dividends or other distributions to the Company, except for restrictions:

(a)

arising under the Finance Documents, the Nigeria Group Credit Facility or a Senior Notes Indenture;

(b)

arising under any debt financing of a Material Subsidiary acquired, or a Subsidiary which becomes a Material Subsidiary, after the date of this Agreement, provided such debt financing is incurred (and is on terms, insofar as relevant to the ability of a Material Subsidiary to directly or indirectly pay dividends or other distributions to the Company, existing):

(i)

immediately prior to the closing date of such acquisition, in the case of any such acquired Material Subsidiary; or

(ii)

in relation to any Subsidiary that becomes a Material Subsidiary, at any time prior to the date on which such Subsidiary becomes a Material Subsidiary;

(c)

arising under any refinancing of any debt financing or Financial Indebtedness referred to in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above, provided that the restrictions are not materially worse, taken as a whole, than those restrictions in the debt facility being refinanced;

(d)

arising by operation of law or regulation;

(e)

(in the case of amendments to any Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility or Refinancing Facility in relation to that Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility) not materially worse, taken as a whole, than the restrictions applicable on that Material Subsidiary under the relevant Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility in force at the date of this Agreement;

(f)

(in the case of any Refinancing Facility) not materially worse, taken as a whole, than the restrictions applicable on that Material Subsidiary under the relevant Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility in force as at the date of this Agreement under the Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility that has been refinanced; and/or

(g)

(in the case of amendments to any Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility made after the date of this Agreement or any Refinancing Facility in relation to that Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility entered into after the date of this Agreement) not

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materially worse, taken as a whole, than the restrictions applicable on that Material Subsidiary under the relevant Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility in force at the date of this Agreement;

(h)

arising under the terms of any debt financing of a Material Subsidiary where the relevant Material Subsidiary has no obligation to repay principal thereunder for a certain period (a “Principal Repayment Exception Period”), provided that:

(i)

such Principal Repayment Exception Period does not extend for more than three years after the first utilisation date of the relevant financing;

(ii)

such restrictions only apply for as long as the duration of the Principal Repayment Exception Period; and

(iii)

(A) in the case of a Subsidiary which is a Material Subsidiary at the date of this Agreement (and for so long as it is a Material Subsidiary), to the extent that the relevant Material Subsidiary receives funds (directly or indirectly) from a Utilisation, that Material Subsidiary (and its Holding Companies that are Subsidiaries of the Company) are able to make distributions (directly or indirectly) to the Company in cash in an amount at least equal to the amount of that Utilisation (B) in the case of any other Material Subsidiary, to the extent that the relevant Material Subsidiary receives funds (directly or indirectly) from a Utilisation, that Material Subsidiary or other members of the Group are able to make distributions (directly or indirectly) to the Company in cash in an amount at least equal to the amount of that Utilisation,

and, for the purposes of this Clause, the phrase “taken as a whole” shall be applied to the amended or new terms on a continuing and time to time basis by reference to the terms of the relevant Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility or debt facility referred to in paragraph (b) above.

22.24

Arm’s Length Basis

(a)

Except as permitted by paragraph (b) below, no Obligor (other than Holdco or the Company) shall enter into any material transaction except on arm’s length terms (or better for the relevant Obligor).

(b)

The following transactions shall not be a breach of this Clause 22.24:

(i)

any transaction which constitutes a Permitted Payment or which is made under paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of Permitted Transaction;

(ii)

any transaction in respect of any Transaction Costs;

(iii)

any Permitted Loan made to an employee or director of any Obligor or Nigeria Group member, or under paragraph (b) of the definition of Permitted Loan;

(iv)

any transaction which is not materially less favourable to the relevant Obligor than might have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s length basis; and

(v)

any transaction entered into with the Company or any other Obligor.

22.25

Conditions Subsequent

(a)

The Company shall procure that each Subsequent Bond Obligor becomes an Additional Guarantor in accordance with Clause 27.2 (Additional Guarantors) on the date that Subsequent Bond Obligor becomes a guarantor in respect of the Senior Notes, subject

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to paragraph (c) below, provided that no Bond Obligor shall be required to become an Additional Guarantor to the extent it would be unlawful or illegal to do so.

(b)

The Company shall procure that each person that becomes a member of the Nigeria Group after the date of this Agreement shall, subject to paragraph (c) below, as soon as possible after becoming a member of the Nigeria Group and in any event within twenty Business Days after becoming a member of the Nigeria Group, becomes an Additional Guarantor in accordance with Clause 27.2 (Additional Guarantors) provided that no member of the Nigeria Group shall be required to become an Additional Guarantor to the extent it would be unlawful or illegal to do so.

(c)

To the extent it is or would be unlawful or illegal for a Bond Obligor or any person that becomes a member of the Nigeria Group after the date of this Agreement to become or remain a Guarantor, the Company and the relevant Bond Obligor or member of the Nigeria Group shall use all reasonable endeavours to overcome and/or avoid any such illegality or unlawfulness, including, without limitation:

(i)

carrying out any financial assistance “whitewash” or other similar procedure; and/or

(ii)

obtaining (or procuring) all relevant corporate authorisations to enable that Bond Obligor or member of the Nigeria Group to lawfully enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations as a Guarantor under the Finance Documents.

(d)

The Company shall ensure that all necessary steps to comply with the Perfection Requirements in relation to the Security Documents are carried out within the maximum applicable time period for compliance therewith provided for under applicable law and/or regulation.

23.

Events of Default

23.1

Events of Default

Each of the events or circumstances set out in this Clause (other than Clause 23.19 (Acceleration) and Clause 23.20 (Clean-up Period)) is an Event of Default.

23.2

Non-Payment

The Company does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document, or a Guarantor does not pay on the due date any amount payable by it pursuant to a Finance Document, in each case in the manner and at the place and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable, unless:

(a)

its failure to pay is caused by:

(i)

administrative or technical error; or

(ii)

a Disruption Event; and

(b)

payment is made within five Business Days of its due date.

23.3

Financial Covenants

Subject to Clause 20.4 (Equity Cure), any requirement of Clause 20 (Financial Covenants) is not satisfied.

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23.4

Other Obligations

(a)

Subject to paragraph (d) of Clause 22.1 (General), an Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents applicable to it (other than those referred to in Clause 23.2 (Non-Payment), Clause 23.3 (Financial Covenants), paragraph (c) of Clause 18.2 (Status), Clause 22.4 (Sanctions) and Clause 22.5 (Anti-Bribery and Corruption and Anti-Money Laundering)).

(b)

No Event of Default under paragraph (a) above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within 20 Business Days of the earlier of the Facility Agent giving notice to the Company of the failure to comply and the Company or relevant Obligor becoming aware of the failure to comply (provided that this paragraph (b) shall not apply in relation to any failure to comply constituting a Clean-up Default in respect of which none of the exceptions in paragraph (b) of Clause 23.20 (Clean-up Period) apply).

23.5

Misrepresentation

Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed to be made by an Obligor in the Finance Documents or in any other document delivered by or on behalf of an Obligor under or in connection with any Finance Document (other than under or in connection with paragraph (c) of Clause 18.2 (Status) or Clause 22.4 (Sanctions)) is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made, unless (except to the extent such misrepresentation, breach of warranty or misstatement constitutes a Clean-up Default in respect of which none of the exceptions in paragraph (b) of Clause 23.20 (Clean-up Period) apply) the circumstances giving rise to the misrepresentation, breach of warranty or misstatement:

(a)

are capable of remedy; and

(b)

are remedied within 20 Business Days of the earlier of the Facility Agent giving notice of the misrepresentation, breach of warranty or misstatement to the Company and the Company or relevant Obligor becoming aware of the misrepresentation, breach of warranty or misstatement.

23.6

Company Cross-Default

Any of the following occurs in respect of the Company:

(a)

any of its Financial Indebtedness is not paid when due (after the expiry of any originally applicable grace period);

(b)

any of its Financial Indebtedness (excluding any Financial Indebtedness falling within paragraph (k) of that definition when the underlying obligation is in respect of a member of the Group) is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable before its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described); or

(c)

any of its creditors becomes entitled to declare any of its Financial Indebtedness (excluding any Financial Indebtedness falling within paragraph (k) of that definition when the underlying obligation is in respect of a member of the Group) due and payable before its specified maturity as a result of any event of default (however described),

unless the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within all or any of paragraphs (a) to (c) above is less than USD 75,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies).

23.7

Obligor Cross-Default

Any of the following occurs in respect of an Obligor (other than the Company):

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(a)

any of its Financial Indebtedness is not paid when due (after the expiry of any originally applicable grace period);

(b)

any of its Financial Indebtedness (excluding any Financial Indebtedness falling within paragraph (k) of that definition when the underlying obligation is in respect of a member of the Group) is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable before its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described); or

(c)

any of its creditors becomes entitled to declare any of its Financial Indebtedness (excluding any Financial Indebtedness falling within paragraph (k) of that definition when the underlying obligation is in respect of a member of the Group) due and payable before its specified maturity as a result of any event of default (however described),

unless the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within all or any of paragraphs (a) to (c) above is less than USD 75,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies).

23.8

Insolvency

(a)

Any Obligor:

(i)

is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due;

(ii)

suspends making payments on any of its debts; or

(iii)

by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors (excluding any Finance Party in its capacity as such) with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.

(b)

A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of an Obligor.

23.9

Insolvency Proceedings

(a)

Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to:

(i)

the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of an Obligor other than a solvent liquidation or reorganisation (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a Permitted Redomiciliation);

(ii)

a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of an Obligor;

(iii)

the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of an Obligor or its assets;

(iv)

enforcement of any Security over any assets of an Obligor; or

(v)

any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction.

(b)

This Clause 23.9 shall not apply to (i) any winding-up petition which is frivolous or vexatious or which is being contested in good faith, and, in each case, is discharged, stayed or dismissed within 40 Business Days of commencement or (ii) any step or procedure which is a Permitted Reorganisation.

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23.10

Creditors’ Process or Expropriation

Any expropriation, seizure, nationalisation, compulsory acquisition, attachment, sequestration, distress, execution or any analogous event having an aggregate value of at least USD 100,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency) affects any asset or assets of the Group and is not discharged within 40 Business Days.

23.11

Cessation of Business

An Obligor ceases, or threatens to cease, to carry on all or a material part of its business except as a result of any disposal not prohibited under this Agreement.

23.12

Invalidity and Unlawfulness

(a)

Subject to the Legal Reservations and the Perfection Requirements at any time it is or becomes unlawful for any Obligor to perform any of its material obligations under any of the Finance Documents or any Security created or expressed to be created by the Security Documents ceases to be effective.

(b)

Any obligation or obligations of any Obligor under any Finance Document is or are not or cease or ceases to be (subject to the Legal Reservations and the Perfection Requirements) legal, valid, binding or enforceable and the cessation individually or cumulatively materially adversely affects the interests of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents.

(c)

Subject to the Legal Reservations and Perfection Requirements, any Finance Document ceases to be in full force and effect or any Security ceases to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable or effective or is alleged by a party to it (other than a Finance Party) to be ineffective.

23.13

Repudiation and Rescission of Agreements

Any Obligor rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates or purports to repudiate a Finance Document to which it is a party.

23.14

Material Adverse Change

At any time after the date of this Agreement, any event or series of events occurs which has or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

23.15

Failure to Comply with Court Judgment

An Obligor fails to comply with or pay by the required time any sum due from it under any final judgment or any final order made or given by a court, in each case of competent jurisdiction, having a value of at least USD 75,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency).

23.16

Litigation

Any litigation, arbitration, administrative, governmental, regulatory or other investigations, proceedings or disputes is commenced or threatened against an Obligor or its assets which is reasonably likely to be adversely determined and, if adversely determined, would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

23.17

Auditor’s Qualification

The Auditors qualify their report on the audited financial statements of the Company (a) on the grounds that the Auditors are unable to prepare those financial statements on a going concern basis (other than where such qualification arises solely because of a potential breach of the financial covenants in Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition)), (b) where that qualification is otherwise in terms or as to issues which could otherwise reasonably be expected to be (individually or cumulatively) materially adverse to the interests of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or (c) by reason of failure to disclose material information or materially inaccurate disclosure.

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23.18

Revocation of Material Authorisation

A material licence or Authorisation of an Obligor or a Material Subsidiary has been revoked or ceases to be in full force as a result of a final definitive judgement.

23.19

Acceleration

If an Event of Default is continuing, the Facility Agent may, and must if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Company:

(a)

cancel all or part of the Total Commitments;

(b)

declare that all or part of the Loans, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable;

(c)

declare that all or part of the Loans, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be payable on demand by the Facility Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders; and/or

(d)

exercise or direct the Security Agent to exercise any or all of its rights, powers, authorities, discretions or remedies under the Finance Documents.

Any such notice will take effect in accordance with its terms.

23.20

Clean-up Period

(a)

Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document, in respect of any Permitted Acquisition made after the date of this Agreement, during the period from the date of closing (however defined) of that Permitted Acquisition to the date falling 90 days thereafter (the “Clean-up Period”), if any matter or circumstance that exists exclusively in respect of any entity which is the direct or indirect subject of the relevant Permitted Acquisition (and which matter or circumstance exists prior to or on (but not after) the date of the closing (howsoever defined) of the relevant Permitted Acquisition) would constitute a breach of representation or warranty, a breach of covenant or a Default (in each case, a “Clean-up Default”) then:

(i)

promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence, the Company shall notify the Facility Agent of that
Clean-up Default and the related event or circumstance (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it); and

(ii)

subject to paragraph (b) below, during the Clean-up Period that Clean-up Default shall not constitute a Default.

(b)

Paragraph (a) above shall not apply with respect to any Clean-up Default that:

(i)

is not capable of remedy;

(ii)

is capable of remedy but reasonable steps are not being taken to remedy it;

(iii)

has been procured by or approved by the Company; or

(iv)

could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)

If the relevant circumstances are continuing on or after the end of the Clean-up Period, there shall be a breach of representation or warranty, breach of covenant or Default, as

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the case may be notwithstanding the above (and without prejudice to the rights and remedies of the Finance Parties).

(d)

If a Clean-up Default is continuing in relation to a Material Subsidiary, during the period until the earlier of the end of the relevant Clean-up Period and the relevant Clean-up Default ceasing to continue, any Subsidiary which ceased or would cease to be a Material Subsidiary as a result of the relevant Permitted Acquisition, by operation of the definition of Material Subsidiary, shall continue to be a Material Subsidiary.

24.

Security

24.1

Security Agent as Holder of Security

(a)

In this Clause 24.1 (Security Agent as Holder of Security):

“Secured Party Claim” means any amount which an Obligor owes to a Secured Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents.

“Security Agent Claim” has the meaning given to it in paragraph (c) below.

(b)

Unless expressly provided to the contrary in any Finance Document, the Security Agent declares that it holds any security created by a Security Document and the proceeds of that security on trust for the Secured Parties on the terms contained in this Agreement.

(c)

Each Obligor must pay the Security Agent, as an independent and separate creditor, an amount equal to each Secured Party Claim on its due date (each a “Security Agent Claim”).

(d)

Unless expressly provided to the contrary in any Finance Document, the Security Agent holds:

(i)

any security created by a Security Document;

(ii)

the benefit of any Security Agent Claims; and

(iii)

any proceeds of the security,

for the benefit, and as the property, of the Secured Parties and so that they are not available to the personal creditors of the Security Agent.

(e)

Each Security Agent Claim is created on the understanding that the Security Agent must:

(i)

share the proceeds of each Security Agent Claim with the other Secured Parties; and

(ii)

pay those proceeds to the Secured Parties, in accordance with Clause 29 (Application of Proceeds).

(f)

The Security Agent may enforce performance of any Security Agent Claim in its own name as an independent and separate right. This includes any suit, execution, enforcement of security, recovery of guarantees and applications for and voting in respect of any kind of insolvency proceeding.

(g)

Each Secured Party must, at the request of the Security Agent, perform any act required in connection with the enforcement of any Security Agent Claim. This includes joining in any proceedings as co- claimant with the Security Agent.

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(h)

Unless the Security Agent fails to enforce a Security Agent Claim within a reasonable time after its due date, a Secured Party may not take any action to enforce the corresponding Secured Party Claim unless it is requested to do so by the Security Agent.

(i)

Each Obligor irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to require a Secured Party to join in any proceedings as co-claimant with the Security Agent in respect of any Security Agent Claim.

(j)

Each Secured Party Claim and Security Agent Claim is created on the understanding that:

(i)

the discharge by an Obligor of a Secured Party Claim will discharge the corresponding Security Agent Claim in the same amount;

(ii)

the discharge by an Obligor of a Security Agent Claim will discharge the corresponding Secured Party Claim in the same amount;

(iii)

the aggregate amount of the Security Agent Claims will never exceed the aggregate amount of Secured Party Claims;

(iv)

a defect affecting a Security Agent Claim against an Obligor will not affect any Secured Party Claim; and

(v)

a defect affecting a Secured Party Claim against an Obligor will not affect any Security Agent Claim.

(k)

If the Security Agent returns to any Obligor, whether in any kind of insolvency proceedings or otherwise, any recovery in respect of which it has made a payment to a Secured Party, that Secured Party must repay an amount equal to that recovery to the Security Agent.

24.2

No Responsibility to Perfect Security

The Security Agent will not be liable to any Party or any other person for any failure to perfect or protect any Security created under any Security Document including any failure to:

(a)

require the deposit with it of any deed or document certifying, representing or constituting the title of any Obligor to any Security Asset (and the Security Agent may allow any bank providing safe custody services or any professional adviser to the Security Agent to retain any such deed or document in its possession);

(b)

obtain any licence, consent or other authority for the execution, delivery, legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any Security Document or any Security created under any Security Document;

(c)

register, file or record or otherwise protect its rights under any Security Document (or the priority of any Security created under any Security Document) under any law or regulation or to give notice to any person of the execution of any Security Document or the existence of any such Security;

(d)

take, or to require any Obligor to take, any step to perfect its title to any Security Asset or to render any Security created under any Security Document effective or to secure the creation of any ancillary Security under any law or regulation; or

(e)

require any further assurance in relation to any Security Document.

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24.3

Insurance by Security Agent

(a)

The Security Agent will not be obliged:

(i)

to insure any of the Security Assets;

(ii)

to require any other person to maintain any insurance; or

(iii)

to verify any obligation to arrange or maintain insurance contained in any Finance Document, and the Security Agent will not be liable for any cost, loss or liability whatsoever any person incurs or any diminution in value arising as a result of the lack of, or inadequacy of, any such insurance.

(b)

Where the Security Agent is named on any insurance policy as an insured party, it will not be liable for any cost, loss or liability whatsoever any person incurs or any diminution in value arising as a result of the Security Agent’s failure to notify the insurers of any material fact relating to the risk assumed by the insurers or any other information of any kind, unless the Majority Lenders request it to do so in writing and the Security Agent fails to do so within 14 days after receipt of that request.

24.4

Acceptance of Title

The Security Agent may accept without enquiry, and will not be obliged to investigate, any right or title any Obligor may have to any Security Asset and will not be liable for, or bound to require any Obligor to remedy, any defect in its right or title.

24.5

Release of Security

(a)

If a Guarantor:

(i)

ceases to be a member of the Group; or

(ii)

is released from its obligations under the Finance Documents, in a manner permitted or not prohibited under the Finance Documents, any Security created by that Guarantor over its assets under the Security Documents will be released.

(b)

If a disposal of any asset subject to a Security created by a Security Document is made in the following circumstances:

(i)

the disposal is allowed by the terms of the Finance Documents and will not result in, or could not reasonably be expected to result in, any Default;

(ii)

all Lenders agree to the disposal;

(iii)

the disposal is being made at the request of the Security Agent in circumstances where any Security created by the Security Documents has become enforceable; or

(iv)

the disposal is being effected by enforcement of a Security Document,

the asset being disposed of (and, in the case of a disposal of shares in a Guarantor which results in it ceasing to be a member of the Group, all of the assets of that Guarantor) will be released from any Security over it created by a Security Document. However, the proceeds of any disposal (or an amount corresponding to them) must be applied in accordance with the requirements of the Finance Documents (if any).

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(c)

Any release under this Clause 24.5 (Release of Security) will not become effective until the date of the relevant disposal or otherwise in accordance with the consent of the Majority Lenders.

(d)

If a disposal is not made, then any release relating to that disposal will have no effect, and the obligations of the Obligors under the Finance Documents will continue in full force and effect.

(e)

If the Security Agent is instructed by the Facility Agent that a release is allowed under this Clause 24.5 (Release of Security), (at the request and expense of the relevant Obligor) each Finance Party must enter into any document and do all such other things which are reasonably required to achieve that release. Each other Finance Party irrevocably authorises the Security Agent to enter into any such document.

24.6

Certificate of Non-Crystallisation

The Security Agent may, at the cost and request of the Company, issue certificates of non-crystallisation.

24.7

Enforcement Through Security Agent Only

The Finance Parties have no independent power to enforce, and no recourse to, any of the Security Documents or to exercise any right, power, authority or discretion arising under the Security Documents except through the Security Agent.

24.8

Information for Security Agent

Each Finance Party and each Obligor must supply the Security Agent with any information that the Security Agent may reasonably specify as being necessary or desirable to enable it to perform its functions as Security Agent.

25.

Changes to the Lenders

25.1

Assignments and Transfers by the Lenders

Subject to the other provisions of this Clause and Clause 26 (Restriction on Debt Purchase Transactions), a Lender (the “Existing Lender”) may:

(a)

assign any of its rights; or

(b)

transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations,

under the Finance Documents to another bank or financial institution or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the “New Lender”).

25.2

Conditions of Assignment or Transfer

(a)

The consent of the Company is required for an assignment, transfer, sub-participation (where any discretion with regards to the exercise of any voting right is transferred) or derivative transaction (where any discretion with regards to the exercise of any voting right is transferred) unless (subject to paragraph (c) below) the assignment or transfer, sub-participation (where any discretion with regards to the exercise of any voting right is transferred) or derivative transaction (where any discretion with regards to the exercise of any voting right is transferred) is:

(i)

to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender;

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(ii)

if the Existing Lender is a fund, to a fund which is a Related Fund of the Existing Lender;

(iii)

to an entity included on the White List; or

(iv)

effected at a time when an Event of Default is continuing.

(b)

The Facility Agent has no obligation to verify that the conditions set out in paragraph (a) above have been satisfied.

(c)

Notwithstanding the above or any other provisions of this Agreement, an Existing Lender must obtain the prior written consent of the Company (to be granted in its absolute discretion) before entering into any assignment, transfer,
sub-participation (which transfers any discretion with regards to the exercise of any voting rights) or derivative transaction (which transfers any discretion with regard to the exercise of voting rights) with or in favour of any person that is a Trade Competitor at the time of such assignment, transfer, sub-participation or derivative transaction.

For this purpose “Trade Competitor” means a person, or an Affiliate or Related Fund of such person, where such person’s primary business, or a material portion of such person’s business, is substantially the same as the business of the Group or any member of the Group, including the business of passive telecommunication infrastructure.

(d)

Except in the case of paragraph (c) above, the consent of the Company to an assignment or transfer (if required) must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company will be deemed to have given its consent ten Business Days after the Company is given notice of the request unless consent is expressly refused by the Company within that time.

(e)

Each Existing Lender shall provide prior written notice of any proposed assignment, transfer, sub-participation (where any discretion with regards to the exercise of any voting right is transferred) to be entered into by such Existing Lender to the Company and the Facility Agent as soon as possible and no later than 10 Business Days prior to the date of such assignment, transfer, sub-participation (where any discretion with regards to the exercise of any voting right is transferred) (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any failure to provide such prior written notice will not, in any event, solely as a result of such failure result in that Existing Lender or New Lender being a Defaulting Lender or invalidate that assignment, transfer, sub-participation (where any discretion with regards to the exercise of any voting right is transferred)).

(f)

Unless the Company and the Facility Agent otherwise agree, a transfer of part of a Commitment or of part of its rights and obligations under this Agreement by an Existing Lender must be in a minimum amount of:

(i)

in respect of Facility A, USD 2,500,000 or, if the Commitment of an Existing Lender is less than USD 2,500,000, the whole amount of that Existing Lender’s Commitment; and

(ii)

in respect of Facility B, ZAR 50,000,000 or, if the Commitment of an Existing Lender is less than ZAR 50,000,000, the whole amount of that Existing Lender’s Commitment.

(g)

An assignment will only be effective on:

(i)

receipt by the Facility Agent (whether in the Assignment Agreement or otherwise) of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent) that the New Lender will, in relation to the assigned rights, assume obligations to the other Parties

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equivalent to those it would have been under if it had been an Original Lender; and

(ii)

performance by the Facility Agent of any “know your customer” checks or other similar checks required under any applicable law or regulation in relation to such assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Facility Agent must notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender promptly.

(h)

A transfer will only be effective if the procedure set out in Clause 25.5 (Procedure for Transfer) is complied with.

(i)

If:

(i)

a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and

(ii)

as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, an Obligor would be obliged to make a Tax Payment or a payment relating to Increased Costs,

then the relevant Obligor is only obliged to make that Tax Payment or payment relating to Increased Costs to the same extent that it would have been obliged to pay if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred provided that this paragraph shall not apply:

(A)

in respect of an assignment or transfer made in the ordinary course of the primary syndication of the Facilities; or

(B)

in relation to Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up), to a Treaty Lender that has included a confirmation of its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with paragraph (g)(ii)(B) of Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up) if the Obligor making the payment has not made a Company DTTP Filing in respect of that Treaty Lender.

(j)

Each New Lender, by executing the relevant Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement, confirms that:

(i)

the Facility Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or before the date on which the transfer or assignment becomes effective in accordance with this Agreement; and

(ii)

it is bound by that decision to the same extent as the Existing Lender would have been had it remained a Lender.

25.3

Assignment or Transfer Fee

Unless the Facility Agent otherwise agrees, a New Lender must, on or before the date on which an assignment or transfer takes effect, pay to the Facility Agent (for its own account) a fee of USD 3,000.

25.4

Limitation of Responsibility of Existing Lenders

(a)

Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for:

(i)

the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Finance Documents or any other documents;

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(ii)

the financial condition of any Obligor;

(iii)

the performance and observance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any other documents; or

(iv)

the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document or any other document,

and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.

(b)

Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it:

(i)

has made (and must continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities (including the nature and extent of any recourse against any Party or its assets) in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection with any Finance Document; and

(ii)

will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

(c)

Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to:

(i)

accept a re-transfer or re-assignment from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this Clause; or

(ii)

support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or otherwise.

25.5

Procedure for Transfer

(a)

Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 25.2 (Conditions of Assignment or Transfer), a transfer is effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Facility Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Facility Agent must, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Transfer Certificate.

(b)

The Facility Agent is only obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied with the results of any “know your customer” checks or other similar checks required under any applicable law or regulation in relation to the transfer to such New Lender.

(c)

Subject to Clause 25.9 (Pro Rata Interest Settlement), on the Transfer Date:

(i)

to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents each of the Obligors and the Existing Lender will be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents will be cancelled (being the “Discharged Rights and Obligations”);

(ii)

each of the Obligors and the New Lender will assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the

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Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as that Obligor and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of that Obligor and the Existing Lender;

(iii)

each Administrative Party, the New Lender and other Lenders will acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent each Administrative Party and the Existing Lender will each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and

(iv)

the New Lender will become a Party as a “Lender”.

(d)

Each Party (other than the Existing Lender and the New Lender) irrevocably authorises the Facility Agent to enter into and deliver any duly completed Transfer Certificate on its behalf.

25.6

Procedure for Assignment

(a)

Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 25.2 (Conditions of Assignment or Transfer), an assignment may be effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Facility Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Facility Agent must, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Assignment Agreement appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Assignment Agreement.

(b)

The Facility Agent is only obliged to execute an Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied with the results of any “know your customer” checks or other similar checks required under any applicable law or regulation in relation to the assignment to such New Lender.

(c)

Subject to Clause 25.9 (Pro Rata Interest Settlement), on the Transfer Date:

(i)

the Existing Lender will assign absolutely to the New Lender the rights under the Finance Documents expressed to be the subject of the assignment in the Assignment Agreement;

(ii)

the Existing Lender will be released by each Obligor and the other Finance Parties from the obligations owed by it (the “Relevant Obligations”) and expressed to be the subject of the release in the Assignment Agreement;

(iii)

the New Lender will become a Party as a “Lender” and will be bound by obligations equivalent to the Relevant Obligations;

(iv)

if the assignment relates only to part of the Existing Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans that part will be separated from the Existing Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans, made an independent debt and assigned to the New Lender as a whole debt; and

(v)

the Facility Agent’s execution of the Assignment Agreement as agent for the Company will constitute notice to the Company of the assignment.

(d)

Each Party (other than the Existing Lender and the New Lender) irrevocably authorises the Facility Agent to enter into and deliver any duly completed Assignment Agreement on its behalf.

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(e)

Lenders may utilise procedures other than those set out in this Clause 25.6 (Procedure for Assignment) to assign their rights under the Finance Documents (but not, without the consent of the relevant Obligor or unless in accordance with Clause 25.5 (Procedure for Transfer), to obtain a release by that Obligor from the obligations owed to that Obligor by the Lenders nor the assumption of equivalent obligations by a New Lender) provided that they comply with the conditions set out in Clause 25.2 (Conditions of Assignment or Transfer).

25.7

Copy of Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate to Company

The Facility Agent must, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate, an Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation, send to the Company a copy of that Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation.

25.8

Security Over Lenders’ Rights

In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from any Obligor, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create a Security in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation:

(a)

any charge, assignment or other Security to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank; and

(b)

in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities,

except that no such charge, assignment or Security will:

(i)

release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or Security for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or

(ii)

require any payments to be made by an Obligor other than or in excess of, or grant to any person any more extensive rights than, those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents.

25.9

Pro Rata Interest Settlement

(a)

In respect of any transfer pursuant to Clause 25.5 (Procedure for Transfer) or any assignment pursuant to Clause 25.6 (Procedure for Assignment) the Transfer Date of which, in each case, is after the date of that notification and is not on the last day of an Interest Period:

(i)

any interest or fees in respect of the relevant participation which are expressed to accrue by reference to the lapse of time will continue to accrue in favour of the Existing Lender up to but excluding the Transfer Date (“Accrued Amounts”) and will become due and payable to the Existing Lender (without further interest accruing on them) on the last day of the current Interest Period (or, if the Interest Period is longer than six Months, on the next of the dates which falls at six Monthly intervals after the first day of that Interest Period); and

(ii)

the rights assigned or transferred by the Existing Lender will not include the right to the Accrued Amounts, so that:

(A)

when the Accrued Amounts become payable, those Accrued Amounts will be payable to the Existing Lender; and

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(B)

the amount payable to the New Lender on that date will be the amount which would, but for the application of this Clause 25.9 (Pro Rata Interest Settlement), have been payable to it on that date, but after deduction of the Accrued Amounts.

(b)

In this Clause 25.9 (Pro Rata Interest Settlement), references to “Interest Periods” will be construed to include a reference to any other period for accrual of fees.

26.

Restriction on Debt Purchase Transactions

26.1

Prohibition on Debt Purchase Transactions by the Company

The Company shall not enter into any Debt Purchase Transaction, be a Lender or a party to a Debt Purchase Transaction of the type referred to in paragraphs (b) or (c) of the definition of Debt Purchase Transaction.

26.2

Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions Entered into by Affiliates

(a)

For so long as a Sponsor Affiliate:

(i)

beneficially owns a Commitment; or

(ii)

has entered into a sub-participation agreement relating to a Commitment or other agreement or arrangement having a substantially similar economic effect and such agreement or arrangement has not been terminated,

in ascertaining:

(A)

the Majority Lenders; or

(B)

whether:

(1)

any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments; or

(2)

the agreement of any specified group of Lenders,

has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents such Commitment shall be deemed to be zero and such Sponsor Affiliate or the person with whom it has entered into such sub-participation, other agreement or arrangement shall be deemed not to be a Lender for the purposes of paragraphs (A) and (B) above (unless in the case of a person not being a Sponsor Affiliate it is a Lender by virtue otherwise than by beneficially owning the relevant Commitment).

(b)

Each Lender shall, unless such Debt Purchase Transaction is an assignment or transfer, promptly notify the Facility Agent in writing if it knowingly enters into a Debt Purchase Transaction with a Sponsor Affiliate (a “Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction”), such notification to be substantially in the form set out in Part 1 of Schedule 10 (Forms of Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction Notice).

(c)

A Lender shall promptly notify the Facility Agent if a Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction to which it is a party:

(i)

is terminated; or

(ii)

ceases to be with a Sponsor Affiliate,

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such notification to be substantially in the form set out in Part 2 of Schedule 10 (Forms of Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction Notice).

(d)

Each Sponsor Affiliate that is a Lender agrees that:

(i)

in relation to any meeting or conference call to which all the Lenders are invited to attend or participate, it shall not attend or participate in the same if so requested by the Facility Agent or, be entitled to receive the agenda or any minutes of the same; and

(ii)

in its capacity as Lender, it shall not be entitled to receive any report or other document prepared at the behest of, or on the instructions of, the Facility Agent or one or more of the Lenders.

26.3

Sponsor Affiliates’ Notification to Other Lenders of Debt Purchase Transactions

Any Sponsor Affiliate which is or becomes a Lender and which enters into a Debt Purchase Transaction as a purchaser or a participant shall, by 5pm on the Business Day following the day on which it entered into that Debt Purchase Transaction, notify the Facility Agent of the extent of the Commitment(s) or amount outstanding to which that Debt Purchase Transaction relates. The Facility Agent shall promptly disclose such information to the Lenders.

27.

Changes to the Obligors

27.1

Assignment and Transfers by Obligors

No Obligors may assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents without the prior consent of all the Lenders.

27.2

Additional Guarantors

(a)

Subject to compliance with paragraph (c) below, if a Subsidiary is to become an Additional Guarantor (other than the Guarantors as at the date of this Agreement and the Original Nigeria Guarantors), the Company must notify the Facility Agent (and the Facility Agent must notify the Lenders promptly of its receipt of that notice). That Subsidiary will, subject to paragraph (b) below, become an Additional Guarantor and accede to this Agreement (in the case of any Additional Guarantor that is not incorporated in Nigeria) or the Nigeria Guarantee (in the case of any Additional Guarantor that is incorporated in Nigeria) if:

(i)

the Company delivers to the Facility Agent a duly completed and executed Accession Letter; and

(ii)

the Facility Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part 2 of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent) in relation to that Subsidiary becoming an Additional Guarantor, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Relevant Lenders (or the receipt of such documents and evidence has been waived by the Relevant Lenders).

(b)

The relevant Subsidiary will become an Additional Guarantor when the Facility Agent notifies the other Finance Parties and the Company that it has received the document referred to in paragraphs (a)(i) above and notifies the Company that the Lenders are satisfied in accordance with paragraph (a)(ii) above. The Facility Agent must give this notification as soon as reasonably practicable.

(c)

If the accession of an Additional Guarantor requires any Finance Party or prospective new Lender to carry out “know your customer” checks or other similar checks under any applicable law or regulation in circumstances where the necessary information is

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not already available to it, the Company must, promptly on request by any Finance Party, supply, or procure the supply of, any documentation or other evidence reasonably requested by that Finance Party (whether for itself, or on behalf of any other Finance Party or any prospective new Lender) to enable a Finance Party or prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied with the results of those checks.

27.3

Repetition of Representations

Delivery of an Accession Letter to the Facility Agent constitutes confirmation by the relevant Subsidiary that the Repeating Representations are correct in relation to it as at the date of delivery as if made by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing.

27.4

Resignation of a Guarantor

(a)

The Company may request that a Guarantor (other than the Company) ceases to be a Guarantor by delivering to the Facility Agent a Resignation Letter.

(b)

The Facility Agent must accept a Resignation Letter and notify the Company and the Lenders promptly of its acceptance if:

(i)

no Default is continuing or would result from the acceptance of the Resignation Letter (and the Company has confirmed this is the case);

(ii)

no amount owing by that Guarantor under any Finance Document is outstanding; and

(iii)

all the Lenders have consented to the Company’s request.

(c)

The Guarantor will cease to be a Guarantor when the Facility Agent gives the notification to the Company referred to in paragraph (b) above.

28.

Role of the Administrative Parties

28.1

The Facility Agent and the Security Agent

(a)

Each Finance Party (other than the Facility Agent and the Security Agent) appoints each Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents.

(b)

Each other Finance Party authorises each Agent to:

(i)

perform the duties, obligations and responsibilities and to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to that Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions; and

(ii)

enter into and deliver each Finance Document expressed to be entered into by that Agent.

(c)

Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (b) above, each Finance Party:

(i)

confirms its approval of each Security Document; and

(ii)

authorises and directs the Security Agent (by itself or by such person(s) as it may nominate) to enter into and enforce the Security Documents as trustee (or agent) or as otherwise provided (and whether or not expressly in the names of the Finance Parties) on its behalf.

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28.2

Instructions

(a)

Each Agent:

(i)

must exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by:

(A)

all Lenders if a Finance Document stipulates the matter is an all Lender decision;

(B)

the relevant Finance Party or group of Finance Parties if a Finance Document stipulates the matter is a decision for that Finance Party or group of Finance Parties; and

(C)

in all other cases, the Majority Lenders; and

(ii)

will not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from taking any action) in accordance with paragraph (i) above.

(b)

Each Agent may request instructions, or clarification of any instruction, from the Majority Lenders (or, if the relevant Finance Document stipulates that the matter is a decision for any other Finance Party or group of Finance Parties, from that Finance Party or group of Finance Parties) as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion and it may refrain from acting unless and until it receives any instructions or clarification that it has requested.

(c)

Except in the case of decisions stipulated to be a matter for any other Finance Party or group of Finance Parties under the relevant Finance Document and unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given to an Agent by the Majority Lenders will override any conflicting instructions given by any other Party or Parties and will be binding on all Finance Parties.

(d)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply:

(i)

where a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document;

(ii)

where a Finance Document requires the relevant Agent to act in a specified manner or to take a specified action;

(iii)

in respect of any provision which protects the relevant Agent’s own position in its personal capacity as opposed to its role of Agent including, without limitation, Clause 24.2 (No Responsibility to Perfect Security) to Clause 24.6 (Certificate of Non-Crystallisation), Clause 28.5 (No Fiduciary Duties) to Clause 28.10 (Exclusion of Liability), Clause 28.13 (Confidentiality) to Clause 28.21 (Custodians and Nominees) and Clause 28.24 (Winding Up of Security Arrangements) to Clause 28.26 (Disapplication of Trustee Acts); or

(iv)

in respect of the exercise of the Security Agent’s discretion to exercise a right, power or authority under any of:

(A)

Clause 29.1 (Order of Application);

(B)

Clause 29.2 (Prospective Liabilities); and

(C)

Clause 29.5 (Permitted Deductions).

(e)

If giving effect to instructions given by the Majority Lenders would (in the relevant Agent’s opinion) have an effect equivalent to an amendment or waiver referred to in

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Clause 38 (Amendments and Waivers), the relevant Agent will not act in accordance with those instructions unless it obtains consent to do so from each Party whose consent would have been required in respect of that amendment or waiver.

(f)

In exercising any discretion to exercise a right, power or authority under the Finance Documents where either:

(i)

it has not received any instructions as to the exercise of that discretion; or

(ii)

the exercise of that discretion is subject to paragraph (d)(iv) above, the Security Agent must do so having regard to the interests of all the Secured Parties.

(g)

An Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of any Finance Party or group of Finance Parties until it has received any indemnification and/or security and/or prefunding that it may in its discretion require (which may be greater in extent than that contained in the Finance Documents and which may include payment in advance) for any cost, loss or liability which it may incur in complying with those instructions.

(h)

Without prejudice to the remainder of this Clause 28.2 (Instructions), in the absence of instructions an Agent may act (or refrain from taking any action) as it considers to be in the best interests of all the Finance Parties (in the case of the Facility Agent) and as it considers to be appropriate (in the case of the Security Agent).

(i)

No Agent is authorised to act on behalf of a Finance Party (without first obtaining that Finance Party’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document unless the proceedings relate to:

(i)

the perfection, preservation or protection of rights under the Security Documents; or

(ii)

the enforcement of any Security Document.

(j)

The Security Agent shall be entitled to rely on any instruction delivered to it by the Facility Agent on behalf of the Majority Lenders or any other group of Finance Parties entitled to or required to instruct it in accordance with this Agreement and shall be entitled to assume that any instruction so delivered has been appropriately authorised.

28.3

Duties of the Agents

(a)

The duties, obligations and responsibilities of each Agent under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature.

(b)

Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Agent must promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to that Agent for that Party by any other Party.

(c)

Without prejudice to Clause 25.7 (Copy of Transfer Certificate. Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation to Company), paragraph (b) above does not apply to any Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation.

(d)

Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, no Agent is obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.

(e)

If an Agent receives notice from a Party referring to any Finance Document, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it must promptly notify the other Finance Parties.

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(f)

If the Facility Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than an Administrative Party) under this Agreement, it must promptly notify the other Finance Parties.

(g)

The Facility Agent must keep a record of all Parties and supply the Company with a copy of the record on request (provided that the Company shall not request a copy of the record more frequently than once per calendar quarter). The record will include each Lender’s Facility Office(s) and contact details for the purposes of this Agreement.

(h)

Each Agent has only those duties, obligations and responsibilities expressly specified in the Finance Documents to which it is a party (and no others will be implied).

28.4

Role of the Arrangers

Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise each Arranger has no obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.

28.5

No Fiduciary Duties

(a)

Nothing in any Finance Document makes:

(i)

an Administrative Party (other than the Security Agent) a trustee or fiduciary of any other person; or

(ii)

the Security Agent an agent, trustee or fiduciary of any Obligor.

(b)

No Administrative Party will be bound to account to any other Finance Party or (in the case of the Security Agent) any Secured Party for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account.

28.6

Business with the Group

(a)

Each Administrative Party may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group or its related entities.

(b)

If it is also a Lender, each Administrative Party has the same rights and powers under the Finance Documents as any other Lender and may exercise those rights and powers as though it were not an Administrative Party.

(c)

Each Administrative Party may carry on any business with any member of the Group or its related entities (including acting as an agent or a trustee in connection with any other financing).

28.7

Rights and Discretions

(a)

Each Agent may:

(i)

rely on any representation, communication, notice or document (including, without limitation, any notice given by a Lender pursuant to paragraphs (b) or (c) of Clause 26.2 (Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions Entered into by Affiliates)) believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;

(ii)

assume that:

(A)

any instructions it receives from the Majority Lenders, any Finance Party or any group of Finance Parties are duly given in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents; and

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(B)

unless it has received notice of revocation, that those instructions have not been revoked; and

(iii)

without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (ii) above, rely on a certificate from any person:

(A)

as to any matter of fact or circumstance which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of that person; or

(B)

to the effect that the person approves of any particular dealing, transaction, step, action or thing, as sufficient evidence that that is the case and, in the case of paragraph (A)above, may assume the truth and accuracy of that certificate.

(b)

Each Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as Agent) that:

(i)

no Default has occurred (unless, in the case of the Facility Agent, it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under Clause 23.2 (Non-Payment));

(ii)

any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or any group of Finance Parties has not been exercised;

(iii)

any notice or request made by the Company (other than a Utilisation Request or Selection Notice) is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Obligors; and

(iv)

no Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction:

(A)

has been entered into;

(B)

has been terminated; or

(C)

has ceased to be with a Sponsor Affiliate.

(c)

Each Agent may engage and pay for the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts selected by it (including those representing a Party other than that Agent).

(d)

Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (c) above or paragraph (e) below, each Agent may at any time engage and pay for the services of any lawyers to act as independent counsel to that Agent (and so separate from any lawyers instructed by the Lenders) if that Agent, in its reasonable opinion, deems this to be necessary.

(e)

Each Agent may rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts (whether obtained by that Agent or by any other Party and whether or not containing a limit on liability by reference to monetary cap or otherwise) and will not be liable for any cost, loss or liability whatsoever any person incurs or any diminution in value arising as a result of that Agent so relying.

(f)

Each Administrative Party may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its officers, employees and agents and no Administrative Party shall be:

(i)

liable for any error of judgment made by any person; or

(ii)

bound to supervise, or in any way responsible for any loss incurred by reason of misconduct, omission or default on the part of any such person,

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unless such error or such loss was directly caused by that Administrative Party’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

(g)

Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, each Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as Agent under the Finance Documents.

(h)

Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary:

(i)

no Administrative Party is obliged to do or omit to do anything (including disclosing any information) if it would, or might in its opinion, constitute or might constitute a breach of any law of any state or jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, to the US or any jurisdiction forming part of it, or England & Wales) or any directive or regulation of any agency of any state or jurisdiction or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality or otherwise be actionable by any person; and

(ii)

an Administrative Party may do anything which, in its opinion, is necessary or desirable to comply with any such law, directive or regulation.

(i)

Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, no Administrative Party is obliged to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities or the exercise of any right, power, authority or discretion if it has grounds for believing the repayment of those funds or adequate indemnity against, or security for, that risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

28.8

Responsibility for Documentation

(a)

No Administrative Party is responsible or liable for:

(i)

the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any statement or information (whether oral or written) made, given or supplied by any person in or in connection with any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document;

(ii)

the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy, completeness or enforceability of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document (including, without limitation, obtaining any license, consent or other authority in connection therewith); or

(iii)

any determination as to whether any information provided or to be provided to any Secured Party is
non-public information the use of which may be regulated or prohibited by applicable law or regulation relating to insider dealing or otherwise.

(b)

Except as provided above, no Agent has any duty:

(i)

either initially or on a continuing basis to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the risks arising under or in connection with the Finance Documents (including any information relating to the financial condition or affairs of any Obligor or its related entities or the nature or extent of recourse against any Party or its assets) whether coming into its possession before, on or after the date of this Agreement; or

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(ii)

unless specifically requested to do so by a Lender in accordance with a Finance Document, to request any certificate or other document from any Obligor.

28.9

No Duty to Monitor

No Agent is obliged to monitor or enquire as to:

(a)

whether a Default has occurred;

(b)

the performance, default or any breach by any Party of its obligations under any Finance Document; or

(c)

whether any other event specified in any Finance Document has occurred.

28.10

Exclusion of Liability

(a)

Without limiting paragraph (b) below (and without prejudice to any other provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the liability of any Administrative Party or any Receiver or Delegate), no Administrative Party, Receiver or Delegate will be liable (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) for:

(i)

any cost, loss or liability whatsoever any person incurs or any diminution in value arising as a result of the Administrative Party, Receiver or Delegate taking or not taking any action under or in connection with any Finance Document, unless directly caused by its gross negligence, wilful misconduct or fraud;

(ii)

exercising, or not exercising, any right, power, authority or discretion given to it by, or in connection with, any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into or made under or in connection with, made or executed in anticipation of, any Finance Document, other than by reason of its gross negligence, wilful misconduct or fraud;

(iii)

any shortfall which arises on the enforcement of the Security Documents; or

(iv)

without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above, any cost, loss or liability whatsoever any person incurs or any diminution in value (whether caused by the Administrative Party’s, Receiver’s or Delegate’s negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever, but not including any claim based on fraud of the Administrative Party, Receiver or Delegate) arising as a result of:

(A)

any act, event or circumstance not reasonably within its control; or

(B)

the general risks of investment in, or the holding of assets in, any jurisdiction,

including (in each case and without limitation) any such cost, loss, liability or diminution in value arising as a result of:

(1)

nationalisation, expropriation or other governmental action;

(2)

any regulation, currency restriction, devaluation or fluctuation;

(3)

market conditions affecting the execution or settlement of transactions or the value of assets (including any Disruption Event);

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(4)

breakdown, failure or malfunction of any third party transport, telecommunications, computer services or other systems;

(5)

any natural disaster or act of God;

(6)

war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or

(7)

any strike or industrial action.

(b)

No Party (other than the relevant Administrative Party, Receiver or Delegate) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of an Administrative Party, a Receiver or a Delegate in respect of any claim it might have against that Administrative Party, Receiver or Delegate or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document.

(c)

Any Receiver or Delegate or any officer, employee or agent of an Administrative Party, a Receiver or a Delegate may enforce and enjoy the benefit of any Clause which expressly confers rights on it, subject to paragraph (b) of Clause 1.3 (Third Party Rights) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.

(d)

No Agent, Receiver or Delegate will be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by that Agent, Receiver or Delegate if it has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by it for that purpose.

(e)

(i)

Nothing in this Agreement obliges any Administrative Party to:

(A)

perform any “know your customer” checks or other similar checks in relation to the identity of any person; or

(B)

check on the extent to which any transaction contemplated by this Agreement might be unlawful for any Finance Party, on behalf of any Finance Party.

(ii)

Each Finance Party confirms to each Administrative Party that it is solely responsible for any “know your customer” checks or other similar checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to those checks made by any Administrative Party.

(f)

Without prejudice to any other provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the liability of any Administrative Party, Receiver or Delegate, any liability of an Administrative Party, a Receiver or a Delegate arising under or in connection with any Finance Document is limited to the amount of actual loss suffered (as determined by reference to the date of that Administrative Party’s, Receiver’s or Delegate’s default or, if later, the date on which the loss arises as a result of the default) but without reference to any special conditions or circumstances known to that Administrative Party, Receiver or Delegate at any time which increase the amount of that loss. In no event will an Administrative Party, a Receiver or a Delegate be liable for any loss of profits, goodwill, reputation, business opportunity or anticipated saving, or for special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages, whether or not that Administrative Party, Receiver or Delegate was advised of the possibility of such loss or damages.

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28.11

Lenders’ Indemnity to the Agents

Without limiting the liability of any Obligor under the Finance Documents, each Lender must (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately before their reduction to zero) indemnify each Agent, Receiver and Delegate against any cost, loss or liability (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) incurred by that Agent, Receiver or Delegate (other than by reason of that Agent’s, Receiver’s or Delegate’s gross negligence, wilful misconduct or fraud) (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to Clause 32.10 (Disruption to Payment Systems), notwithstanding the Facility Agent’s negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever, but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Facility Agent) in acting as Agent, Receiver or Delegate under the Finance Documents (unless the Facility Agent, Receiver or Delegate has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a Finance Document).

28.12

Appointment and Resignation of an Agent

(a)

A Security Agent may be appointed with the consent of the Company and the Majority Lenders by the approved person entering into such relevant documentation to confirm (in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and the Majority Lenders) that it is bound by the terms of this Agreement as if it were the Security Agent as at the date of this Agreement. Any person so appointed will have the rights, powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those contemplated to be given to a security agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents contemplated in, and as at the date of, this Agreement) and the duties, obligations and responsibilities that are given or imposed by the instrument of appointment.

(b)

An Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates (acting through an office in Europe) as its successor by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Company.

(c)

Alternatively, an Agent may, without giving reasons and without being responsible for the cost thereof, resign by giving 30 days’ notice to the other Finance Parties and the Company, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the other Finance Parties and the Company) may appoint a successor Agent.

(d)

If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent in accordance with paragraph (c) above within 20 days after notice of resignation was given, the retiring Agent (after consultation with the other Finance Parties and the Company) may appoint a successor Agent (acting through an office in Europe).

(e)

If an Agent wishes to resign because (acting reasonably) it has concluded that it is no longer appropriate for it to remain as agent or trustee and that Agent is entitled to appoint a successor Agent under paragraph (d) above, that Agent may (if it concludes (acting reasonably) that it is necessary to do so in order to persuade the proposed successor Agent to become a party to this Agreement or any other Finance Document as Agent) agree with the proposed successor Agent amendments to this Clause and any other term of this Agreement or any other Finance Document dealing with the rights or obligations of that Agent consistent with then current market practice for the appointment and protection of corporate trustees together with any reasonable amendments to the facility or security agency fee payable under this Agreement which are consistent with the successor Agent’s normal fee rates and those amendments will bind the Parties.

(f)

The retiring Agent must:

(i)

at its own cost, make available to the successor Agent any documents and records and provide any assistance the successor Agent may reasonably request

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for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents; and

(ii)

enter into and deliver to the successor Agent those documents and effect any registrations as may be reasonably required for the transfer or assignment of all of its rights and benefits under the Finance Documents to the successor Agent.

(g)

The Facility Agent’s resignation will only take effect on the appointment of a successor.

(h)

The Security Agent’s resignation will only take effect on:

(i)

the appointment of a successor; and

(ii)

the transfer to that successor of the Security granted to the Security Agent, so long as no other Finance Party has notified the Facility Agent that it is not satisfied with the creditworthiness of the proposed successor Security Agent within seven days of the Security Agent’s notification under paragraph (a) above.

(i)

When its resignation takes effect:

(i)

the retiring Agent will be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents (other than its obligations under paragraph (f) above and, in the case of the Security Agent, under Clause 28.24 (Winding Up of Security Arrangements)) but will remain entitled to the benefit of Clause 14.3 (Indemnity to the Facility Agent), Clause 14.4 (Indemnity to the Security Agent), Clause 24.2 (No Responsibility to Perfect Security), Clause 24.3 (Insurance by Security Agent), Clause 24.4 (Acceptance of Title) and this Clause 28;

(ii)

the Company must immediately pay to the retiring Agent any facility or security agency fees that have accrued for the account of the retiring Agent and no further agency fees will accrue for the account of the retiring Agent; and

(iii)

any successor and each of the other Parties will have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.

(j)

After consultation with the Company, the Majority Lenders may, by giving notice to an Agent, require it to resign under paragraph (c) above. In this event, that Agent must resign in accordance with paragraph (c) above.

(k)

The Company or, after consultation with the Company, the Majority Lenders may, by giving notice to the Facility Agent and the other Parties, replace the Facility Agent with effect on and from the date specified in the notice by appointing a successor Facility Agent (acting through an office in the UK) if either:

(i)

the Facility Agent fails to respond to a request under Clause 12.7(a) (FATCA Information) and the Company or a Lender reasonably believes that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

(ii)

the information supplied by the Facility Agent pursuant to Clause 12.7(a) (FATCA Information) indicates that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or

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(iii)

the Facility Agent notifies the Company and the Lenders that the Facility Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date,

and, in each case, the Company or a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Facility Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and the Company or that Lender, by notice to the Facility Agent, requires it to resign.

28.13

Confidentiality

(a)

In acting as agent or trustee for the Finance Parties, an Agent will be regarded as acting through its agency division which will be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments.

(b)

If information is (in the opinion of an Agent) received by another division or department of that Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and that Agent will not be deemed to have notice of it.

(c)

No Agent is obliged to disclose to any person any confidential information supplied to it by or on behalf of a member of the Group solely for the purpose of evaluating whether any waiver or amendment is required in respect of any term of the Finance Documents.

28.14

Relationship with the Lenders

(a)

Subject to Clause 25.9 (Pro Rata Interest Settlement), the Facility Agent may treat the person shown in its records as Lender at the opening of business (in the place of the Facility Agent’s principal office as notified to the Finance Parties from time to time) as the Lender acting through its Facility Office:

(i)

entitled to or liable for any payment due under any Finance Document on that day; and

(ii)

entitled to receive and act on any notice, request, document or communication or make any decision or determination under any Finance Document made or delivered on that day,

unless it has received not less than five Business Days’ notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(b)

The Facility Agent may at any time, and must if requested to do so by the Majority Lenders, convene a meeting of the Lenders.

(c)

(i)

Any Lender may by notice to the Facility Agent appoint a person to receive on its behalf all notices, communications, information and documents to be made or despatched to that Lender under the Finance Documents.

(ii)

Any such notice:

(A)

must contain the address and (where communication by electronic mail or other electronic means is permitted under this Agreement) electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the transmission of information by that means (and, in each case, the department or officer, if any, for whose attention communication is to be made); and

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(B)

will be treated as a notification of a substitute address, electronic mail address (or such other information), and department or officer, by that Lender for the purposes of the Finance Documents.

(d)

The Facility Agent is entitled to treat such person as the person entitled to receive all such notices, communications, information and documents as though that person were that Lender.

28.15

Credit Appraisal by the Lenders

Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender confirms to the Administrative Parties that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including without limitation:

(a)

the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group;

(b)

the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document;

(c)

whether that Lender has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document;

(d)

the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information provided by an Agent, any other Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and

(e)

the right or title of any person in or to, or the value or sufficiency of any part of, the Security Assets, the priority of any Security created under the Security Documents or the existence of any other Security affecting the Security Assets.

28.16

Reference Banks

(a)

If a Reference Bank (or, if a Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender of which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Facility Agent shall (in consultation with the Company) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender to replace that Reference Bank, provided that such Lender or its Affiliate provides prior written consent to such appointment.

(b)

No Reference Bank is under any obligation to provide a quotation or any other information to the Facility Agent.

(c)

No Reference Bank will be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, or for any Reference Bank Quotation, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

(d)

No Party (other than the relevant Reference Bank) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of any Reference Bank in respect of any claim it might have against that Reference Bank or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document, or to any Reference Bank Quotation, and any officer, employee or agent of each Reference Bank

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may rely on this Clause 28.16, subject to Clause 1.3 (Third-Party Rights) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.

28.17

Deduction From Amounts Payable by the Facility Agent

If any Party owes an amount to the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents, the Facility Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Facility Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party will be regarded as having received the amount so deducted.

28.18

Amounts paid in error

(a)

If the Facility Agent pays an amount to another Party and the Facility Agent notifies that Party that such payment was an Erroneous Payment then the Party to whom that amount was paid by the Facility Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Facility Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Facility Agent, calculated by the Facility Agent to reflect its cost of funds.

(b)

Neither:

(i)

the obligations of any Party to the Facility Agent; nor

(ii)

the remedies of the Facility Agent,

(whether arising under this Clause 28.18 or otherwise) which relate to an Erroneous Payment will be affected by any act, omission, matter or thing (including, without limitation, any obligation pursuant to which an Erroneous Payment is made) which, but for this paragraph (b), would reduce, release, preclude or prejudice any such obligation or remedy (whether or not known by the Facility Agent or any other Party).

(c)

All payments to be made by a Party to the Facility Agent (whether made pursuant to this Clause 28.18 or otherwise) which relate to an Erroneous Payment shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.

(d)

In this Agreement, “Erroneous Payment” means a payment of an amount by the Facility Agent to another Party which the Facility Agent determines (in its sole discretion) was made in error.

28.19

Notice Period

Unless expressly provided to the contrary, where this Agreement specifies a minimum period of notice to be given to an Agent, that Agent may, at its discretion, accept a shorter notice period.

28.20

Conflict with Security Documents

If there is any conflict between this Agreement and any Security Document with regard to instructions to, or other matters affecting, the Security Agent, this Agreement will prevail.

28.21

Custodians and Nominees

The Security Agent may appoint and pay any person to act as a custodian, agent or nominee on any terms (including for the receipt of moneys) in relation to any document or asset it holds on the terms of this Agreement as the Security Agent may determine, including for the purpose of depositing with a custodian this Agreement or any other document and the Security Agent will not be bound to supervise or be in any way responsible or liable for any cost, loss or liability whatsoever any person incurs or any diminution in value arising as a result of the misconduct, omission or default of any such custodian or nominee.

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28.22

Delegation by the Security Agent

(a)

Each of the Security Agent, any Receiver and any Delegate may, at any time, delegate by power of attorney or otherwise to any person for any period, all or any rights, powers, authorities or discretions vested in it in its capacity as such.

(b)

That delegation may be made on any terms and conditions (including the power to sub-delegate) and subject to any restrictions that the Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate (as the case may be) may, in its discretion, think fit in the interests of the Secured Parties.

(c)

No Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate will be bound to supervise, or be in any way responsible or liable for any cost, loss or liability whatsoever any person incurs or any diminution in value arising as a result of any misconduct, omission or default of any such delegate.

28.23

Additional Security Agents

(a)

The Security Agent may appoint any person to act as a separate security agent or a co-security agent jointly with it:

(i)

if it considers that appointment to be in the interests of the Secured Parties;

(ii)

for the purpose of complying with any law, regulation or other condition in any jurisdiction; or

(iii)

for the purpose of enforcing any Finance Document, or obtaining or enforcing any judgment in any jurisdiction.

(b)

The Security Agent must notify the Company and the Finance Parties before making any appointment.

(c)

Any appointment will only be effective if the person appointed confirms to the Security Agent and the Company in form and substance satisfactory to the Security Agent that it is bound by the terms of this Agreement as if it were the Security Agent.

(d)

Any person appointed will have the rights, powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those given to the Security Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents) and the duties, obligations and responsibilities that are given or imposed by the instrument of appointment.

(e)

The Security Agent may remove any person appointed and may appoint a new separate security agent or co-security agent in its place.

(f)

The remuneration that the Security Agent may pay to any person appointed, and any costs and expenses incurred by that person in performing its functions pursuant to that appointment will, for the purposes of this Agreement, be treated as costs and expenses incurred by the Security Agent.

28.24

Winding Up of Security Arrangements

If the Security Agent, with the approval of the Facility Agent, determines that:

(a)

all obligations and liabilities secured by the Security Documents have been fully and finally discharged; and

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(b)

no Secured Party is under any commitment, obligation or liability (actual or contingent) to make advances or provide other financial accommodation to any Obligor pursuant to the Finance Documents,

then:

(i)

the trusts set out in this Agreement will be wound up and the Security Agent will release, without recourse or warranty, all of the Security created under the Security Documents and the rights of the Security Agent under each of the Security Documents; and

(ii)

any Security Agent which has resigned pursuant to Clause 28.12 (Appointment and Resignation of an Agent) will release, without recourse or warranty, all of its rights under each Security Document.

28.25

Powers Supplemental to Trustee Acts

The rights, powers, authorities and discretions given to the Security Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents are supplemental to the Trustee Act 1925 and the Trustee Act 2000 and in addition to any rights, powers, authorities and discretions which may be vested in the Security Agent by law or otherwise.

28.26

Disapplication of Trustee Acts

Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 does not apply to the duties of the Security Agent in relation to the trusts constituted by this Agreement. Where there are any inconsistencies between the Trustee Act 1925 or the Trustee Act 2000 and the provisions of the Finance Documents, the provisions of the Finance Documents will, to the extent permitted by law, prevail and, in the case of any inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000, the provisions of the Finance Documents constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of that Act.

28.27

Security Agent – Miscellaneous

(a)

Without prejudice to the generality of any other provision of this Agreement or any other Security Document, the entry into possession of the Security Assets shall not render the Security Agent or any Receiver liable to account as mortgagee in possession thereunder (or its equivalent in any other applicable jurisdiction) or take any action which would expose it to any liability in respect of any Environmental Claims in respect of which it has not been indemnified and/or secured and/or pre- funded to its satisfaction or to be liable for any loss on realisation or for any default or omission on realisation or for any default or omission for which a mortgagee in possession might be liable unless such loss, default or omission is caused by its own gross negligence or wilful default.

(b)

The Security Agent, a Receiver or any Delegate shall not be bound to take any steps to ascertain whether any event, condition or act, the happening of which would cause a right or remedy to become exercisable by the Security Agent, a Receiver or any Delegate under the Finance Documents has happened or to monitor or supervise the observance and performance by the Obligors, any agent or any of the other parties thereto of their respective obligations thereunder and, until it shall have actual knowledge or express notice to the contrary, the Security Agent, a Receiver or any Delegate shall be entitled to assume that no such event, condition or act has happened and that the Obligors, the agents and the other parties thereto are observing and performing all their respective obligations thereunder.

(c)

The Security Agent shall have no responsibility whatsoever to the Facility Agent or any Secured Party as regards any deficiency which might arise because the Security Agent is subject to any Tax in respect of all or any of the Security Assets, the income

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therefrom or the proceeds thereof and it shall have no obligation to make any payment, deduction or withholding in respect of tax as a result of holding or enforcing any Security.

29.

Application of Proceeds

29.1

Order of Application

Subject to Clause 29.2 (Prospective Liabilities), all amounts from time to time received or recovered by the Security Agent or any Receiver or Delegate pursuant to the terms of any Finance Document or in connection with the realisation or enforcement of all or any part of any security created by the Security Documents (for the purposes of this Clause, the “Recoveries”) will be held by the Security Agent in accordance with Clause 24.1 (Security Agent as Holder of Security) to apply them at any time as the Security Agent (in its discretion) sees fit, to the extent permitted by applicable law (and subject to the provisions of this Clause), in the following order:

(a)

in or towards payment of any sums owing to the Security Agent, any Receiver or any Delegate;

(b)

in or towards payment of all costs and expenses incurred by any Secured Party (other than to the extent recovered under paragraph (a) above) in connection with any realisation or enforcement of the Security Documents in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents; and

(c)

in payment to the Facility Agent for application in accordance with this Agreement.

29.2

Prospective Liabilities

After enforcement of any security created by the Security Documents, the Security Agent may, in its discretion, hold any amount of the Recoveries in one or more interest bearing suspense or impersonal accounts in the name of the Security Agent with any financial institution (including itself or any other Finance Party) and for so long as the Security Agent thinks fit (the interest being credited to the relevant account) for later application under Clause 29.1 (Order of Application) in respect of:

(a)

any sum payable to the Security Agent, any Receiver or any Delegate; and

(b)

any part of the obligations and liabilities secured by the Security Documents,

that the Security Agent reasonably considers, in each case, might become due or owing at any time in the future.

29.3

Investment of Proceeds

Except as otherwise provided in any Security Document, the Security Agent may:

(a)

invest any Recoveries in the name of, or under the control of, the Security Agent in any investment for the time being authorised by English law for the investment by trustees of trust money or in any other investments which may be selected by the Security Agent with the consent of the Majority Lenders; or

(b)

place any Recoveries on deposit in the name of, or under the control of, the Security Agent at any bank or institution (including itself or any other Finance Party) and on such terms as the Security Agent may agree and if it places it on deposit with itself, it shall only be liable for standard amount of interest that would have been payable by it to an independent customer on a deposit of similar tenor and amount.

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29.4

Currency Conversion

(a)

For the purpose of, or pending the discharge of, any of the obligations and liabilities secured by the Security Documents, the Security Agent may convert any moneys it receives or recovers from one currency to another, at a market rate of exchange.

(b)

The obligations of any Obligor to pay in the due currency may only be satisfied to the extent of the amount of the due currency purchased after deducting the costs of conversion.

29.5

Permitted Deductions

The Security Agent may, in its discretion:

(a)

set aside by way of reserve amounts required to meet, and make and pay, any deductions and withholdings (on account of Taxes or otherwise) which it is or may be required by any applicable law to make from any distribution or payment made by it under this Agreement; and

(b)

pay all Taxes which may be assessed against it in respect of any of the assets subject to a Security under the Security Documents, or as a consequence of performing its duties, or by virtue of its capacity as Security Agent, under any of the Finance Documents or otherwise (other than in connection with its remuneration for performing its duties under this Agreement).

29.6

Good Discharge

(a)

Any payment to be made in respect of the obligations and liabilities secured by the Security Documents by the Security Agent may be made to the Facility Agent on behalf of the Finance Parties and any payment made in that way will be a good discharge, to the extent of that payment, by the Security Agent.

(b)

The Security Agent is under no obligation to make the payments to the Facility Agent under paragraph (a) above in the same currency as that in which the obligations and liabilities owing to the relevant Finance Party are denominated.

30.

Conduct of Business by the Finance Parties

No provision of any Finance Document will:

(a)

interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (Tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit;

(b)

oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or

(c)

oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (Tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax.

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31.

Sharing among the Finance Parties

31.1

Payments to Finance Parties

If a Finance Party (a “Recovering Finance Party”) receives or recovers any amount from an Obligor other than in accordance with Clause 32 (Payment Mechanics) and applies that amount to a payment due under a Finance Document then:

(a)

the Recovering Finance Party must, within three Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery to the Facility Agent;

(b)

the Facility Agent must determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of the amount the Recovering Finance Party would have received had the receipt or recovery been received or made by the Facility Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 32 (Payment Mechanics), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Facility Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and

(c)

the Recovering Finance Party must pay to the Facility Agent an amount (the “Sharing Payment”) equal to that receipt or recovery less any amount which the Facility Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with Clause 32.5 (Partial Payments).

31.2

Redistribution of Payments

The Facility Agent must treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the relevant Obligor and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) (the “Sharing Finance Parties”) in accordance with Clause 32.5 (Partial Payments) towards the obligations of that Obligor to the Sharing Finance Parties.

31.3

Recovering Finance Party’s Rights

(a)

On a distribution by the Facility Agent under Clause 31.2 (Redistribution of Payments) the Recovering Finance Party will be subrogated to the rights of the Finance Parties which have shared in that redistribution.

(b)

If and to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party is not able to rely on its rights under paragraph (a) above, the relevant Obligor will owe the Recovering Finance Party a debt equal to the Sharing Payment which is immediately due and payable.

31.4

Reversal of Redistribution

If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then:

(a)

each Sharing Finance Party must, on request of the Facility Agent, pay to the Facility Agent for the account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount equal to the appropriate part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering Finance Party is required to pay) (the “Redistributed Amount”);

(b)

at the time of the request by the Facility Agent under paragraph (a) above, the Sharing Finance Party will be subrogated to the rights of the Recovering Finance Party in respect of the relevant Redistributed Amount; and

(c)

if and to the extent that the Sharing Finance Party is not able to rely on its rights under paragraph (b) above as between the relevant Obligor and each relevant Sharing Finance Party, an amount equal to the relevant Redistributed Amount will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor.

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31.5

Exceptions

(a)

This Clause will not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party would not, after making any payment pursuant to this Clause, have a valid and enforceable claim against the relevant Obligor.

(b)

A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal or arbitration proceedings, if:

(i)

it notified that other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and

(ii)

that other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal or arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable having received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration proceedings.

32.

Payment Mechanics

32.1

Payments to the Facility Agent

(a)

On each date on which a Party is required to make a payment to the Facility Agent under a Finance Document, that Party must make the payment available to the Facility Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Facility Agent to the Party concerned as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment.

(b)

Unless a Finance Document specifies that payments under it are to be made in another manner, each payment must be made to such account in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency and with such bank as the Facility Agent specifies.

32.2

Distributions by the Facility Agent

Each payment received by the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party must, except as provided in this Clause, be paid by the Facility Agent to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office) as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt, to such account in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency and with such bank as that Party may notify to the Facility Agent by not less than five Business Days’ notice.

32.3

Distributions to an Obligor

The Facility Agent may (with the consent of an Obligor or in accordance with Clause 33 (Set-Off)) apply any amount received by it for that Obligor in or towards payment (as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt) of any amount due from that Obligor under the Finance Documents. For this purpose the Facility Agent may apply the received sum in or towards the purchase of any amount of any currency to be paid.

32.4

Clawback and Pre-Funding

(a)

Where a sum is to be paid to the Facility Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party, the Facility Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that other Party (or to enter into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum.

(b)

If the Facility Agent or its Affiliate or Representative on its behalf or direction (the Facility Agent and its applicable Affiliate or Representative, a “Facility Agent

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Entity”) pays an amount to another Party (unless paragraph (c) below applies) or, at the direction of such Party, that Party’s Affiliate, Related Fund or Representative (such Party and its applicable Affiliate, Related Fund or Representative, an “Other Party Entity”) and it proves to be the case (in the sole determination of the Facility Agent) that (i) neither the Facility Agent nor the applicable Facility Agent Entity actually received that amount or (ii) such amount was otherwise paid in error (whether such error was known or ought to have been known to such other Party or applicable Other Party Entity), then the Party to whom that amount (or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid (or on whose direction its applicable Other Party Entity was paid) by the applicable Facility Agent Entity shall hold such amount on trust or, to the extent not possible as a matter of law, for the account (or will procure that its applicable Other Party Entity holds on trust or for the account) of the Facility Agent Entity and on demand (or will procure that its applicable Other Party Entity shall) refund the same to the Facility Agent Entity together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Facility Agent Entity, calculated by the Facility Agent to reflect its cost of funds.

(c)

If the Facility Agent is willing to make available amounts for the account of the Company before receiving funds from the Lenders, then if and to the extent that the Facility Agent does so but it proves (in the sole determination of the Facility Agent) to be the case that it does not then receive funds from a Lender in respect of a sum which it paid to the Company:

(i)

the Facility Agent must notify the Company promptly of that Lender’s identity and the Company must hold such amount on trust or, to the extent not possible as a matter of law, for the account, of the Facility Agent and on demand refund it to the Facility Agent; and

(ii)

the Lender by whom those funds should have been made available or, if that Lender fails to do so, the Company must on demand pay to the Facility Agent the amount (as certified by the Facility Agent) which will indemnify the Facility Agent against any funding cost incurred by it as a result of paying out that sum before receiving those funds from that Lender.

32.5

Partial Payments

(a)

If the Facility Agent receives a payment that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by an Obligor under the Finance Documents, the Facility Agent must apply that payment towards the obligations of that Obligor under the Finance Documents in the following order:

(i)

first, in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid amount owing to the Administrative Parties, any Receiver or any Delegate under the Finance Documents;

(ii)

secondly, in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest, fees or commission due but unpaid under this Agreement;

(iii)

thirdly, in or towards payment pro rata of any principal sum due but unpaid under this Agreement; and

(iv)

fourthly, in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents.

(b)

The Facility Agent must, if so directed by all the Lenders, vary the order set out in paragraphs (a)(ii) to (a)(iv) above.

(c)

Paragraphs (a) and (b) above will override any appropriation made by an Obligor.

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32.6

No Set-Off by Obligors

All payments to be made by an Obligor under the Finance Documents will be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.

32.7

Business Days

(a)

Any payment under the Finance Documents which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day will be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

(b)

During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at the rate payable on the original due date.

32.8

Currency of Account

(a)

Unless a Finance Document specifies otherwise, USD is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from an Obligor under any Finance Document.

(b)

Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes must be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred.

(c)

Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than USD will be paid in that other currency.

32.9

Change of Currency

(a)

Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then:

(i)

any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country will be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Facility Agent (after consultation with the Company); and

(ii)

any translation from one currency or currency unit to another will be at the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the conversion of that currency or currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Facility Agent (acting reasonably).

(b)

If a change in any currency of a country occurs (including where there is more than one currency or currency unit recognised at the same time as the lawful currency of a country), the Finance Documents will, to the extent the Facility Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with the Company) specifies to be necessary, be amended to comply with any generally accepted conventions and market practice in the Relevant Market and otherwise reflect the change in currency.

32.10

Disruption to Payment Systems

(a)

If the Facility Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Disruption Event has occurred or the Facility Agent is notified by the Company that a Disruption Event has occurred:

(i)

the Facility Agent may, and must if requested to do so by the Company, consult with the Company with a view to agreeing with the Company such changes to the operation or administration of the Facilities as the Facility Agent may decide are necessary in the circumstances;

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(ii)

the Facility Agent is not obliged to consult with the Company in relation to any changes if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, is not obliged to agree to any changes; and

(iii)

the Facility Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes but is not obliged to do so if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances.

(b)

Any agreement between the Facility Agent and the Company will (whether or not it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding on the Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, a waiver of) the terms of the Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 38 (Amendments and Waivers).

(c)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Facility Agent will not be liable (whether in contract, tort or otherwise and whether caused by the Facility Agent’s negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever, but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Facility Agent) for any cost, loss or liability whatsoever any person incurs or any diminution in value arising as a result of the Facility Agent taking or not taking any action under or in connection with this Clause 32.10 (Disruption to Payment Systems).

(d)

The Facility Agent must notify the Finance Parties promptly of all changes agreed pursuant to paragraph (b) above.

32.11

Timing of Payments

If a Finance Document does not provide for when a particular payment is due, that payment will be due within three Business Days of demand by the person to whom the payment is to be made (or, if that person is a Finance Party, the Facility Agent).

33.

Set-Off

A Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to that Obligor, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.

34.

Notices

34.1

Communications in Writing

Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents must be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by email or letter.

34.2

Addresses

(a)

Except as provided below, the contact details of each Party for any communication to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents are those notified by that Party for this purpose to the Facility Agent on or before the date it becomes a Party.

(b)

The contact details of the Company for this purpose are:

Address:

1 Cathedral Piazza
123 Victoria Street

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London SW1E 5BP
United Kingdom

Email:

Patrick.fegaly@ihstowers.com
talin.shah@ihstowers.com
yoni.conway@ihstowers.com
grouptreasury.debt@ihstowers.com
grouplegal@ihstowers.com

Attention:

Patrick Fegaly, Talin Shah, Yoni Conway

(c)

The contact details of the Facility Agent for this purpose are:

Address:

14th Floor,

1 Merchant Place

1 Fredman Drive

Sandton

2196

Email:

RMBAgency@rmb.co.za

Attention:

Head of Agency

(d)

Any Party may change its contact details by giving five Business Days’ notice to the Facility Agent or (in the case of the Facility Agent) to the other Parties.

34.3

Delivery

(a)

Except as provided below, any communication made or delivered by one Party to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective, if by way of registered mail or courier, when it has been delivered at the relevant address, and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 34.2 (Addresses), if addressed to that department or officer.

(b)

Any communication to be made or delivered to an Agent will be effective only when actually received by that Agent, in accordance with paragraph (a) above.

(c)

All communications from or to an Obligor must be sent through the Facility Agent.

(d)

All communications from or to an Obligor (other than the Company) must be sent through the Company.

(e)

Each Obligor (other than the Company) irrevocably appoints the Company to act as its agent:

(i)

to give and receive all communications under or in connection with the Finance Documents;

(ii)

to exercise any rights or discretions on its behalf under the Finance Documents;

(iii)

to supply all information concerning itself to any Finance Party; and

(iv)

to sign all documents on its behalf under or in connection with the Finance Documents.

(f)

Any communication made or delivered to the Company in accordance with this Clause will be deemed to have been made or delivered to each of the Obligors.

(g)

Each Finance Party may assume that any communication made by the Company (or by the Company on behalf of an Obligor) is made with the consent of each other Obligor.

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(h)

Any communication which would otherwise become effective on a non-working day or after 5 pm (London time) in the place of receipt will be deemed only to become effective on the next working day in that place.

34.4

Notification of Address and Email

Promptly on the change of a Party’s (a “Relevant Party”) contact details, the Relevant Party must notify:

(a)

the Company;

(b)

the Facility Agent; and

(c)

(if the Relevant Party is the Company or an Agent) each Party other than the Relevant Party.

34.5

Electronic Communication

(a)

Any communication to be made between any of the Parties under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means (including, without limitation, by way of posting to a secure website), if the relevant Parties:

(i)

notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the transmission of information by that means; and

(ii)

notify each other of any change to their electronic mail address or any other such information supplied by them.

(b)

Any electronic communication as specified in paragraph (a) above to be made between an Obligor and a Finance Party may only be made in that way to the extent that those two parties agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is an accepted form of communication.

(c)

For the purposes of the Finance Documents, an electronic communication will be treated as being in writing.

(d)

Any electronic communication as specified in paragraph (a) above made between the Parties will be effective only when actually received (or made available) in readable form and in the case of any electronic communication made by a Party to an Agent only if it is addressed in such a manner as that Agent may specify for this purpose.

(e)

Any electronic communication which would otherwise become effective on a non-working day or after business hours in the place in which the Party to whom the relevant communication is sent or made available has its address for the purposes of this Agreement will be deemed only to become effective on the next working day in that place.

(f)

Any reference in a Finance Document to a communication being sent or received will be construed to include that communication being made available in accordance with this Clause 34.5 (Electronic Communication).

34.6

English Language

(a)

Any communication made under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English.

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(b)

All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be:

(i)

in English; or

(ii)

if not in English, and if so required by the Facility Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document.

35.

Calculations and Certificates

35.1

Accounts

In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate.

35.2

Certificates and Determinations

Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which it relates.

35.3

Day Count Convention and Interest Calculation

(a)

Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and the amount of any such interest, commission or fee is calculated:

(i)

on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days (in respect of dollars) or 365 days (in respect of ZAR) (or, in any case where the practice in the Relevant Market differs, in accordance with that market practice); and

(ii)

subject to paragraph (b) below, without rounding.

(b)

The aggregate amount of any accrued interest, commission or fee which is or becomes payable by an Obligor under a Finance Document shall be rounded to 2 decimal places.

36.

Partial Invalidity

If, at any time, any term of a Finance Document is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, that will not affect:

(a)

the legality, validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other term of any Finance Document; or

(b)

the legality, validity or enforceability in other jurisdictions of that or any other term of any Finance Document.

37.

Remedies and Waivers

No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under a Finance Document will operate as a waiver, nor will any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in each Finance Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law and may be waived only in writing and specifically.

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38.

Amendments and Waivers

38.1

Required Consents

(a)

Except as provided in this Clause 38, any term of or any right or remedy under a Finance Document may be amended or waived only with the consent of the Company and the Majority Lenders and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all the Parties.

(b)

The Facility Agent or, where applicable, the Security Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause. The relevant Agent must notify the other Parties promptly of any amendment or waiver effected by it under this paragraph.

(c)

Each Obligor agrees to any amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause which is agreed to by the Company.

38.2

All Lender Matters

Subject to Clause 38.3 (Other exceptions) and Clause 38.4 (Changes to reference rates), an amendment or waiver of any term of or any right or remedy under a Finance Document that has the effect of changing or which relates to:

(a)

the definition of “Majority Lenders”, “Majority USD Lenders” and “Majority ZAR Lenders” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) and “Structural Adjustment” in paragraph (a) of Clause 38.3 (Other exceptions);

(b)

an extension of the date of payment of any scheduled amount to or for the account of a Lender under the Finance Documents, except as agreed by an individual Lender in respect of its Commitment or participation in any Loan;

(c)

a release of any Security created pursuant to a Security Document other than in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents;

(d)

a redenomination of a Commitment into another currency;

(e)

a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount or change in currency of any payment of principal, interest, fee or other amount payable to or for the account of a Lender under the Finance Documents, except as agreed by an individual Lender in respect of its Commitment or participation in any Loan;

(f)

an increase in any Commitment or the Total Commitments or an extension of the Availability Period or any requirement that a cancellation of Commitments reduces the Commitments of the Lenders rateably under a Facility;

(g)

changes to the Obligors otherwise than as permitted under this Agreement;

(h)

the definition of Anti-Corruption Laws, Clause 18.21 (Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws) or Clause 22.5
(Anti-Bribery and Corruption and Anti-Money Laundering);

(i)

the definition of Restricted Party, Sanctioned Country, Sanctions or Sanctions List, Clause 7.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Sanctions Etc.), Clause 18.20 (Sanctions) or Clause 22.4 (Sanctions);

(j)

(other than as expressly permitted by the provisions of any Finance Document):

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(i)

the nature or scope of the guarantee and indemnity granted under Clause 16 (Guarantee and Indemnity) and under the Nigeria Guarantee;

(ii)

the manner in which the proceeds of enforcement of any Security created pursuant to the Security Documents are distributed; and

(iii)

the release of any guarantee and indemnity granted under Clause 16 (Guarantee and Indemnity) and under the Nigeria Guarantee;

(k)

any provision of a Finance Document which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders; or

(l)

Clause 2.3 (Facility Increase), Clause 7.1 (Mandatory Prepayment – Illegality), the definition of Permitted Transferee set out in Clause 7.2 (Mandatory Prepayment – Change of Control), Clause 7.5 (Note Maturity Event), Clause 25 (Changes to the Lenders), Clause 31 (Sharing Among the Finance Parties), Clause 42 (Governing Law), Clause 43.2 (Jurisdiction of English Courts) or this Clause 38.2, shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders.

38.3

Other Exceptions

(a)

In this Clause 38, “Structural Adjustment” means:

(i)

an amendment or waiver that has the effect of changing or which relates to:

(A)

an extension to the availability or date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents;

(B)

a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission or other amounts payable; or

(C)

an introduction of any additional tranche, loan, facility or commitment into the Finance Documents that ranks pari passu with, or junior to, the indebtedness in respect of the Facilities; and

(ii)

an amendment or waiver of a term of a Finance Document that is consequential on, incidental to, or required to implement or reflect any of the amendments or waivers listed in subparagraphs (i) above.

(b)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this this Clause 38, if an amendment or waiver relates to a Structural Adjustment, to the extent that it is so permitted, it requires only the prior consent of each Lender which will be directly affected by the proposed Structural Adjustment and:

(i)

in relation to any Structural Adjustment arising under paragraph (a) above that relates solely to amounts payable solely under Facility A or to the USD Lenders, with the consent of the Majority USD Lenders (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, if the Structural Adjustment arises under paragraph (a)(i)(A) or (a)(i)(B) above, then the consent of all USD Lenders shall be required);

(ii)

in relation to any Structural Adjustment arising under paragraph (a) above that relates solely to amounts payable solely under Facility B or to the ZAR Lenders, with the consent of the Majority ZAR Lenders (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, if the Structural Adjustment arises under paragraph (a)(i)(A) or (a)(i)(B) above, then the consent of all ZAR Lenders shall be required); and

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(iii)

in all other cases, with the consent of the Majority Lenders.

(c)

The Security Documents may be amended, varied, waived or modified with the agreement of the relevant security provider and the Security Agent.

(d)

An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Facility Agent, an Arranger or the Security Agent (each in their capacity as such) may not be effected without the consent of the Facility Agent, an Arranger or the Security Agent (as applicable).

(e)

Notwithstanding Clause 38.2 (All Lender Matters), a Fee Letter may be amended or waived with the agreement of each Administrative Party that is a party to that Fee Letter and the Company.

(f)

The Facility Agent may agree with the Company at any time any amendment to or modification of a name or other details of an Original Lender as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (The Parties) which is technical in nature or which is necessary to correct a manifest error.

38.4

Changes to reference rates

(a)Subject to Clause 38.3 (Other Exceptions), if a Published Rate Replacement Event has occurred in relation to a Published Rate for a currency of a Loan, any amendment or waiver which relates to:

(i)

providing for the use of a Replacement Reference Rate in relation to that currency in place of that Published Rate; and

(ii)

(A)

aligning any provision of any Finance Document to the use of that Replacement Reference Rate;

(B)

enabling that Replacement Reference Rate to be used for the calculation of interest under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any consequential changes required to enable that Replacement Reference Rate to be used for the purposes of this Agreement);

(C)

implementing market conventions applicable to that Replacement Reference Rate;

(D)

providing for appropriate fallback (and market disruption) provisions for that Replacement Reference Rate; or

(E)

adjusting the pricing to reduce or eliminate, to the extent reasonably practicable, any transfer of economic value from one Party to another as a result of the application of that Replacement Reference Rate (and if any adjustment or method for calculating any adjustment has been formally designated, nominated or recommended by the Relevant Nominating Body, the adjustment shall be determined on the basis of that designation, nomination or recommendation),

may be made with the consent of the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority USD Lenders (in respect of any Replacement Reference Rate relating to Facility A) and the Majority ZAR Lenders (in respect of any Replacement Reference Rate relating to Facility B)) and the Obligors.

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(b)If any Lender fails to respond to a request for an amendment or waiver described in, or for any other vote of Lenders in relation to, paragraph (a) above, within ten (10) Business Days (or such longer time period in relation to any request which the Company and the Facility Agent may agree) of that request being made:

(i)

its Commitment(s) shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total Commitments under the relevant Facility when ascertaining whether any relevant percentage of Total Commitments has been obtained to approve that request; and

(ii)

its status as a Lender shall be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve that request.

(c)In this Clause 38.4:

“Published Rate” means the relevant Reference Rate for any Quoted Tenor.

“Published Rate Replacement Event” means, in relation to a Published Rate:

(i)

the methodology, formula or other means of determining that Published Rate has, in the opinion of the Majority USD Lenders (in respect of any Published Rate relating to Facility A) and the Majority ZAR Lenders (in respect of any Published Rate relating to Facility B), and the Obligors materially changed;

(ii)

(A)

(1)

the administrator of that Published Rate or its supervisor publicly announces that such administrator is insolvent; or

(2)

information is published in any order, decree, notice, petition or filing, however described, of or filed with a court, tribunal, exchange, regulatory authority or similar administrative, regulatory or judicial body which reasonably confirms that the administrator of that Published Rate is insolvent, provided that, in each case, at that time, there is no successor administrator to continue to provide that Published Rate;

(B)

the administrator of that Published Rate publicly announces that it has ceased or will cease to provide that Published Rate permanently or indefinitely and, at that time, there is no successor administrator to continue to provide that Published Rate;

(C)

the supervisor of the administrator of that Published Rate publicly announces that such Published Rate has been or will be permanently or indefinitely discontinued;

(D)

the administrator of that Published Rate or its supervisor announces that that Published Rate may no longer be used;

(E)

the supervisor of the administrator of that Published Rate makes a public announcement or publishes information stating that that Published Rate is no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative of the underlying market or economic reality

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that it is intended to measure and that representativeness will not be restored (as determined by such supervisor);

(F)

the administrator of that Published Rate (or the administrator of an interest rate which is a constituent element of that Published Rate) determines that that Published Rate should be calculated in accordance with its reduced submissions or other contingency or fallback policies or arrangements and either:

(1)

the circumstance(s) or event(s) leading to such determination are not (in the opinion of the Majority USD Lenders (in respect of any Published Rate relating to Facility A) and the Majority ZAR Lenders (in respect of any Published Rate relating to Facility B) and the Obligors) temporary; or

(2)

that Published Rate is calculated in accordance with any such policy or arrangement for a period no less than the period opposite that Published Rate in Schedule 17 (Published Rate Contingency Periods); or

(G)

in the opinion of the Majority USD Lenders (in respect of any Published Rate relating to Facility A) and the Majority ZAR Lenders (in respect of any Published Rate relating to Facility B) and the Obligors, that Published Rate is otherwise no longer appropriate for the purposes of calculating interest under this Agreement.

“Quoted Tenor” means, in relation to Term SOFR or JIBAR, any period for which that rate is customarily displayed on the relevant page or screen of an information service.

“Relevant Nominating Body” means any applicable central bank, regulator or other supervisory authority or a group of them, or any working group or committee sponsored or chaired by, or constituted at the request of, any of them or the Financial Stability Board.

“Replacement Reference Rate” means a reference rate which is:

(i)

formally designated, nominated or recommended as the replacement for a Published Rate by:

(A)

the administrator of that Published Rate (provided that the market or economic reality that such reference rate measures is the same as that measured by that Published Rate); or

(B)

any Relevant Nominating Body,

and if replacements have, at the relevant time, been formally designated, nominated or recommended under both paragraphs, the “Replacement Reference Rate” will be the replacement under paragraph (B) above;

(C)

in the opinion of the Majority USD Lenders (in respect of any Replacement Reference Rate relating to Facility A) and the Majority ZAR Lenders (in respect of any Replacement Reference Rate relating to Facility B) and the Obligors, generally accepted in the international or any relevant domestic syndicated loan markets as the appropriate successor to a Published Rate; or

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(D)

in the opinion of the Majority USD Lenders (in respect of any Replacement Reference Rate relating to Facility A) and the Majority ZAR Lenders (in respect of any Replacement Reference Rate relating to Facility B) and the Obligors, an appropriate successor to a Published Rate.

38.5

Disenfranchisement of Defaulting Lenders

(a)

In ascertaining the Majority Lenders, the Majority USD Lenders, the Majority ZAR Lenders or whether any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments, Total Facility A Commitments or Total Facility B Commitments has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents, a Defaulting Lender’s Commitments and participations will be zero.

(b)

For the purposes of this Clause 38.4, the Facility Agent may assume that the following Lenders are Defaulting Lenders:

(i)

any Lender which has notified the Facility Agent that it has become a Defaulting Lender; and

(ii)

any Lender in relation to which it is aware that any of the events or circumstances referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender” has occurred,

unless it has received notice to the contrary from the Lender concerned (together with any supporting evidence reasonably requested by the Facility Agent) or the Facility Agent is otherwise aware that the Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender.

(c)

For the avoidance of doubt, the Facility Agent shall not be obliged to fund any Loan or pay any sums in place of any Defaulting Lender:

38.6

Replacement of a Defaulting Lender

(a)

The Company may, at any time a Lender has become and continues to be a Defaulting Lender, by giving five Business Days’ prior written notice to the Facility Agent and such Lender, replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and to the extent permitted by law, such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 25 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Lender or other bank, financial institution or other entity (a “Replacement Lender”) selected by the Company, which (unless the replacement Lender is already a Lender or the Facility Agent is an Impaired Agent) has satisfied all the Facility Agent’s “know your client” and other similar checks, which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations or all the relevant obligations of the transferring Lender (including the assumption of the transferring Lender’s participations or unfunded participations (as the case may be) on the same basis as the transferring Lender) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans and all accrued interest, Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents.

(b)

Any transfer of rights and obligations of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Clause 38.6 shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i)

neither the Facility Agent nor the Defaulting Lender shall have any obligation to the Company to find a Replacement Lender;

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(ii)

the transfer must take place no later than 60 days after the notice referred to in paragraph (a) above;

(iii)

in no event shall the Defaulting Lender be required to pay or surrender to the Replacement Lender any of the fees received by the Defaulting Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents; and

(iv)

the Lender shall only be obliged to transfer its rights and obligations pursuant to this paragraph (b) once it has complied with (acting reasonably) all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to that transfer.

38.7

Excluded Commitments

If any Lender fails to respond to a request for a consent, waiver, amendment of or in relation to any term of any Finance Document or any other vote of Lenders under the terms of this Agreement within 15 Business Days (unless the Company and the Facility Agent agree to a longer time period in relation to any request) of that request being made:

(a)

its Commitment(s) shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total Commitments, the Total Facility A Commitments and the Total Facility B Commitments when ascertaining whether any relevant percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of Total Commitments, Total Facility A Commitments or Total Facility B Commitments has been obtained to approve that request; and

(b)

its status as a Lender shall be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve that request.

39.

Confidential Information

39.1

Confidentiality

(a)

Each Finance Party must keep all Confidential Information confidential and not disclose it to any person, save to the extent permitted by Clause 39.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information) and Clause 39.3 (Disclosure to Numbering Service Providers).

(b)

Each Finance Party must ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.

39.2

Disclosure of Confidential Information

Any Finance Party may disclose:

(a) to any of its Affiliates and Related Funds and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, insurers, insurance brokers, auditors, partners, service providers, Representatives and professional advisers of such Representatives such Confidential Information as that Finance Party considers appropriate if any person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (a) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price- sensitive information except that there is no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the information or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information;

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(b)

to any person:

(i)

to (or through) whom it assigns, transfers or novates (or may potentially assign, transfer or novate) all or any of its rights and/or obligations under one or more Finance Documents or which succeeds (or which may potentially succeed) it as an Administrative Party and, in each case, to any of that person’s Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives, professional advisers and agents;

(ii)

with (or through) whom it enters into (or may potentially enter into), whether directly or indirectly, any
sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made or may be made by reference to, one or more Finance Documents and/or one or more Obligors and to any of that person’s Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives, professional advisers and agents;

(iii)

appointed by any Finance Party or by a person to whom paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above applies to receive communications, notices, information or documents delivered pursuant to the Finance Documents on its behalf (including, without limitation, any person appointed under paragraph (c) of Clause 28.14 (Relationship with the Lenders));

(iv)

who invests in or otherwise finances (or may potentially invest in or otherwise finance), directly or indirectly, any transaction referred to in paragraphs (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above;

(v)

to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange, listing authority or similar body, or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation;

(vi)

to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes;

(vii)

to whom or for whose benefit that Finance Party charges, assigns or otherwise creates Security (or may do so) pursuant to Clause 25.8 (Security Over Lenders’ Rights);

(viii)

who is a Party or a member of the Group;

(ix)

who is a direct or indirect provider of credit protection to any Lender; or

(x)

with the consent of the Company,

in each case, such Confidential Information as that Finance Party considers appropriate if:

(A)

in relation to paragraphs (b)(i), (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking except that there is no requirement for a Confidentiality Undertaking if the recipient is a professional adviser and is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information;

(B)

in relation to paragraph (b)(iv) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking or is otherwise bound by requirements of

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confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information they receive and is informed that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information;

(C)

in relation to paragraphs (b)(v), (b)(vi) and (b)(vii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there is no requirement to inform if, in the opinion of that Finance Party, it is not practicable so to do in the circumstances;

(c)

to any person appointed by that Finance Party or by a person to whom paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above applies to provide administration or settlement services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents including, without limitation, in relation to the trading of participations in respect of the Finance Documents, such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such service provider to provide any of the services referred to in this paragraph (c) if the service provider to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Company and the relevant Finance Party; and

(d)

to any rating agency (including its professional advisers) such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such rating agency to carry out its normal rating activities in relation to the Finance Documents and/or the Obligors if the rating agency to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information.

39.3

Disclosure to Numbering Service Providers

(a)

Any Finance Party may disclose to any national or international numbering service provider appointed by that Finance Party to provide identification numbering services in respect of this Agreement, the Facilities and/or the Company the following information:

(i)

the names of the Obligors;

(ii)

the country of domicile of the Obligors;

(iii)

the place of incorporation of the Obligors;

(iv)

the date of this Agreement;

(v)

the governing law of this Agreement;

(vi)

the names of the Facility Agent and each Arranger;

(vii)

the amount and name of the Facilities (and any tranches);

(viii)

the amount of the Total Commitments;

(ix)

the currency of each Facility;

(x)

the type of each Facility;

(xi)

the ranking of each Facility;

(xii)

the Termination Date for each Facility;

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(xiii)

changes to any of the information previously supplied pursuant to paragraphs (i) to (xii) above; and

(xiv)

such other information agreed between such Finance Party and the Company,

to enable such numbering service provider to provide its usual syndicated loan numbering identification services.

(b)

The Parties acknowledge and agree that each identification number assigned to this Agreement, the Facilities and/or one or more Obligors by a numbering service provider and the information associated with each such number may be disclosed to users of its services in accordance with the standard terms and conditions of that numbering service provider.

(c)

The Company represents that none of the information set out in paragraphs (i) to (xiv) of paragraph (a) above is unpublished price-sensitive information.

39.4

Entire Agreement

This Clause:

(a)

constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in relation to the obligations of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents regarding Confidential Information; and

(b)

supersedes any previous agreement, whether express or implied, regarding Confidential Information.

39.5

Inside Information

Each Finance Party acknowledges that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price- sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and each of the Finance Parties undertakes not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose.

39.6

Notification of Disclosure

Each Finance Party agrees (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the Company:

(a)

of the circumstances of any disclosure of Confidential Information made pursuant to paragraph (b)(v) of Clause 39.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and

(b)

on becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause.

39.7

Continuing Obligations

The obligations in this Clause are continuing and, in particular, will survive and remain binding on each Finance Party for a period of 12 months from the earlier of:

(a)

the date on which all amounts payable by the Obligors under or in connection with this Agreement have been paid in full and all Commitments have been cancelled or otherwise cease to be available; and

(b)

the date on which such Finance Party otherwise ceases to be a Finance Party.

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40.

Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations

40.1

Confidentiality and Disclosure

(a)

The Facility Agent and each Obligor agree to keep each Funding Rate (and, in the case of the Facility Agent, each Reference Bank Quotation) confidential and not to disclose it to any person, save to the extent permitted by paragraphs (b) and (c) below.

(b)

The Facility Agent may disclose:

(i)

any Funding Rate (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, any Reference Bank Quotation) to each Obligor pursuant to Clause 8.4 (Notification of Rates of Interest); and

(ii)

any Funding Rate or any Reference Bank Quotation to any person appointed by it to provide administration services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents to the extent necessary to enable such service provider to provide those services if the service provider to whom that information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Facility Agent and the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be.

(c)

The Facility Agent may disclose any Funding Rate or any Reference Bank Quotation, and the Company may disclose any Funding Rate, to:

(i)

any of its Affiliates and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and Representatives if any person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (i) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be
price-sensitive information except that there is no requirement to so inform the recipient if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to it;

(ii)

any person to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation if the person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there is no requirement to so inform the recipient if, in the opinion of the Facility Agent or the relevant Obligor, as the case may be, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances;

(iii)

any person to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes if the person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there is no requirement to so inform the recipient if, in the opinion of the Facility Agent or the relevant Obligor, as the case may be, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; and

(iv)

any person with the consent of the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be.

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(d)

The Facility Agent’s obligations in this Clause 40 relating to Reference Bank Quotations are without prejudice to its obligations to make notifications under Clause 8.4 (Notifications of Rates of Interest) provided that (other than pursuant to paragraph (b)(i) above) the Facility Agent shall not include the details of any individual Reference Bank Quotation as part of any such notification.

40.2

Related Obligations

(a)

The Facility Agent and each Obligor acknowledge that each Funding Rate (and, in the case of the Facility Agent, each Reference Bank Quotation) is or may be price-sensitive information and that its use may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and the Facility Agent and each Obligor undertake not to use any Funding Rate or, in the case of the Facility Agent, any Reference Bank Quotation, for any unlawful purpose.

(b)

The Facility Agent and each Obligor agree (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be:

(i)

of the circumstances of any disclosure made pursuant to paragraph (c)(ii) of Clause 40.1 (Confidentiality and Disclosure) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and

(ii)

on becoming aware that any information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause.

40.3

No Event of Default

No Event of Default will occur under Clause 23.4 (Other Obligations) by reason only of an Obligor’s failure to comply with this Clause.

41.

Counterparts

Each Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts. This has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the Finance Document.

42.

Governing Law

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

43.

Enforcement

43.1

Arbitration

(a)

Subject to paragraph (d) below, any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute relating to the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement or any non- contractual obligation arising out of in connection with this Agreement) (a “Dispute”) shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the Arbitration Rules of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) (the “Rules”).

(b)

In respect of the formation of arbitral tribunal, seat and language of arbitration:

(i)

the arbitral tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators. The Facility Agent (on behalf of the Majority Lenders) shall nominate one arbitrator; the Company shall nominate the second arbitrator, and a third arbitrator (who shall act as

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Chairman) shall be appointed by the arbitrators nominated by the Facility Agent (on behalf of the Majority Lenders) and the Company or, in the absence of agreement on the third arbitrator within ten Business Days of the appointment of the second arbitrator, by the LCIA Court (as defined in the Rules);

(ii)

the seat of arbitration shall be London, England;

(iii)

the language of the arbitration shall be English; and

(iv)

the governing law of the arbitration agreement shall be English law.

(c)

For the purposes of arbitration pursuant to this Clause 43.1, the Parties waive any right of application to the English courts to determine a preliminary point of law or appeal on a point of law under Sections 45 and 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

(d)

Before the Finance Parties have filed, as the case may be, a Request for Arbitration or Response (in each case, as defined in the Rules) the Facility Agent may (and shall, if so instructed by the Majority Lenders) by notice in writing to all other Parties require that all Disputes or a specific Dispute be heard by a court of law. If the Facility Agent gives such notice, the Dispute to which such notice refers shall be determined in accordance with Clause 43.2 (Jurisdiction of English Courts).

43.2

Jurisdiction of English Courts

(a)

If the Facility Agent issues a notice pursuant to paragraph (d) of Clause 43.1 (Arbitration), the provisions of this Clause 43.2 shall apply.

(b)

The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any Dispute.

(c)

The Parties agree that the English courts are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary.

(d)

This Clause 43.2 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties only. As a result, to the extent permitted by law:

(i)

no Finance Party will be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction; and

(ii)

the Finance Parties may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.

43.3

Service of Process

(a)

Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, the Company and each Original Facility Guarantor:

(i)

irrevocably appoints IHS Africa (UK) Limited, 1 Cathedral Piazza, 123 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 5BP as its agent under the Finance Documents for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document; and

(ii)

agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the Company or an Original Facility Guarantor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.

(b)

If any person appointed as process agent under this Clause 43.3 (Service of Process) is unable for any reason so to act, the Company and each Original Facility Guarantor must immediately (and in any event within ten days of the event taking place) appoint

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another agent on terms acceptable to the Facility Agent. Failing this, the Facility Agent may appoint another process agent for this purpose.

44.

Acknowledgement Regarding any Supported QFCS

(a)

To the extent that the Finance Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Finance Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

(b)

in the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Finance Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Finance Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

(c)

As used in this Clause 44, the following terms have the following meanings:

“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i)

a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii)

a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii)

a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

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“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

45.

Contractual Recognition of Bail-In

Notwithstanding any other term of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding between the Parties, each Party acknowledges and accepts that any liability of any Party to any other Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be subject to Bail-In Action by the relevant Resolution Authority and acknowledges and accepts to be bound by the effect of:

(a)

any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability, including (without limitation):

(i)

a reduction, in full or in part, in the principal amount, or outstanding amount due (including any accrued but unpaid interest) in respect of any such liability;

(ii)

a conversion of all, or part of, any such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership that may be issued to, or conferred on, it; and

(iii)

a cancellation of any such liability; and

(b)

a variation of any term of any Finance Document to the extent necessary to give effect to any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability.

This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

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Schedule 1

The Parties

Part 1

The Original Lenders

Original Lender

    

Facility A Commitment
(USD)

    

Facility B Commitment
(ZAR)

    

Treaty Passport scheme
reference and
jurisdiction of tax
residence (if applicable)

Standard Chartered Bank (Mauritius) Limited

50,000,000

/

N/A

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch

30,000,000

/

N/A

Citibank, N.A, London Branch

10,000,000

/

N/A

Citicorp North America Inc.

10,000,000

13/C/352460/DTTP USA

The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited

50,000,000

/

52/M/238492/DTTP Mauritius

Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC

25,000,000

/

13/G/356209/DTTP USA

Project and Trade Finance Core Fund

10,000,000

13/F/0365714/DTTP USA

The Access Bank UK Limited

60,000,000

/

N/A

Federated Hermes Project and Trade Finance Tender Fund

9,500,000

/

13/F/0365714/DTTP USA

Federated Hermes Project and Trade Finance Primary Loan Fund

500,000

N/A

FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division)

/

1,615,000,000

69/F/226120/DTTP South Africa

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Sanlam Life Insurance Limited, acting through its Sanlam Specialised Finance division

/

300,000,000

69/S/340862/DTTP South Africa

The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division)

/

500,000,000

69/S/359237/DTTP South Africa

Investec Bank Limited

/

318,000,000

69/I/358789/DTTP South Africa

Absa Bank Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division)

513,000,000

N/A

USD 255,000,000

ZAR 3,246,000,000

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Part 2The Arrangers

Financial Institution

    

Title

FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division)

Initial Mandated Lead Arranger, Coordinator and Bookrunner

Standard Chartered Bank

Mandated Lead Arranger

The Access Bank UK Limited

Mandated Lead Arranger

The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited

Mandated Lead Arranger

Absa Bank Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division)

Lead Arranger

Citibank N.A., London Branch

Lead Arranger

Goldman Sachs International

Lead Arranger

Investec Bank Limited

Lead Arranger

J.P. Morgan Securities plc

Lead Arranger

Project and Trade Finance Core Fund

Lead Arranger

Sanlam Life Insurance Limited, acting through its Sanlam Specialised Finance division

Lead Arranger

The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division)

Lead Arranger

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Part 3
The Original Facility Guarantors

Name

    

Jurisdiction of incorporation and registration
number (if any)

IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V.

The Netherlands (66017912)

IHS Netherlands NG1 B.V.

The Netherlands (66030390)

IHS Netherlands NG2 B.V.

The Netherlands (66030501)

Nigeria Tower Interco B.V.

The Netherlands (61341088)

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Part 4

Form of QPP Certificate

To:IHS Holding Limited as the Company

From:

[Name of Lender]

Dated:

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This is a QPP Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this QPP Certificate unless given a different meaning in this QPP Certificate.

2.

We confirm that:

(a)

we are beneficially entitled to all interest payable to us as a Lender under the Loans;

(b)

we are a resident of a qualifying territory; and

(c)

we are beneficially entitled to the interest which is payable to us on the Loans for genuine commercial reasons, and not as part of a tax advantage scheme.

These confirmations together form a creditor certificate.

3.

In this QPP Certificate the terms “resident”, “qualifying territory”, “scheme”, “tax advantage scheme” and “creditor certificate” have the meaning given to them in the Qualifying Private Placement Regulations 2015 (2015 No. 2002).

[Name of Lender]

By:

[This QPP Certificate is required where a lender is a person eligible for the UK withholding tax exemption for qualifying private placements; a separate QPP Certificate should be provided by each such lender.]

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Schedule 2

Conditions Precedent

Part 1

Conditions Precedent to Initial Utilisation

1.

Corporate Documentation

(a)

A copy of the constitutional documents of the Company and each other Original Obligor.

(b)

A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Company and each other Original Obligor:

(i)

approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party;

(ii)

authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party on its behalf; and

(iii)

authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all other documents and notices (including any Utilisation Request and Selection Notice) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a party.

(c)

A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph (b) above in relation to the Finance Documents to which it is a party.

(d)

A certificate of the Company (on behalf of each other Original Obligor in relation to sub-paragraph (i) below) (signed by an authorised signatory) confirming (as at the date of the certificate) that:

(i)

borrowing or guaranteeing or securing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guarantee, security or similar limit binding on the Company or that other Original Obligor to be exceeded;

(ii)

no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

(iii)

the Repeating Representations are true in all material respects (except where that representation and warranty is already qualified by materiality under Clause 18 (Representations)).

(e)

A Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands with respect to the Company dated no more than 30 days before the date of this Agreement.

(f)

A certificate of the Company and each other Original Obligor (dated no earlier than the date of this Agreement) certifying that each copy document relating to it and specified in this Part 1 of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent) is correct, complete and in full force and effect and has not been amended or superseded.

2.

Finance Documents

(a)

A duly executed copy of this Agreement.

(b)

A duly executed copy of each Fee Letter.

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(c)

A duly executed copy of the Subordination Agreement.

(d)

A duly executed copy of the Nigeria Guarantee.

3.

Legal Opinions

(a)

The following legal opinions:

(i)

a legal opinion of Clifford Chance LLP, legal advisers to the Arrangers and the Facility Agent in England;

(ii)

a legal opinion of Walkers (Cayman) LLP, legal advisers to the Company in the Cayman Islands;

(iii)

a legal opinion of Clifford Chance LLP, legal advisers to the Arrangers and the Facility Agent in the Netherlands; and

(iv)

a legal opinion of Aluko & Oyebode, legal advisers to the Arrangers and the Facility Agent in Nigeria,

each substantially in the form distributed to the Original Lenders, and addressed to the Finance Parties at the date of that opinion.

4.

Other Documents and Evidence

(a)

Evidence that the agent for service of process in England and Wales referred to in Clause 43.3 (Service of Process) has accepted its appointment.

(b)

Copies of any and all licences required by the Company or any Material Subsidiary to conduct its business.

(c)

A certified copy of the Group Structure Chart.

(d)

A copy of the Original Financial Statements.

(e)

Evidence that the proceeds of the first Utilisation shall be used in part to promptly prepay and cancel in full (or to reimburse the Company for the prior prepayment of) the IHS Holding USD Term Facility in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(f)

A list of each Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facility in place as at the date of this Agreement.

(g)

Evidence that all fees, costs and expenses then due and payable from the Company under this Agreement have been or will be paid on the earlier of (i) the date falling fifteen Business Days after the date of this Agreement and (ii) the first Utilisation Date.

(h)

The Financial Plan.

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Part 2

Conditions Precedent Required to be Delivered by an Additional Guarantor

1.

Corporate Documentation

(a)

An Accession Letter, duly executed by the Additional Guarantor and the Company.

(b)

A copy of the constitutional documents of the Additional Guarantor.

(c)

A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Additional Guarantor:

(i)

approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Accession Letter and the Finance Documents and resolving that it execute the Accession Letter;

(ii)

where the Additional Guarantor is incorporated in Nigeria, confirming that guaranteeing the obligations under the Agreement is in the best interest, and for the corporate benefit, of the Additional Guarantor;

(iii)

authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Accession Letter on its behalf; and

(iv)

authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all other documents and notices to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents.

(d)

Where the Additional Guarantor is incorporated in the Netherlands, in each case where applicable and to the extent legally required:

(i)

a copy of the resolution of the board of supervisory directors of the Additional Guarantor approving the resolutions of the board of directors;

(ii)

a copy of the resolution of the shareholders(s) of the Additional Guarantor approving the resolutions of the board of directors; and

(iii)

a copy of (i) the request for advice from each works council, or central or European works council with jurisdiction over the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents and (ii) a neutral or positive advice from such works council, in respect of the Additional Guarantor.

(e)

A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolutions referred to in paragraph (c) above.

(f)

To the extent required, a written resolution of all the shareholders of the Additional Guarantor approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Accession Letter and the Finance Documents, and in addition, where the Additional Guarantor is incorporated in Nigeria, confirming that guaranteeing the obligations under the Agreement is in the best interest, and for the corporate benefit, of the Additional Guarantor.

(g)

A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Additional Guarantor certifying that:

(i)

each copy document specified in Part 2 of this Schedule is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of the Accession Letter;

(ii)

guaranteeing the Total Commitments will not cause any guaranteeing or similar limit binding on it to be exceeded;

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(iii)

where the Additional Guarantor is incorporated in Nigeria, guaranteeing the obligations under the Agreement is in the best interest, and in the corporate benefit, of the Additional Guarantor; and

(iv)

the Company is authorised to act as its agent in connection with the Finance Documents.

2.

Legal Opinions

The following legal opinions:

(a)

a legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Arrangers and the Facility Agent in England; and

(b)

a legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Arrangers and the Facility Agent in the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Additional Guarantor,

each substantially in the form distributed to the Original Lenders before signing the Accession Letter, and addressed to the Finance Parties at the date of that opinion.

3.

Other Documents and Evidence

(a)

In the case of an Additional Guarantor not incorporated in England and Wales, evidence that it has appointed IHS Africa (UK) Limited as its agent for service of process, and that IHS Africa (UK) Limited has accepted its appointment in relation to the Additional Guarantor.

(b)

To the extent required, documents required to evidence that any financial assistance “whitewash” or other analogous procedure has been carried out in accordance with applicable law and regulation in the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Additional Guarantor.

(c)

Any additional documentation or other evidence necessary to ensure that the obligations of the Additional Guarantor shall be expressed to assume under the Finance Documents shall constitute fully effective and perfected legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any requirement for any Accession Letter or this Agreement to be stamped by the relevant tax authorities in Nigeria).

(d)

Evidence that all necessary registration and stamping formalities (including, without limitation the payment of any fees or Tax (but which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any requirement for any Accession Letter or this Agreement to be stamped by the relevant tax authorities in Nigeria)) required to be complied with by law or regulation in relation to the Accession Letter have been, or will be, complied with within the applicable time limit for completion of such formalities imposed by the relevant law or regulation.

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Schedule 3

Requests and Notice

Part 1

Form of Utilisation Request

To:[●] as Facility Agent

From:IHS Holding Limited

Date:[●]

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This is a Utilisation Request. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Utilisation Request unless given a different meaning in this Utilisation Request.

2.

We wish to borrow a Facility A Loan on the following terms:

(a)

Proposed Utilisation Date: [●] (or, if that is not a Business Day, the next Business Day);

(b)

Facility to be utilised: Facility A;

(c)

Currency of Loan: USD;

(d)

Amount: USD [●] or, if less, the Available Facility; and

(e)

Interest Period: [●].

3.

We wish to borrow a Facility B Loan on the following terms:

(a)

Proposed Utilisation Date: [●] (or, if that is not a Business Day, the next Business Day);

(b)

Facility to be utilised: Facility B;

(c)

Currency of Loan: ZAR;

(d)

Amount: ZAR [●] or, if less, the Available Facility; and

(e)

Interest Period: [●].

4.

We confirm that Facility A and Facility B are to be utilised and drawn on the same Utilisation Date pro rata ([by reference to the USD equivalent amount for the Total Facility B Commitments as determined at the date of this Agreement]).

5.

We confirm that each condition precedent under the Agreement which is required to be satisfied on the date of this Utilisation Request is satisfied.

6.

The proceeds of the Facility A Loan should be credited to [account].

7.

The proceeds of the Facility B Loan should be credited to [account].

8.

This Utilisation Request is irrevocable.

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IHS Holding Limited

            

By:

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Part 2

Selection Notice

To:[●] as Facility Agent

From:IHS Holding Limited

Date:[●

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

Dear Sirs

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This is a Selection Notice. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Selection Notice unless given a different meaning in this Selection Notice.

2.

We refer to the following Loan[s] with an Interest Period ending on [       ]*.

3.

[We request that the next Interest Period for the above Loan[s] is [      ]].

4.

This Selection Notice is irrevocable.

Yours faithfully

authorised signatory for

IHS Holding Limited

Notes:

*

Insert details of all Loans for the same Facility which have an Interest Period ending on the same date.

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Schedule 4

Form of Transfer Certificate

To:[●] as Facility Agent

From:

[EXISTING LENDER] (the “Existing Lender”) and [NEW LENDER] (the “New Lender”)

Date:

[●]

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

We refer to the Agreement. This is a Transfer Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Transfer Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Transfer Certificate.

1.

The Existing Lender transfers by novation to the New Lender the Existing Lender’s rights and obligations referred to in Schedule 1 below in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.

2.

The proposed Transfer Date is [●].

3.

The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations in respect of this Transfer Certificate contained in the Agreement.

4.

The administrative details of the New Lender for the purposes of the Agreement are set out in Schedule 1.

5.

The New Lender confirms for the benefit of the Facility Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:

(a)

[a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender or a QPP Lender);]

(b)

[a Treaty Lender;]

(c)

[a QPP Lender;]

(d)

[not a Qualifying Lender].1

6.

[The New Lender confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:

(a)

a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes;

(b)

a partnership each member of which is:

(i)

a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or

(ii)

a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA;]

(c)

[a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company; or]


1

Delete as applicable. Each New Lender is required to confirm which of these three categories it falls within.

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(d)

[a scheme administrator of a registered pension scheme (as those terms are defined in section 989 of the ITA) or any other person or body listed in section 936(2) of the ITA (or a nominee thereof).]2

5.[The New Lender provides a QPP Certificate in the form set out in Schedule 2.]3

6.

[The New Lender confirms that it holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number [ ]) and is tax resident in [ ]4, so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax and notifies the Company that it wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.]5

7.

This Transfer Certificate may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Transfer Certificate.

8.

This Transfer Certificate and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.


2

Include the relevant sections if New Lender comes within paragraph (4) of the definition of Qualifying Lender in Clause 12.1 (Definitions).

3

Statement to be included and separate QPP Certificate in the form of Schedule 2 to be executed alongside the Transfer Certificate if the New Lender is a person eligible for the UK withholding tax exemption for qualifying private placements.

4

Insert jurisdiction of tax residence.

5

Include if New Lender is not a QPP Lender and holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.

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Schedule 1

Rights and obligations to be transferred by novation

[insert relevant details, including applicable Commitment (or part)]

Administrative details of the New Lender

[insert details of Facility Office, address for notices and payment details etc.]

[Existing Lender]

        

By:

[New Lender]

        

By:

The Transfer Date is confirmed by the Facility Agent as [●].

[●]
as Facility Agent for and on behalf of
each of the parties to the Agreement
(other than the Existing Lender and
the New Lender)

            

By:

Note: The execution of this Transfer Certificate may not transfer a proportionate share of the Existing Lender’s interest in the security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the New Lender to ascertain whether any other documents or other formalities are required to perfect a transfer of such a share in the Existing Lender’s security in any jurisdiction and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.

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Schedule 2

Form of New Lender QPP Certificate

To:IHS Holding Limited as the Company

From:

[Name of New Lender]

Dated:

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This is a QPP Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this QPP Certificate unless given a different meaning in this QPP Certificate.

2. We confirm that:

(a)

we are beneficially entitled to all interest payable to us as a Lender under the Loans;

(b)

we are a resident of a qualifying territory; and

(c)

we are beneficially entitled to the interest which is payable to us on the Loans for genuine commercial reasons, and not as part of a tax advantage scheme.

These confirmations together form a creditor certificate.

3.

In this QPP Certificate the terms “resident”, “qualifying territory”, “scheme”, “tax advantage scheme” and “creditor certificate” have the meaning given to them in the Qualifying Private Placement Regulations 2015 (2015 No. 2002).

[Name of New Lender]

By:

[This QPP Certificate is required where a lender is a person eligible for the UK withholding tax exemption for qualifying private placements; a separate QPP Certificate should be provided by each such lender.]

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Schedule 5

Form of Assignment Agreement

To:[●] as Facility Agent and the Company

From:[EXISTING LENDER] (the “Existing Lender”) and [NEW LENDER] (the “New Lender”)

Date:[●]

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

We refer to the Agreement. This is an Assignment Agreement. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Assignment Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Assignment Agreement.

1.

In accordance with the terms of the Agreement:

(a)

the Existing Lender assigns absolutely to the New Lender all the rights of the Existing Lender specified in Schedule 1;

(b)

to the extent the obligations referred to in paragraph (c) below are effectively assumed by the New Lender, the Existing Lender is released from its obligations under the Agreement specified in Schedule 1;

(c)

the New Lender assumes obligations equivalent to those obligations of the Existing Lender under the Agreement specified in Schedule 1; and

(d)

the New Lender becomes a Lender under the Agreement and is bound by the terms of the Agreement as a Lender.

2.

The proposed Transfer Date is [●].

3.

The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations in respect of this Assignment Agreement contained in the Agreement.

4.

The New Lender confirms for the benefit of the Facility Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:

(a)

[a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender or a QPP Lender);]

(b)

[a Treaty Lender;]

(c)

[a QPP Lender;]

(d)

[not a Qualifying Lender].6

5.

[The New Lender confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:

(a)

a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes;

(b)

a partnership each member of which is:

(i)

a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or


6

Delete as applicable. Each New Lender is required to confirm which of these three categories it falls within.

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(ii)

a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA;

(c)

a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company; or

(d)

a scheme administrator of a registered pension scheme (as those terms are defined in section 989 of the ITA) or any other person or body listed in section 936(2) of the ITA (or a nominee thereof).]7

6.

[The New Lender provides a QPP Certificate in the form set out in Schedule 2].8

7.

[The New Lender confirms that it holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty passport scheme (reference number [   ]) and is tax resident in [   ]9, so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax, and notifies the Company that it wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.]10

8.

The administrative details of the New Lender for the purposes of the Agreement are set out in Schedule 1.

9.

This Assignment Agreement acts as notice to the Facility Agent (on behalf of the Company and each Finance Party) of the assignment referred to in this Assignment Agreement.

10.

This Assignment Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the Assignment Agreement.

11.

This Assignment Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.


7Include the relevant sections only if New Lender is a UK Non-Bank Lender - i.e. falls within paragraph (4) of the definition of Qualifying Lender in Clause 12.1 (Definitions).

8

Statement to be included and separate QPP Certificate in the form of Schedule 2 to be executed alongside the Assignment Agreement if the New Lender is a non-UK person eligible for the UK withholding tax exemption for qualifying private placements.

9

Insert jurisdiction of tax residence.

10

Include if New Lender is not a QPP Lender and holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.

173


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Schedule 1

Rights and obligations to be transferred by assignment, assumption and release

[insert relevant details, including applicable Commitment (or part)]

Administrative details of the New Lender

[insert details of Facility Office, address for notices and payment details etc.]

[Existing Lender]

[Existing Lender]

        

By:

[New Lender]

        

By:

The Transfer Date is confirmed by the Facility Agent as [●].

[●]
as Facility Agent for and on behalf of
each of the parties to the Agreement
(other than the Existing Lender and
the New Lender)

        

By:

Note: The execution of this Assignment Agreement may not transfer a proportionate share of the Existing Lender’s interest in the security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the New Lender to ascertain whether any other documents or other formalities are required to perfect a transfer of such a share in the Existing Lender’s security in any jurisdiction and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities. An assignment may give rise to stamp duty or transfer tax issues. There will be no liability to stamp duty or SDRT in the UK if the loan capital exemption is available.

174


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Schedule 2

Form of New Lender QPP Certificate

To:IHS Holding Limited as the Company

From:

[Name of New Lender]

Dated:

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

1.

We refer to the Agreement.  This is a QPP Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this QPP Certificate unless given a different meaning in this QPP Certificate.

2.

We confirm that:

(a)

we are beneficially entitled to all interest payable to us as a Lender under the Loans;

(b)

we are a resident of a qualifying territory; and

(c)

we are beneficially entitled to the interest which is payable to us on the Loans for genuine commercial reasons and not as part of a tax advantage scheme.

These confirmations together form a creditor certificate.

3.

In this QPP Certificate the terms "resident", "qualifying territory", "scheme", "tax advantage scheme" and "creditor certificate" have the meaning given to them in the Qualifying Private Placement Regulations 2015 (2015 No. 2002).

[Name of New Lender]

By:

[This QPP Certificate is required where a lender is a person eligible for the UK withholding tax exemption for qualifying private placements; a separate QPP Certificate should be provided by each such lender.]

175


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Schedule 6

Form of Compliance Certificate

To:[●] as Facility Agent

From:IHS Holding Limited

Date:[●]

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This is a Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Compliance Certificate.

2.

We confirm that:

(a)

On the last day of the Relevant Period ending on [●] Net Financial Indebtedness was [●] and EBITDA for such Relevant Period was [●]. Therefore the Leverage Ratio at such time [did/did not] exceed [●] times for such Relevant Period and the covenant contained in paragraph (b) of Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) [has/has not] been complied with.

(b)

On the last day of the Relevant Period ending on [●] EBITDA was [●] and Net Cash Finance Interest Adjusted For Leases for such Relevant Period was [●]. Therefore the Interest Cover Ratio at such time [did/did not] exceed [●] times for such Relevant Period and the covenant contained in paragraph (a) of Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) [has/has not] been complied with.

(c)

[We have received an Additional Investment in an amount of [ZAR/USD] [●] which has been applied in accordance with Clause 20.4 (Equity Cure).]

(d)

[We confirm no Default or Material Subsidiary Event of Default is continuing.]

(e)

[As at the last day of the Relevant Period ending on [●], the following entities are Material Subsidiaries of the Company:

[●].]

IHS Holding Limited

        

By: [Officer]

176


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Schedule 7

Form of Increase Confirmation

To:

[●] as Facility Agent and IHS Holding Limited as the Company

From:

[[the Increase Lender] (the “Increase Lender”)] / [[the Facility Increase Lender] (the “Facility Increase Lender”)]

Date:[●]

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This agreement (the “Increase Agreement”) shall take effect as an Increase Confirmation for the purpose of the Agreement. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Increase Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Increase Agreement.

2.

We refer to Clause [2.2 (Increase)]/[2.3 (Facility Increase)] of the Agreement.

3.

The [Increase Lender]/[Facility Increase Lender] agrees to assume and will assume all of the obligations corresponding to the Commitment specified in the Schedule (the “Relevant Commitment”) as if it was an Original Lender under the Agreement.

4.

The proposed date on which the increase in relation to the Increase Lender and the Relevant Commitment is to take effect (the “Increase Date”) is [●].

5.

On the Increase Date, the [Increase Lender]/[Facility Increase Lender] becomes party to the relevant Finance Documents as a Lender.

6.

The Facilities Office and address, email and attention details for notices to the [Increase Lender]/[Facility Increase Lender] for the purposes of Clause 34.2 (Addresses), are set out in the Schedule.

7.

The [Increase Lender]/[Facility Increase Lender] expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Lenders’ obligations referred to in paragraph (f) of Clause [2.2 (Increase)]/[2.3 (Facility Increase)].

8.

The [Increase Lender]/[Facility Increase Lender] confirms for the benefit of the Facility Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:

(a)

[a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender or a QPP Lender);]

(b)

[a Treaty Lender;]

(c)

[a QPP Lender;]

(d)

[not a Qualifying Lender.]11

9.

[The [Increase Lender]/[Facility Increase Lender] confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:

(a)

a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes;


11

Delete as applicable. Each Increase Lender/Facility Increase Lender is required to confirm which of these three categories it falls within.

177


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(b)

a partnership each member of which is:

(i)

a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or

(ii)

a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA;]

(c)

[a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company; or]

(d)

[a scheme administrator of a registered pension scheme (as those terms are defined in section 989 of the ITA) or any other person or body listed in section 936(2) of the ITA (or a nominee thereof).]12

10.

[The [Increase Lender]/[Facility Increase Lender] provides a QPP Certificate in the form set out in Schedule 2.]13

11.

[The [Increase Lender]/[Facility Increase Lender] confirms that it holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number [   ]) and is tax resident in [    ]14, so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax and notifies the Company that it wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.]15

12.

This Increase Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (each of which shall constitute an original) and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Increase Agreement. Delivery of a counterpart of this Increase Agreement by email attachment or telecopy shall be an effective mode of delivery.

13.

This Increase Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, English law.

14.

This Increase Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Increase Agreement.


12

Include the relevant sections if Increase Lender/Facility Increase Lender comes within paragraph (4) of the definition of Qualifying Lender in Clause 12.1 (Definitions).

13

Statement to be included and separate QPP Certificate in the form of Schedule 2 to be executed alongside the Increase Confirmation if the Increase Lender/Facility Increase Lender is a person eligible for the UK withholding tax exemption for qualifying private placements.

14

Insert jurisdiction of tax residence.

15

Include if Increase Lender/Facility Increase Lender is not a QPP Lender and holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.

178


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Schedule 1

Relevant Commitment/Rights and Obligations

to be Assumed by the [Increase Lender]/[Facility Increase Lender]

[insert relevant details]

[Facility office address, email and attention details for

notices and account details for payments]

[Increase Lender]/[Facility Increase Lender]

        

By:

This Increase Agreement is accepted as an Increase Confirmation for the purposes of the Agreement by the Facility Agent and the Increase Date is confirmed as [●].

Facility Agent

        

By:

179


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Schedule 2

Form of [Increase Lender]/[Facility Increase Lender] QPP Certificate

To:IHS Holding Limited as the Company

From:

[Name of Increase Lender/Facility Increase Lender]

Dated:

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This is a QPP Certificate. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this QPP Certificate unless given a different meaning in this QPP Certificate.

2.

We confirm that:

(a)

we are beneficially entitled to all interest payable to us as a Lender under the Loans;

(b)

we are a resident of a qualifying territory; and

(c)

we are beneficially entitled to the interest which is payable to us on the Loans for genuine commercial reasons and not as part of a tax advantage scheme.

These confirmations together form a creditor certificate.

3.

In this QPP Certificate the terms "resident", "qualifying territory", "scheme", "tax advantage scheme" and "creditor certificate" have the meaning given to them in the Qualifying Private Placement Regulations 2015 (2015 No. 2002).

[Name of Increase Lender/Facility Increase Lender]

By:

[This QPP Certificate is required where a lender is a person eligible for the UK withholding tax exemption for qualifying private placements; a separate QPP Certificate should be provided by each such lender.]

180


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Schedule 8

Form of Accession Letter

To:[●] as Facility Agent

From:IHS Holding Limited as the Company and [PROPOSED GUARANTOR]

Date:[●]

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This is an Accession Letter. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Accession Letter unless given a different meaning in this Accession Letter.

2.

[Name of company] agrees to become an Additional Guarantor and to be bound by the terms of the [Agreement]16/[Nigeria Guarantee]17 as an Additional Guarantor. [Name of company] is a company duly incorporated under the laws of [name of relevant jurisdiction].

3.

[Name of company]’s administrative details are as follows: [●].

4.

This Accession Letter is intended to take effect as a deed.

5.

This Accession Letter and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

IHS Holding Limited
Executed as a deed by
[Proposed Guarantor]
in the presence of

        

Director


16

To be included in respect of any Additional Guarantor that is not incorporated in Nigeria.

17

To be included in respect of any Additional Guarantor that is incorporated in Nigeria.

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Schedule 9

Form of Resignation Letter

To:[●] as Facility Agent

From:IHS Holding Limited as the Company and [EXITING GUARANTOR]

Date:[●]

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

1.

We refer to the Agreement. This is a Resignation Letter. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Resignation Letter unless given a different meaning in this Resignation Letter.

2.

We request that [Exiting Guarantor] be released from its obligations as a Guarantor under the Finance Documents (including the [Agreement] 18/[Nigeria Guarantee] 19).

3.

We confirm that:

(a)

no Default is continuing or would result from the acceptance of this request;

(b)

as at the date of this Resignation Letter [no amount owing by [Exiting Guarantor] under any Finance Document as a Guarantor is outstanding]; and

(c)

[●].

4.

This Resignation Letter and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

IHS Holding Limited

        

By:

[Exiting Guarantor]

        

By:

The Facility Agent confirms that this resignation takes effect on [●].


18To be included in respect of any Additional Guarantor that is not incorporated in Nigeria.

19To be included in respect of any Additional Guarantor that is incorporated in Nigeria.

182


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[●]
as Facility Agent

        

By:

183


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Schedule 10

Forms of Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction Notice

Part 1

Form of Notice on Entering into Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction

To:[●] as Facility Agent

From:[LENDER]

Date:[●]

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

1.

We refer to paragraph (b) of Clause 26.2 (Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions Entered into by Affiliates) of the Agreement. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this notice unless given a different meaning in this notice.

2.

We have entered into a Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction.

3.

The Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction referred to in paragraph 2 above relates to the amount of our Commitment as set out below.

Commitment

Amount of our Commitment to which Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction relates

[Commitment]

[insert amount (of that Commitment) to which the relevant Debt Purchase Transaction applies]

[Lender]

        

By:

184


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Part 2

Form of Notice on Termination of Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction/Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction Ceasing to be with Sponsor Affiliate

To:[●] as Facility Agent

From:[LENDER]

Date:[●]

IHS Holding Limited – Facilities Agreement

dated [●] (the “Agreement”)

1.

We refer to paragraph (c) of Clause 26.2 (Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions Entered into by Affiliates) of the Agreement. Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this notice unless given a different meaning in this notice.

2.

A Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction which we entered into and which we notified you of in a notice dated [●] has [terminated]/[ceased to be with a Sponsor Affiliate].

3.

The Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction referred to in paragraph 2 above relates to the amount of our Commitment as set out below.

Commitment

Amount of our Commitment to which Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction relates

[Commitment]

[insert amount (of that Commitment) to which the relevant Debt Purchase Transaction applies]

[Lender]

        

By:

185


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Schedule 11

Existing Security

Member of the Group

    

Details of Security

Centennial Towers Brasil Cooperatief U.A. and IHS Netherlands BR B.V.

1.

Contrato de Alienação Fiduciária de Ações Em Garantia e Outras Avenças Sob Condição Suspensiva dated 25 August 2023, as amended, entered into by Centennial Towers Brasil Cooperatief U.A. and IHS Netherlands BR B.V. as pledgors, and Oliveira Trust Distribuidora de Títulos e Valores Mobiliários S.A. as trustee and representative of the debentures holders, and IHS Brasil – Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A. as intervening party

IHS Brasil – Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A.

1.

Instrumento Particular de Cessão Fiduciária de Direitos Creditórios em Garantia e Outras Avenças Sob Condição Suspensiva dated 25 August 2023, as amended, of the entire credit rights over the bank accounts of IHS Brasil – Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A. entered into with Oliveira Trust Distribuidora de Títulos e Valores Mobiliários S.A.

IHS Côte d’Ivoire S.A.

1.

Contrat de Nantissement de Comptes Bancaires dated 15 February 2024 entered into between IHS Cote d’Ivoire SA and EBI SA

2.

Contrat de Nantissement de Créances dated 15 February 2024 entered into between IHS Cote d’Ivoire SA and EBI SA

3.

Contrat de Gage de Biens Meubles sans Dépossession dated 15 February 2024 entered into between IHS Cote d’Ivoire SA and EBI SA

4.

Security Agreement (regarding the Initial Shares and Related Assets of IHS Mauritius Cote d’Ivoire Limited) dated 9 February 2024 entered into between EBI SA, IHS Holding Limited and IHS Mauritius Cote d’Ivoire Limited

5.

Contrat de Nantissement d’Actions de la Société IHS Cote d’Ivoire SA étendu aux fruits et produits dated 15 February 2024 entered into between IHS Mauritius Cote d’Ivoire Limited and EBI SA

6.

Contrat de Nantissement de Créances (Prêts d’Actionnaire) dated 15 February 2024 entered into between IHS Mauritius Cote d’Ivoire Limited and EBI SA

7.

Acte de promesse de vente d’actions de la société IHS Cote d’Ivoire SA dated 15 February 2024 entered into between Mr. Sam Darwish, Mr. William Saad, EBI SA and in the presence of IHS Mauritius Cote d’Ivoire Limited

8.

Déclaration de Nantissement de Compte de Titres Financiers dated 15 February 2024 entered into between IHS Mauritius Cote d’Ivoire Limited and IHS Cote d’Ivoire

186


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IHS Kuwait Limited

    

1.

Business Pledge Agreement dated 7 July 2020 between, amongst others, IHS Kuwait Limited and Ahli Bank of Kuwait K.S.C.P as security agent

2.

English law security assignment agreement dated 6 July 2020 between IHS Kuwait Limited and Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait K.S.C.P as security agent

3.

Deed of subordination and assignment agreement dated 27 April 2020 between, amongst others, IHS Kuwait Limited as Debtor and Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait K.S.C.P as security agent

IHS Towers South Africa Proprietary Limited

1.

Special Notarial Bond dated 26 May 2022 entered into by IHS Towers South Africa Proprietary Limited in favour of Bowwood and Main No 339 Proprietary Limited

2.

General Notarial Bond dated 26 May 2022 entered into by IHS Towers South Africa Proprietary Limited in favour of Bowwood and Main No 339 Proprietary Limited

3.

Share Pledge in relation to shares in IHS Towers South Africa Proprietary Limited dated 26 May 2022 entered into between IHS South Africa Holding Proprietary Limited, FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Banking Division) and Bowwood and Main No 339 Proprietary Limited

4.

Cession Agreement dated 26 May 2022 entered into between IHS Towers South Africa Proprietary Limited, FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Banking Division) and Bowwood and Main No 339 Proprietary Limited

5.

Subordination Agreement dated 26 May 2022 entered into between IHS South Africa Holding Proprietary Limited, IHS Towers South Africa Proprietary Limited, FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Banking Division) and Bowwood and Main No 339 Proprietary Limited

IHS Zambia Limited

1.

Fixed and floating charge dated 13 February 2021 entered into between IHS Zambia Limited, as Chargor and Standard Chartered Bank, as Collateral Agent;

2.

Security Assignment Agreement of IHS Zambia Limited’s rights in respect of assigned agreements dated 13 February 2021 entered into between IHS Zambia Limited, as Assignor and Standard Chartered Bank, as Collateral Agent;

3.

Charge over all onshore accounts of IHS Zambia Limited dated 13 February 2021 entered into between IHS Zambia Limited, as Chargor and Standard Chartered Bank, as Collateral Agent;

4.

Share Pledge Agreement in relation to IHS Holding Limited’s shares in IHS Mauritius Zambia Limited dated 13 February 2021 entered into between IHS Holding Limited, IHS

187


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Mauritius Zambia Limited and Standard Chartered Bank, as Collateral Agent;

5.

Share Pledge Agreement in relation to IHS Mauritius Zambia Limited’s shares in IHS Zambia Limited dated 13 February 2021 entered into between IHS Mauritius Zambia Limited, IHS Zambia Limited and Standard Chartered Bank, as Collateral Agent;

6.

Charge over all offshore accounts of IHS Zambia Limited dated 13 February 2021 entered into between IHS Zambia Limited, as Chargor and Standard Chartered Bank, as Collateral Agent; and

7.

Subordination Agreement and Assignment of Contractual Rights under Shareholder Loans dated 13 February 2021 entered into between International Finance Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank as Facility Agent and Collateral Agent, IHS Holding Limited as Guarantor, IHS Finco Management Limited, IHS Mauritius Zambia Limited, and IHS Zambia Limited as borrower.

I-Systems Solucoes de Infraestrutura S.A

1.

Instrumento Particular de Cessão Fiduciária de Direitos Creditórios em Garantia e Outras Avenças dated 3 October 2022 (as amended on 31 January 2023 and on 28 March 2023) entered into between Itaú Unibanco S.A. and I-Systems Solucoes de Infraestrutura S.A.

188


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Schedule 12

Existing Guarantees

Party Guaranteed

    

Details of Guarantee

IHS Zambia Limited

Deed of guarantee dated 13 February 2021 relating to an up to USD 95,000,000 facility agreement dated 13 February 2021 as amended and restated on 23 January 2023 for IHS Zambia Limited as borrower entered into between IHS Holding Limited as guarantor, International Finance Corporation and Standard Chartered Bank.

IHS Holding Limited, IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V., IHS Netherlands NG1 B.V., IHS Netherlands NG2 B.V. and Nigeria Tower Interco B.V., IHS (Nigeria) Limited, INT Towers Limited and IHS Towers NG Limited

Guarantee provided under the unsecured USD term credit facility agreement dated on 28 October 2022 between, among others, IHS Holding Limited as borrower, Citibank Europe plc, UK Branch as facility agent and the original lenders named therein.

IHS Holding Limited, IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V., IHS Netherlands NG1 B.V., IHS Netherlands NG2 B.V. and Nigeria Tower Interco B.V., IHS (Nigeria) Limited, INT Towers Limited and IHS Towers NG Limited

Guarantee provided under the unsecured USD term credit facility agreement dated on 8 March 2024 between, among others, IHS Holding Limited as borrower, Standard Chartered Bank as facility agent and the original lenders named therein.

IHS Holding Limited, IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V., IHS Netherlands NG1 B.V., IHS Netherlands NG2 B.V. and Nigeria Tower Interco B.V., IHS (Nigeria) Limited, INT Towers Limited and IHS Towers NG Limited

Guarantee provided under the unsecured NGN term facility agreement dated on 3 January 2023 between, among others, IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V., each of IHS (Nigeria) Limited, INT Towers Limited and ITNG as borrowers, Ecobank Nigeria Limited as agent and the original lenders named therein.

IHS Holding Limited, IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V., IHS Netherlands NG1 B.V., IHS Netherlands NG2 B.V. and Nigeria Tower Interco B.V., IHS (Nigeria) Limited, INT Towers Limited and IHS Towers NG Limited

Guarantee provided under the unsecured NGN revolving credit facility agreement dated on 3 January 2023 between, among others, IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V., each of IHS (Nigeria) Limited, INT Towers Limited and ITNG as borrowers, Ecobank Nigeria Limited as agent and the original lenders named therein.

189


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IHS Holding Limited, IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V., IHS Netherlands NG1 B.V., IHS Netherlands NG2 B.V. and Nigeria Tower Interco B.V., IHS (Nigeria) Limited, INT Towers Limited and IHS Towers NG Limited

    

Guarantee provided under the unsecured USD revolving credit facility agreement originally dated on 30 March 2020 and as amended from time to time including on 6 November 2023, between, among others, IHS Holding Limited as borrower, Citibank Europe plc, UK Branch as facility agent and the original lenders named therein.

INT Towers Limited

Guarantee dated 21 February 2024 between IHS Holding Limited as guarantor and United Bank for Africa Plc as beneficiary in relation to certain crude oil and/or petroleum product transactions entered into by INT Towers Limited.

190


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Schedule 13

Timetables

    

Loans in USD

    

Loans in ZAR

Delivery of a duly completed Utilisation Request (Clause 5.1 (Delivery of a Utilisation Request)) or a Selection Notice (Clause 9.1 (Selection of Interest Periods)).

U-3

10:00 a.m.

U-3

11:00 a.m.

Facility Agent notifies the Lenders of the Loan (Clause 5.4 (Lenders’ Participation)).

Promptly upon receipt of the Utilisation Request.

Term SOFR is fixed

Quotation Day as of 11am

N/A

JIBAR is fixed

N/A

Quotation Day as of 11:00 am

“U” = date of utilisation or, if applicable, in the case of a Loan that has already been borrowed, the first day of the relevant Interest Period for that Loan.

“U-X” = X Business Days prior to date of utilisation

Time =

-

London Time for Loans in USD.

-

Johannesburg Time for Loans in ZAR.

191


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Schedule 14

Existing Material Subsidiary Debt Facilities

1.

Facility agreement dated 29 December 2023 for facilities of EUR 88,000,000 and CFA Francs 11,151,269,000 for IHS Cote d’Ivoire S.A. as borrower, arranged by Citibank, N.A., London Branch, with EBI S.A. acting as facility agent and security agent.

2.

Term facility agreement dated 3 January 2023 between IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V. as holdco, IHS (Nigeria) Limited, IHS Towers NG Limited and INT Towers Limited as borrowers, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited as coordinator and Access Bank Plc, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited and United Bank for Africa Plc as mandated lead arrangers and Ecobank Nigeria Limited as agent.

3.

Revolving credit facility agreement dated 3 January 2023 between IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V. as holdco, IHS (Nigeria) Limited, IHS Towers NG Limited and INT Towers Limited as borrowers, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited as coordinator and Access Bank Plc, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited and United Bank for Africa Plc as mandated lead arrangers and Ecobank Nigeria Limited as agent.

4.

Facility agreement dated 26 May 2022 for facilities of South African Rand 3,470,000,000 between IHS Towers South Africa Proprietary Limited, as borrower, ABSA Bank Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking Division), FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Banking division), Investec Bank Limited (acting through its Corporate and Institutional Banking division), Standard Chartered Bank and Access Bank (South Africa) Limited, as mandated lead arrangers, and FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Banking division) as agent.

5.

Facility agreement dated 26 October 2023 for overdraft facilities of South African Rand 350,000,000 between IHS Towers South Africa Proprietary Limited as borrower and ABSA Bank Limited as lender.

6.

Facility agreement dated 3 October 2022 for facilities of Brazilian Real 200,000,000 for I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A. as borrower and Itau Unibanco S.A. as lender.

7.

Facility agreement dated 31 January 2023 for facilities of Brazilian Real 80,000,000 for I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A. as borrower and Itau Unibanco S.A. as lender.

8.

Facility agreement dated 28 March 2023 for facilities of Brazilian Real 120,000,000 for I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A. as borrower and Itau Unibanco S.A. as lender.

9.

Debentures deed dated 25 August 2023 for facilities of Brazilian Real 1,200,000,000 for IHS Brasil – Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A. as issuer and guarantor and Banco Itaú BBA S.A., UBS Brasil Corretora de Câmbio, Títulos e Valores Mobiliários S.A, Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A and Banco Bradesco BBI S.A as Coordinators.

10.

Debentures deed dated 20 June 2024 for facilities of Brazilian Real 300,000,000 for IHS Brasil – Cessão de Infraestruturas S.A. as issuer and guarantor UBS Brasil Corretora de Câmbio, Títulos e Valores Mobiliários S.A and Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A as Coordinators.

11.

Debentures deed dated 5 June 2024 for facilities of Brazilian Real 160,000,000 for I-Systems Soluções de Infraestrutura S.A. as issuer and guarantor UBS Brasil Corretora de Câmbio, Títulos e Valores Mobiliários S.A as Coordinator.

192


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Schedule 15

Acceptable Banks

Banco do Brasil S.A.

Brazil

Banco BOCOM BBM S.A.

Brazil

Banco Bradesco S.A.

Brazil

Caixa Economical Federal

Brazil

Citibank Brazil

Brazil

Itau Unibanco S.A.

Brazil

Banco Safra S.A.

Brazil

Banco Santander S.A.

Brazil

JP Morgan

Brazil

BTG Pactual

Brazil

Goldman Sachs

Brazil

Access Bank Cameroon

Cameroon

Citibank Cameroon

Cameroon

Ecobank Cameroon

Cameroon

Societe Generale Cameroon

Cameroon

Standard Chartered Bank Cameroon

Cameroon

UBA Cameroon

Cameroon

Citibank Cote D’Ivoire

CIV

Ecobank Cote D’Ivoire

CIV

Stanbic Cote D’Ivoire

CIV

Standard Chartered Bank CIV

CIV

Societe Generale Cote D’Ivoire

CIV

UBA Cote D’Ivoire

CIV

Citibank

Colombia

Colpatria

Colombia

Grupo Bancolumbia

Colombia

Santander

Colombia

Citibank Egypt

Egypt

Awash International bank

Ethiopia

EBI SA

France

Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait K.S.C.P.

Kuwait

Mashreq Bank

Kuwait

Afrasia Bank Limited

Mauritius

Standard Bank Mauritius

Mauritius

193


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ABSA Bank Mauritius Limited

Mauritius

RMB International (Mauritius) Ltd

Mauritius

The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited

Mauritius

Investec Bank Limited

Mauritius

Citibank Europe plc - Netherlands

Netherlands

Access Bank plc

Nigeria

Citibank Nigeria

Nigeria

Ecobank Nigeria

Nigeria

Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited

Nigeria

Stanbic Nigeria

Nigeria

Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria

Nigeria

UBA Nigeria

Nigeria

Zenith Bank plc

Nigeria

First City Monument Bank FBN Quest Fidelity Bank

Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria

Ecobank Rwanda

Rwanda

Access Bank

Rwanda

Bank of Kigali I&M Bank Limited

Rwanda Rwanda

Banke Saudi Fransi

Saudi Arabia

Access Bank

South Africa

FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division)

South Africa

ABSA Bank Limited

South Africa

Standard Chartered Bank

South Africa

Investec Bank Limited

South Africa

Citibank

South Africa

Standard Chartered Bank - Dubai, UAE

UAE

Mashreq Bank

UAE

Citibank

UAE

Citibank UK

United Kingdom

Standard Chartered Bank UK

United Kingdom

Access Bank

United Kingdom

UBA Bank

United Kingdom

Barclays

United Kingdom

Banco do Brasil S.A., London Branch

United Kingdom

194


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Citibank, N.A., London Branch

United Kingdom

J.P. Morgan

United Kingdom

Goldman Sachs

United Kingdom

MUFG Bank

United Kingdom

Standard Advisory London (Standard Bank)

United Kingdom

Itau BBA International Plc

United Kingdom

FirstRand Bank Limited (London Branch), acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division

United Kingdom

Citibank

United States of America

J.P. Morgan

United States of America

Goldman Sachs

United States of America

Citibank Zambia

Zambia

Standard Chartered Bank Zambia

Zambia

Ecobank

Zambia

Access Bank

Zambia

195


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Schedule 16

White List

ABN AMRO

ABSA Bank

Access Bank

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

Afrasia Bank Limited

African Export-Import Bank

African Finance Corporation

Allianz Bank

Ashburton Fund Managers Proprietary Limited

Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bank of China

Barclays Bank PLC

BNP Paribas

China Construction Bank

Citi

Commercial Bank of Dubai PSC

Commerz

Credit Agricole

Deutsche Bank

Emirates NDB

Federated Hermes

First Bank of Nigeria Ltd

First City Monument Bank Limited

FirstRand Bank Limited

Goldman Sachs

HSBC Bank Plc

Futuregrowth Asset Management Proprietary Limited

ICBC Standard

IFC

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

ING Bank / ING Group

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Intesa Sanpaolo / Banca IMI Group

Investec Bank Limited

J.P. Morgan

Liberty Group Limited

Lloyds Banking Group

Mashreqbank PSC

Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited

Mitusbishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corp

Mitsubishi Finance Corp

Mizuho

Momentum Metropolitan Holdings Limited

Momentum Metropolitan Life Limited

Morgan Stanley

National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah PJSC

Nedbank

Ninety One SA Proprietary Limited

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Limited

Old Mutual Specialised Finance Proprietary Limited

Qatar National Bank

Rabobank

Sanlam Specialised Finance Proprietary Limited

Sanlam Investment Management Proprietary Limited

Sanlam Life Insurance Limited

SMBC

Societe Generale

State Bank of Mauritius

Standard Chartered

Stanlib Limited

State Bank of India

Sumitomo Mitsubishi Banking Corp

Sumitomo Trust

The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited

Zenith Bank plc

197


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Schedule 17

Published Rate Contingency Periods

Published Rate

Period

Term SOFR (all Quoted Tenors)

Any period for which that rate is customarily displayed on the relevant page or screen of an information service

JIBAR

None specified

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Signature Pages to the Credit Facility

The Company

IHS Holding Limited

Signed

/s/ Steve Howden

Name: Steve Howden

Title: Authorised Signatory

For and on behalf of
IHS HOLDING LIMITED

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Original Facility Guarantors

Holdco

IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V.

Signed

/s/ Mohamad Darwish

Name: Mohamad Darwish

Title: Authorised Signatory

/s/ Royie Harambam

Name: Royie Harambam

Title: Authorised Signatory

for and on behalf of
IHS NETHERLANDS HOLDCO B.V.

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Nigeria Tower Interco B.V.

Signed

/s/ William Saad

Name: William Saad

Title: Authorised Signatory

/s/ Royie Harambam

Name: Royie Harambam

Title: Authorised Signatory

for and on behalf of
NIGERIA TOWER INTERCO B.V.

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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IHS Netherlands NG1 B.V.

Signed

/s/ Mohamad Darwish

Name: Mohamad Darwish

Title: Authorised Signatory

/s/ Royie Harambam

Name: Royie Harambam

Title: Authorised Signatory

for and on behalf of
IHS NETHERLANDS NG1 B.V.

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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IHS Netherlands NG2 B.V.

Signed

/s/ Mohamad Darwish

Name: Mohamad Darwish

Title: Authorised Signatory

/s/ Royie Harambam

Name: Royie Harambam

Title: Authorised Signatory

for and on behalf of
IHS NETHERLANDS NG2 B.V.

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Coordinator

FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division)

/s/ Irshaad Paruk

By: Irshaad Paruk

Address: 1 Merchant Place, Sandton

Email: irshaad.paruk@rmb.co.za

Attention: HIS Holding Limited

/s/ Blessings Magagane

By: Blessings Magagane

Address:

Email: blessings.magagane@rmb.co.za

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Bookrunner

FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division)

/s/ Irshaad Paruk

By: Irshaad Paruk

Address: 1 Merchant Place, Sandton

Email: irshaad.paruk@rmb.co.za

Attention: HIS Holding Limited

/s/ Blessings Magagane

By: Blessings Magagane

Address:

Email: blessings.magagane@rmb.co.za

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Initial Mandated Lead Arranger
FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division)

/s/ Irshaad Paruk

By: Irshaad Paruk

Address: 1 Merchant Place, Sandton

Email: irshaad.paruk@rmb.co.za

Attention: HIS Holding Limited

/s/ Blessings Magagane

By: Blessings Magagane

Address:

Email: blessings.magagane@rmb.co.za

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Mandated Lead Arrangers

Standard Chartered Bank

/s/ Salik Siddiqi

By: Salik Siddiqi

Address:

Email:

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Access Bank UK Limited

/s/ Jamie Simmonds

By: Jamie Simmonds

Address: 4 Royal Court, Gadbrook Park, Northwich, CW9 7UT

Email: ogunbambik@theaccessbankukltd.co.uk

Attention: Kazeem Ogunbambi

/s/ David Plant

By: David Plant

Address: 4 Royal Court, Gadbrook Park, Northwich, CW9 7UT

Email: ogunbambik@theaccessbankukltd.co.uk

Attention: Kazeem Ogunbambi

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited

/s/ Mervyn Sholay

By: Mervyn Sholay

Address: 10th Floor, MCB Head Office, 9-15 Sir William Newton Street, Port Louis, Mauritius

Email: mervyn.sholay@mcb.mu

Attention: Mervyn Sholay

/s/ Shakeel Jankee

By: Shakeel Jankee

Address:

Email:

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Lead Arrangers

Absa Bank Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division)

/s/ Narisa Balgobind

By: Narisa Balgobind

Address: 15 Alice Lane Sandton

Email: Narisa.Balgobind@absa

Attention: Narisa Balgobind

/s/ Premeshin Naidoo

By: Premeshin Naidoo

Address: 15 Alice Lane Sandton

Email: Premeshin.Naidoo@absa.africa

Attention: Premeshin Naidoo

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Citibank N.A., London Branch

/s/ Erik Arveschoug

By: Erik Arveschoug

Address: Citigroup Centre, Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5LB

Email: erik.arveschoug@citi.com

Attention: Erik Arveschoug

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Goldman Sachs International

/s/ Anant Prasad

By: Anant Prasad

Address: Goldman Sachs International, 25 Shoe Lane, London EC4A 4AU

Email: loandocumentation@ln.email.gs.com (Credit Matters & Documentation) / ficc-bankloan-servicing-ldn@gs.com (Operation Matters (Servicing))

Attention: Corporate Actions

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Investec Bank Limited

/s/ Roberta Asherson

By: Roberta Asherson

Address: Investec Bank Limited 100 Grayston Drive Sandown Sandton

Email: AfricaLeveragedFinance@investec.com; GlobalLendingTeam1@investec.com; LeveragedFinanceJohannesburg@Investec.com

Attention: Investec Corporate and Institutional Banking

/s/ Brian RF Irvine

By: Brian RF Irvine

Address:

Email:

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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J.P. Morgan Securities plc

/s/ Jon Abando

By: Jon Abando

Address: Floor 21, 25 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5JP

Email: jon.abando@jpmorgan.com

Attention: Jon Abando

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Project and Trade Finance Core Fund

/s/ Christopher P. McGinley

By: Christopher P. McGinley, Senior Vice President

Address: 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 USA

Email: cole.dolinger@federatedhermes.com

Attention: M. Cole Dolinger

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Sanlam Life Insurance Limited, acting through its Sanlam Specialised Finance division

/s/ Odette Balkisson

By: Odette Balkisson

Address: 11 Alice Lane, Sandton, 2196

Email: OdetteB@sanlaminvestments.com

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division)

/s/ Abdulsalam Alhassan

By: Abdulsalam Alhassan

Address: IBTC Towers, Walter Carrington Cresent, Victoria Island, Lagos

Email: Abdulsalam.Alhassan@stanbicibtc.com

Attention: Head, Corporate Financing Solutions

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Facility Agent
FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division)

/s/ Aleksandra Pires

By: Aleksandra Pires

Address:

Email: Aleksandra.pires@rmb.co.za

Attention:

/s/ Lindie Niklaas

By: Lindie Niklaas

Address:

Email: lindie.niklaas@rmb.co.za

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Original Lenders

Absa Bank Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division)

/s/ Narisa Balgobind

By: Narisa Balgobind

Address: 15 Alice Lane Sandton

Email: Narisa.Balgobind@absa.africa

Attention: Narisa Balgobind

/s/ Premeshin Naidoo

By: Premeshin Naidoo

Address: 15 Alice Lane Sandton

Email: Premeshin.Naidoo@absa.africa

Attention: Premeshin Naidoo

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Citibank, N.A, London Branch

/s/ Erik Arveschoug

By: Erik Arveschoug

Address: Citigroup Centre, Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5LB

Email: erik.arveschoug@citi.com

Attention: Erik Arveschoug

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Citicorp North America Inc.

/s/ Erik Arveschoug

By: Erik Arveschoug

Address: 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013

Email: erik.arveschoug@citi.com

Attention: Erik Arveschoug

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Federated Hermes Project and Trade Finance Primary Loan Fund

/s/ Christopher P. McGinley

By: Christopher P. McGinley, Senior Vice President

Address: 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 USA

Email: cole.dolinger@federatedhermes.com

Attention: M. Cole Dolinger

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Federated Hermes Project and Trade Finance Tender Fund

/s/ Christopher P. McGinley

By: Christopher P. McGinley, Senior Vice President

Address: 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 USA

Email: cole.dolinger@federatedhermes.com

Attention: M. Cole Dolinger

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division)

/s/ Irshaad Paruk

By: Irshaad Paruk

Address: 1 Merchant Place, Sandton

Email: irshaad.paruk@rmb.co.za

Attention: HIS Holding Limited

/s/ Blessings Magagane

By: Blessings Magagane

Address:

Email:

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC

/s/ Edwina Stewart

By: Edwina Stewart

Address: Goldman Sachs International, 25 Shoe Lane, London EC4A 4AU

Email: loandocumentation@ln.email.gs.com (Credit Matters & Documentation) / ficc-bankloan-servicing-ldn@gs.com (Operational Matters (Servicing))

Attention: Corporate Actions

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Investec Bank Limited

/s/ Roberta Asherson

By: Roberta Asherson

Title: Authorised Signatory

Address: Investec Bank Limited 100 Grayston Drive Sandown Sandton

Email: AfricaLeveragedFinance@investec.coml; GlobalLendingTeam1@investec.com

Attention: Investec Bank Limited acting through its Corporate & Institutional Banking Division

/s/ Brian RF Irvine

By: Brian RF Irvine

Title: Authorised Signatory

Address:

Email:

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch

/s/ Daniel Brown

By: Daniel Brown

Address: Floor 24, 25 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5JP

Email: Daniel.brown@jpmorgan.com

Attention: Daniel Brown

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Project and Trade Finance Core Fund

/s/ Christopher P. McGinley

By: Christopher P. McGinley

Address: 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 USA

Email: cole.dolinger@federatedhermes.com

Attention: M. Cole Dolinger

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Sanlam Life Insurance Limited, acting through its Sanlam Specialised Finance division

/s/ Odette Balkisson

By: /s/ Odette Balkisson

Address: 11 Alice Lane, Sandton, 2196

Email: OdetteB@sanlaminvestments.com

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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Standard Chartered Bank (Mauritius) Limited

/s/ Rajshree Luximon

By: Rajshree Luximon

Title: Head, Offshore Booking Location

Address: 6th Floor, Standard Chartered Tower, Ebene Cybercity, Mauritius

Email: Rajshree.luximon@sc.com

Attention:

/s/ Abrar A Anwar

By: Abrar A Anwar

Title: CEO & Head of Coverage, Mauritius

Address: 6th Floor, Standard Chartered Tower, Ebene Cybercity, Mauritius

Email: abrar.anwar@sc.com

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Access Bank UK Limited

/s/ Jamie Simmonds

By: Jamie Simmonds

Title: CEO / Managing Director

Address: 4 Royal Court, Gadbrook Park, Northwich, CW9 7UT

Email: ogunbambik@theaccessbankukltd.co.uk

Attention: Kazeem Ogunbambi

/s/ David Plant

By: David Plant

Title: Finance Director

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Mauritius Commercial Bank

/s/ Mervyn Sholay

By: Mervyn Sholay

Address: 10th Floor, MCB Head Office, 9-15 Sir William Newton Street, Port Louis, Mauritius

Email: mervyn.sholay@mcb.mu

Attention: Mervyn Sholay

/s/ Dhiraj Gajeelee

By: Dhiraj Gajeelee

Address:

Email:

Attention:

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


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The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division)

/s/ Abdulsalam Alhassan

By: Abdulsalam Alhassan

Address: IBTC Towers, Walter Carrington Cresent, Victoria Island, Lagos

Email: Abdulsalam.Alhassan@stanbicibtc.com

Attention: Head, Corporate Financing Solutions

(Signature page to Credit Facility)


EX-99.3 4 tmb-20240930xex99d3.htm EX-99.3

Exhibit 99.3

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IHS Holding Limited
1 Cathedral Piazza

123 Victoria Street

London, SW1E 5BP

United Kingdom

www.ihstowers.com

To:Citibank Europe PLC, UK Branch (the “Facility Agent”)

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22 October 2024

Dear Sir or Madam

Amendment letter 3 relating to the Facility Agreement (as defined below)

1.

Introduction

1.1

We refer to the up to US$300,000,000 revolving credit facility agreement originally dated 30 March 2020, as amended from time to time (including pursuant to an amendment and restatement agreement dated 6 November 2023), between, amongst others, the Facility Agent and IHS Holding Limited (the “Company”), Citibank, N.A., London Branch, ABSA Bank Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division), Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities plc and Standard Chartered Bank, Dubai International Financial Centre Branch, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority as arrangers (the “Facility Agreement”).

1.2

Capitalised terms defined in the Facility Agreement shall have the same meaning when used herein unless expressly defined in this letter (the “Letter”).

1.3

The provisions of clause 1.2 (Construction) and clause 1.3 (Third party rights) of the Facility Agreement apply to this Letter as though they were set out in full in this Letter with all necessary consequential changes; and with references in that clause to “this Agreement” being construed as references to this Letter.

2.

Background

2.1

The Group has a number of intermediary Dutch holding companies within its group structure, including each of the Original Facility Guarantors.

2.2

The Company has decided, as part of an ongoing review of its Group corporate structure, to redomicile each of the Relevant Obligors (as defined in paragraph 2.3 below) to Mauritius, where some of its other intermediary group companies are also registered.  Due to applicable Dutch law procedures, the redomiciliation will be effected in a two-step process, whereby the relevant entities (noted in paragraph 2.3 below) will each redomicile into Luxembourg and shortly thereafter into Mauritius (together, the “Transaction”). The intention is for the redomiciled companies to then become UK tax resident, similar to the Company.

2.3

For the purposes of the Facility Agreement, the Transaction will be implemented for each of IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V., IHS Netherlands NG1 B.V., IHS Netherlands NG2 B.V. and Nigeria Tower Interco B.V., (each of which are Guarantors under the Facility Agreement) (the “Relevant Obligors”).

2.4

Corporate re-domiciliation or migration by way of continuation is the process by which a company moves its domicile from one jurisdiction to another by changing the country under whose laws it is registered or incorporated, while maintaining the same legal identity.  Upon the Transaction becoming effective for a Relevant Obligor, that Relevant Obligor will continue to exist (initially in Luxembourg for the interim period, and ultimately in Mauritius) with the same legal identity, shareholding structure, assets and liabilities.  In particular, under Luxembourg and Mauritian law, the Transaction does not operate to:

2.4.1

create a new legal entity;

2.4.2

prejudice or affect the identity or continuity of that Relevant Obligor as previously constituted;


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2.4.3

affect the property of that Relevant Obligor;

2.4.4

affect any appointment made, resolution passed or any other act or thing done in relation to that Relevant Obligor pursuant to a power conferred by any of the constitutional or other corporate documents of that Relevant Obligor or by the laws of The Netherlands under which that Relevant Obligor was previously incorporated and registered;

2.4.5

affect the shareholding structure of that Relevant Obligor; or

2.4.6

affect the rights, powers, authorities, functions, assets, liabilities or obligations of the Relevant Obligor.

2.5

As the terms of the Facility Agreement provide for restrictions in relation to the change of jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company and the Guarantors, the purpose of this Letter is to seek the consent of the Lenders to authorise the Transaction.

2.6

In this Letter, “Effective Date” means the date upon which the Facility Agent has countersigned this Letter.

3.

Consents

The Facility Agent confirms that the consent of the Majority Lenders has been obtained to the Company implementing the Transaction in the form described in this letter (provided strictly that each such redomiciliation is carried out in a manner that would constitute a Permitted Redomiciliation under the Facility Agreement as amended by this letter) and the amendments of the Facility Agreement referred to below and accordingly, on behalf of itself and each of the Lenders, agrees with effect on and from the Effective Date that the amendments to the Facility Agreement set out in Schedule 1 (Amendments) of this letter shall be deemed made.

4.

Guarantee Confirmation

4.1

The Obligors’ Agent confirms that:

4.1.1

the guarantee and indemnity contained in clause 16.1 (Guarantee and Indemnity) of the Facility Agreement and contained in the Nigeria Guarantee shall, after giving effect to the amendments effected by this Letter, on and after the Effective Date continue in full force and effect and extend to the liabilities and obligations of each of the Obligors under the Facility Agreement and the other Finance Documents each as amended pursuant to the terms of this letter; and

4.1.2

subject to the Legal Reservations, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the relevant Obligors enforceable in accordance with their terms.

5.

Representations and Warranties

5.1

The Obligor’s Agent represents and warrants to the Facility Agent and to the Lenders that it has been, and remains, appointed and authorised to act as the Obligors’ Agent in accordance with clause 2.5 (Obligors’ Agent) of the Facility Agreement.

5.2

Each of the Repeating Representations shall be made on the Effective Date as if references to “this Agreement” in those Repeating Representations were references to this Letter.

6.

Miscellaneous

6.1

This Letter is a Finance Document.

6.2

From the Effective Date, the Facility Agreement and this Letter shall be read and construed as one document.

6.3

Except as otherwise provided in this Letter, the Financing Documents remain in full force and effect.

2


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6.4

Except to the extent expressly waived in this Letter, no amendment or waiver of any provision of any Finance Document is given by the terms of this Letter and the Finance Parties expressly reserve all their rights and remedies in respect of any breach of, or other default under, the Finance Documents.

6.5

This Letter may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Letter.

7.

Governing law

7.1

This Letter and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

7.2

Clause 34 (Notices), clause 39 (Confidential Information) and clause 43 (Enforcement) of the Facility Agreement shall apply to this Letter, mutatis mutandis, as if references in those provisions of the Facility Agreement to the Facility Agreement and Finance Document shall be construed as references to this Letter.

3


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Please sign and return a copy of this Letter to confirm your acceptance and agreement to its terms and conditions.

Yours faithfully

/s/ Steve Howden

Name: Steve Howden

Title: EVP, CFO

For and on behalf of

IHS Holding Limited

/s/ Alasdair Garnham

Name: Alasdair Garnham

Title: Vice President

For and on behalf of

Citibank Europe PLC, UK Branch

as Facility Agent

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SCHEDULE 1

AMENDMENTS

The Facility Agreement shall be amended as follows:

1.

A definition of “Approved Jurisdiction” shall be added to clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Facility Agreement, with the remaining definitions reordered alphabetically accordingly:

““Approved Jurisdiction” means any state which is a member state of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Cayman Islands or Mauritius.”

2.

A definition of “Permitted Redomiciliation” shall be added to clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Facility Agreement, with the remaining definitions reordered alphabetically accordingly:

““Permitted Redomiciliation” means any redomiciliation of any Obligor (other than the Company or any Original Nigeria Guarantor) from its jurisdiction of incorporation, provided that:

(a)

the relevant Obligor redomiciles within an Approved Jurisdiction;

(b)

no later than 15 Business Days prior to the proposed date for completion of the redomiciliation of the relevant Obligor taking effect, the Company notifies the Facility Agent of the proposed redomiciliation;

(c)

there is no change to the legal identity or assets or liabilities of the relevant Obligor (other than as permitted under paragraph (d) of the definition of Permitted Reorganisation), prejudice or effect on the identity or continuity or its properties as a result of such redomiciliation;

(d)

no Event of Default is continuing as at the date notice is provided under paragraph (b) above and no Default or mandatory prepayment event under Clause 7.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Sanctions Etc.) or Clause 7.2 (Mandatory Prepayment – Change of control) would occur as a result of such redomiciliation;

(e)

all assets of, and shares in, the relevant Obligor are not subject to Security under a Security Document at the date of completion of the redomiciliation;

(f)

the constitutional documents of the relevant Obligor and a legal opinion in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent (acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders, acting reasonably) from legal advisers in the relevant jurisdiction of the redomiciliation are delivered to the Facility Agent as soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event, within 30 days) following the date on which the relevant Obligor receives evidence of the completion of the final redomiciliation of the relevant Obligor; and

(g)

if the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, acting reasonably and taking into account advice of the legal counsel to the Finance Parties in the relevant jurisdiction) requests any amendment to the Finance Documents that is necessary under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the final redomiciliation occurs in order to ensure that the rights, powers and remedies of the Secured Parties under the Finance Documents are not materially affected by such redomiciliation, the Facility Agent and the Obligor shall enter into negotiations on a good faith basis (for a period of not more than 30 days) with a view to agreeing such amendments,

and, after such redomiciliation has occurred in accordance with this definition, the jurisdiction of incorporation of the relevant Obligor shall be deemed to be the Approved Jurisdiction where such redomiciliation is completed for the purposes of this Agreement.”

3.

The definition of “Permitted Reorganisation” in clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

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“Permitted Reorganisation” means:

(a)

a reorganisation on a solvent basis involving the business or assets of, or shares of any member of the Group:

(i)

where a relevant member of the Group remains the surviving entity and the jurisdiction of incorporation of such member of the Group remains the same (subject to any Permitted Redomiciliation); and

(ii)

where the Finance Parties (or the Security Agent on their behalf) will continue to have the same or substantially equivalent security over the same or substantially equivalent assets (to the extent such assets, shares or other interests are not disposed of as permitted under this Agreement) and, to the extent applicable, benefit from the same or substantially equivalent guarantees, but subject always to, the terms of this Agreement (and the Facility Agent has received a legal opinion to this effect in form and substance satisfactory to it);

(b)

for the purposes of the definitions of Permitted Acquisition and Permitted Disposal only, in respect of a Material Subsidiary which is not a Guarantor, a reorganisation involving the business or assets of, or shares of that entity where the relevant entity remains the surviving entity and the jurisdiction of incorporation of the relevant entity remains the same;

(c)

a transfer of all of the issued share capital of the Company to a newly incorporated holding company, subject to the conditions in the definition of Change of Control;

(d)

any merger or reorganisation of two or more members of the Group (other than the Company) (either as part of or separate to a Permitted Redomiciliation) where either:

(i)

one of such members of the Group is the surviving entity; or

(ii)

the issued share capital of all such entities is transferred to another existing member of the Group or a newly incorporated entity,

in each case, provided that:

(A)

where a member of the Group is the surviving entity, the jurisdiction of incorporation of such member of the Group remains the same or is an Approved Jurisdiction;

(B)

where a newly incorporated entity is the surviving entity, its jurisdiction of incorporation is the same as that of any member of the Group undergoing such merger or reorganisation or is an Approved Jurisdiction; and

(C)

where any such member of the Group subject to such merger or reorganisation is an Obligor:

(1)

the surviving entity is an Obligor; or

(2)

if, as a result of the laws applicable in the jurisdiction of the entities subject to such merger or reorganisation, it is not possible for the surviving entity to effectively accede to this Agreement as a Guarantor prior to the date of such merger or reorganisation, the Company shall provide written notice to the Facility Agent on or around the date of completion of the relevant merger or reorganisation of such merger or reorganisation occurring (the “Effective Reorganisation Date”) and procure that the surviving entity shall accede to this Agreement promptly and in any event within no more than 10 Business Days of the Effective Reorganisation Date;

(e)

a Permitted Redomiciliation; and

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(f)

any other reorganisation approved by the Majority Lenders.”

4.

The definition of “Permitted Transaction” in clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

““Permitted Transaction” means:

(a)

any transaction (other than (i) any sale, lease, license, transfer or other disposal and (ii) the granting or creation of Security or the incurring or permitting to subsist of Financial Indebtedness) conducted in the ordinary course of trading or business activities of the relevant person on arm’s length terms;

(b)

the liquidation (solvent or otherwise) of any member of the Group that is not a Material Subsidiary and is not an Obligor and which, at such point in time, is not a party to any agreement or other transactions and does not trade and provided that:

(i)

as a result of such liquidation, all assets (to the extent existing after the relevant liquidation or to the extent not otherwise permitted to be disposed of) of that member of the Group are transferred to another member of the Group; and

(ii)

such liquidation could not reasonably be expected to have a material and adverse impact (directly or indirectly) on the Company, any other Obligor or any Material Subsidiary (whether pursuant to any requirement to make payment under a guarantee or otherwise);

(c)

the solvent liquidation or sale, lease, license, transfer or other disposal of Nigeria Tower Interco B.V.; and

(d)

a Permitted Redomiciliation.”

5.

The definition of “Relevant Jurisdiction” in clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

““Relevant Jurisdiction” means in relation to an Obligor or, where applicable, a Material Subsidiary:

(a)

its jurisdiction of incorporation and, following a Permitted Redomiciliation, its jurisdiction of domicile following that Permitted Redomiciliation; and

(b)

any jurisdiction where any asset subject to any Security created or expressed to be created by it under a Security Document is situated.”

6.

Paragraph (a) of clause 18.2 (Status) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“(a)

It is a limited liability company, duly incorporated and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation (or, in the case of the Company, it is an exempted company registered by way of continuation with limited liability, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands) (or, in the case of an Obligor that has completed a Permitted Redomiciliation or a Permitted Reorganisation into an Approved Jurisdiction, a limited liability company duly incorporated or registered under the law of an Approved Jurisdiction).”

7.

Paragraph (b)(ii) of clause 19.9 (“Know Your Customer” Checks) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“(ii)

a Permitted Redomiciliation or any change in the status of the Company after the date of this Agreement; or”

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8.

Paragraph (a) of Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

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“(a)Interest Cover Ratio

On each Quarter Date, the Interest Cover Ratio shall not be less than:

(i)

in respect of any Relevant Period beginning with the Relevant Period ending on 30 September 2024 and up to and including the Relevant Period ending on 31 December 2026, 2.00:1;

(ii)

in respect of any Relevant Period beginning with the Relevant Period ending on 31 March 2027 and up to and including the Relevant Period ending on 31 December 2028, 2.25:1; and

(iii)

in respect of any subsequent Relevant Period, 2.50:1.”

9.

Clause 22.19 (Taxes) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“22.19Taxes

(a)

Each Obligor shall pay and discharge all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties unless and only to the extent that:

(i)such payment is being contested in good faith;

(ii)adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes; and

(iii)

such payment can be lawfully withheld and failure to pay those Taxes would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)The Company will remain resident for Tax purposes only in:

(i)

the UK and (as a result of its registration by way of continuation in the Cayman Islands) the Cayman Islands; or

(ii)

the UK.

(c)

Each Guarantor will remain resident for Tax purposes in its jurisdiction of incorporation or establishment or, following a Permitted Redomiciliation or Permitted Reorganisation by it in an Approved Jurisdiction, an Approved Jurisdiction.”

10.

Paragraph (a)(i) of clause 23.9 (Insolvency Proceedings) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

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“(i)

the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of an Obligor other than a solvent liquidation or reorganisation (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a Permitted Redomiciliation);”

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EX-99.4 5 tmb-20240930xex99d4.htm EX-99.4

Exhibit 99.4

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IHS Holding Limited

1 Cathedral Piazza

123 Victoria Street

London, SW1E 5BP

United Kingdom

www.ihstowers.com

To:

Standard Chartered Bank (the “Facility Agent”)

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22 October 2024

Dear Sir or Madam

Amendment letter 3 relating to the Facility Agreement (as defined below)

1.

Introduction

1.1

We refer to the US$270,000,000 term loan facility agreement originally dated 8 March 2024, as amended from time to time, between, amongst others, the Facility Agent and IHS Holding Limited (the “Company”) (the “Facility Agreement”).

1.2

Capitalised terms defined in the Facility Agreement shall have the same meaning when used herein unless expressly defined in this letter (the “Letter”).

1.3

The provisions of clause 1.2 (Construction) and clause 1.3 (Third party rights) of the Facility Agreement apply to this Letter as though they were set out in full in this Letter with all necessary consequential changes; and with references in that clause to “this Agreement” being construed as references to this Letter.

2.

Background

2.1

The Group has a number of intermediary Dutch holding companies within its group structure, including each of the Original Facility Guarantors.

2.2

The Company has decided, as part of an ongoing review of its Group corporate structure, to redomicile each of the Relevant Obligors (as defined in paragraph 2.3 below) to Mauritius, where some of its other intermediary group companies are also registered.  Due to applicable Dutch law procedures, the redomiciliation will be effected in a two-step process, whereby the relevant entities (noted in paragraph 2.3 below) will each redomicile into Luxembourg and shortly thereafter into Mauritius (together, the “Transaction”). The intention is for the redomiciled companies to then become UK tax resident, similar to the Company.

2.3

For the purposes of the Facility Agreement, the Transaction will be implemented for each of IHS Netherlands Holdco B.V., IHS Netherlands NG1 B.V., IHS Netherlands NG2 B.V. and Nigeria Tower Interco B.V., (each of which are Guarantors under the Facility Agreement) (the “Relevant Obligors”).

2.4

Corporate re-domiciliation or migration by way of continuation is the process by which a company moves its domicile from one jurisdiction to another by changing the country under whose laws it is registered or incorporated, while maintaining the same legal identity.  Upon the Transaction becoming effective for a Relevant Obligor, that Relevant Obligor will continue to exist (initially in Luxembourg for the interim period, and ultimately in Mauritius) with the same legal identity, shareholding structure, assets and liabilities.  In particular, under Luxembourg and Mauritian law, the Transaction does not operate to:

2.4.1

create a new legal entity;

2.4.2

prejudice or affect the identity or continuity of that Relevant Obligor as previously constituted;

2.4.3

affect the property of that Relevant Obligor;


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2.4.4

affect any appointment made, resolution passed or any other act or thing done in relation to that Relevant Obligor pursuant to a power conferred by any of the constitutional or other corporate documents of that Relevant Obligor or by the laws of The Netherlands under which that Relevant Obligor was previously incorporated and registered;

2.4.5

affect the shareholding structure of that Relevant Obligor; or

2.4.6

affect the rights, powers, authorities, functions, assets, liabilities or obligations of the Relevant Obligor.

2.5

As the terms of the Facility Agreement provide for restrictions in relation to the change of jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company and the Guarantors, the purpose of this Letter is to seek the consent of the Lenders to authorise the Transaction.

2.6

In this Letter, “Effective Date” means the date upon which the Facility Agent has countersigned this Letter.

3.

Consents

3.1

The Facility Agent confirms that the consent of the Majority Lenders has been obtained to the Company implementing the Transaction in the form described in this letter (provided strictly that each such redomiciliation is carried out in a manner that would constitute a Permitted Redomiciliation under the Facility Agreement as amended by this letter) and the amendments of the Facility Agreement referred to below and accordingly, on behalf of itself and each of the Lenders, agrees with effect on and from the Effective Date that the amendments to the Facility Agreement set out in Schedule 1 (Amendments) of this letter shall be deemed made.

4.

Guarantee Confirmation

4.1

The Obligors’ Agent confirms that:

4.1.1

the guarantee and indemnity contained in clause 16.1 (Guarantee and Indemnity) of the Facility Agreement and contained in the Nigeria Guarantee shall, after giving effect to the amendments effected by this Letter, on and after the Effective Date continue in full force and effect and extend to the liabilities and obligations of each of the Obligors under the Facility Agreement and the other Finance Documents each as amended pursuant to the terms of this letter; and

4.1.2

subject to the Legal Reservations, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the relevant Obligors enforceable in accordance with their terms.

5.

Representations and Warranties

5.1

The Obligor’s Agent represents and warrants to the Facility Agent and to the Lenders that it has been, and remains, appointed and authorised to act as the Obligors’ Agent in accordance with clause 2.4 (Obligors’ Agent) of the Facility Agreement.

5.2

Each of the Repeating Representations shall be made on the Effective Date as if references to “this Agreement” in those Repeating Representations were references to this Letter.

6.

Miscellaneous

6.1

This Letter is a Finance Document.

6.2

From the Effective Date, the Facility Agreement and this Letter shall be read and construed as one document.

6.3

Except as otherwise provided in this Letter, the Financing Documents remain in full force and effect.

6.4

Except to the extent expressly waived in this Letter, no amendment or waiver of any provision of any Finance Document is given by the terms of this Letter and the Finance Parties expressly reserve

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all their rights and remedies in respect of any breach of, or other default under, the Finance Documents.

6.5

This Letter may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Letter.

7.

Governing law

7.1

This Letter and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

7.2

Clause 34 (Notices), clause 39 (Confidential Information) and clause 43 (Enforcement) of the Facility Agreement shall apply to this Letter, mutatis mutandis, as if references in those provisions of the Facility Agreement to the Facility Agreement and Finance Document shall be construed as references to this Letter.

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Please sign and return a copy of this Letter to confirm your acceptance and agreement to its terms and conditions.

Yours faithfully

/s/ Steve Howden

Name: Steve Howden

Title: EVP, CFO

For and on behalf of

IHS Holding Limited

/s/ Salik Siddiqi

Name: Salik Siddiqi

Title: Executive Director

For and on behalf of

Standard Chartered Bank

as Facility Agent

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SCHEDULE 1

AMENDMENTS

The Facility Agreement shall be amended as follows:

1.

A definition of “Approved Jurisdiction” shall be added to clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Facility Agreement, with the remaining definitions reordered alphabetically accordingly:

““Approved Jurisdiction” means any state which is a member state of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Cayman Islands or Mauritius.”

2.

A definition of “Permitted Redomiciliation” shall be added to clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Facility Agreement, with the remaining definitions reordered alphabetically accordingly:

““Permitted Redomiciliation” means any redomiciliation of any Obligor (other than the Company or any Original Nigeria Guarantor) from its jurisdiction of incorporation, provided that:

(a)

the relevant Obligor redomiciles within an Approved Jurisdiction;

(b)

no later than 15 Business Days prior to the proposed date for completion of the redomiciliation of the relevant Obligor taking effect, the Company notifies the Facility Agent of the proposed redomiciliation;

(c)

there is no change to the legal identity or assets or liabilities of the relevant Obligor (other than as permitted under paragraph (d) of the definition of Permitted Reorganisation), prejudice or effect on the identity or continuity or its properties as a result of such redomiciliation;

(d)

no Event of Default is continuing as at the date notice is provided under paragraph (b) above and no Default or mandatory prepayment event under Clause 7.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Sanctions Etc.) or Clause 7.2 (Mandatory Prepayment – Change of control) would occur as a result of such redomiciliation;

(e)

all assets of, and shares in, the relevant Obligor are not subject to Security under a Security Document at the date of completion of the redomiciliation;

(f)

the constitutional documents of the relevant Obligor and a legal opinion in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent (acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders, acting reasonably) from legal advisers in the relevant jurisdiction of the redomiciliation are delivered to the Facility Agent as soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event, within 30 days) following the date on which the relevant Obligor receives evidence of the completion of the final redomiciliation of the relevant Obligor; and

(g)

if the Facility Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, acting reasonably and taking into account advice of the legal counsel to the Finance Parties in the relevant jurisdiction) requests any amendment to the Finance Documents that is necessary under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the final redomiciliation occurs in order to ensure that the rights, powers and remedies of the Secured Parties under the Finance Documents are not materially affected by such redomiciliation, the Facility Agent and the Obligor shall enter into negotiations on a good faith basis (for a period of not more than 30 days) with a view to agreeing such amendments,

and, after such redomiciliation has occurred in accordance with this definition, the jurisdiction of incorporation of the relevant Obligor shall be deemed to be the Approved Jurisdiction where such redomiciliation is completed for the purposes of this Agreement.”

3.

The definition of “Permitted Reorganisation” in clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

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“Permitted Reorganisation” means:

(a)

a reorganisation on a solvent basis involving the business or assets of, or shares of any member of the Group:

(i)

where a relevant member of the Group remains the surviving entity and the jurisdiction of incorporation of such member of the Group remains the same (subject to any Permitted Redomiciliation); and

(ii)

where the Finance Parties (or the Security Agent on their behalf) will continue to have the same or substantially equivalent security over the same or substantially equivalent assets (to the extent such assets, shares or other interests are not disposed of as permitted under this Agreement) and, to the extent applicable, benefit from the same or substantially equivalent guarantees, but subject always to, the terms of this Agreement (and the Facility Agent has received a legal opinion to this effect in form and substance satisfactory to it);

(b)

for the purposes of the definitions of Permitted Acquisition and Permitted Disposal only, in respect of a Material Subsidiary which is not a Guarantor, a reorganisation involving the business or assets of, or shares of that entity where the relevant entity remains the surviving entity and the jurisdiction of incorporation of the relevant entity remains the same;

(c)

a transfer of all of the issued share capital of the Company to a newly incorporated holding company, subject to the conditions in the definition of Change of Control;

(d)

any merger or reorganisation of two or more members of the Group (other than the Company) (either as part of or separate to a Permitted Redomiciliation) where either:

(i)

one of such members of the Group is the surviving entity; or

(ii)

the issued share capital of all such entities is transferred to another existing member of the Group or a newly incorporated entity,

in each case, provided that:

(A)

where a member of the Group is the surviving entity, the jurisdiction of incorporation of such member of the Group remains the same or is an Approved Jurisdiction;

(B)

where a newly incorporated entity is the surviving entity, its jurisdiction of incorporation is the same as that of any member of the Group undergoing such merger or reorganisation or is an Approved Jurisdiction; and

(C)

where any such member of the Group subject to such merger or reorganisation is an Obligor:

(1)

the surviving entity is an Obligor; or

(2)

if, as a result of the laws applicable in the jurisdiction of the entities subject to such merger or reorganisation, it is not possible for the surviving entity to effectively accede to this Agreement as a Guarantor prior to the date of such merger or reorganisation, the Company shall provide written notice to the Facility Agent on or around the date of completion of the relevant merger or reorganisation of such merger or reorganisation occurring (the “Effective Reorganisation Date”) and procure that the surviving entity shall accede to this Agreement promptly and in any event within no more than 10 Business Days of the Effective Reorganisation Date;

(e)

a Permitted Redomiciliation; and

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(f)

any other reorganisation approved by the Majority Lenders.”

4.

The definition of “Permitted Transaction” in clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

““Permitted Transaction” means:

(a)

any transaction (other than (i) any sale, lease, license, transfer or other disposal and (ii) the granting or creation of Security or the incurring or permitting to subsist of Financial Indebtedness) conducted in the ordinary course of trading or business activities of the relevant person on arm’s length terms;

(b)

the liquidation (solvent or otherwise) of any member of the Group that is not a Material Subsidiary and is not an Obligor and which, at such point in time, is not a party to any agreement or other transactions and does not trade and provided that:

(i)

as a result of such liquidation, all assets (to the extent existing after the relevant liquidation or to the extent not otherwise permitted to be disposed of) of that member of the Group are transferred to another member of the Group; and

(ii)

such liquidation could not reasonably be expected to have a material and adverse impact (directly or indirectly) on the Company, any other Obligor or any Material Subsidiary (whether pursuant to any requirement to make payment under a guarantee or otherwise);

(c)

the solvent liquidation or sale, lease, license, transfer or other disposal of Nigeria Tower Interco B.V.; and

(d)

a Permitted Redomiciliation.”

5.

The definition of “Relevant Jurisdiction” in clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

““Relevant Jurisdiction” means in relation to an Obligor or, where applicable, a Material Subsidiary:

(a)

its jurisdiction of incorporation and, following a Permitted Redomiciliation, its jurisdiction of domicile following that Permitted Redomiciliation; and

(b)

any jurisdiction where any asset subject to any Security created or expressed to be created by it under a Security Document is situated.”

6.

Paragraph (a) of clause 18.2 (Status) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“(a)

It is a limited liability company, duly incorporated and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation (or, in the case of the Company, it is an exempted company registered by way of continuation with limited liability, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands) (or, in the case of an Obligor that has completed a Permitted Redomiciliation or a Permitted Reorganisation into an Approved Jurisdiction, a limited liability company duly incorporated or registered under the law of an Approved Jurisdiction).”

7.

Paragraph (b)(ii) of clause 19.9 (“Know Your Customer” Checks) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“(ii)

a Permitted Redomiciliation or any change in the status of the Company after the date of this Agreement; or”

8.

Paragraph (a) of Clause 20.2 (Financial Condition) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

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“(a) Interest Cover Ratio

On each Quarter Date, the Interest Cover Ratio shall not be less than:

(i)

in respect of any Relevant Period beginning with the Relevant Period ending on 30 September 2024 and up to and including the Relevant Period ending on 31 December 2026, 2.00:1;

(ii)

in respect of any Relevant Period beginning with the Relevant Period ending on 31 March 2027 and up to and including the Relevant Period ending on 31 December 2028, 2.25:1; and

(iii)

in respect of any subsequent Relevant Period, 2.50:1.”

9.

Clause 22.19 (Taxes) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“22.19Taxes

(a)

Each Obligor shall pay and discharge all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties unless and only to the extent that:

(i)

such payment is being contested in good faith;

(ii)

adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes; and

(iii)

such payment can be lawfully withheld and failure to pay those Taxes would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)

The Company will remain resident for Tax purposes only in:

(i)

the UK and (as a result of its registration by way of continuation in the Cayman Islands) the Cayman Islands; or

(ii)

the UK.

(c)

Each Guarantor will remain resident for Tax purposes in its jurisdiction of incorporation or establishment or, following a Permitted Redomiciliation or Permitted Reorganisation by it in an Approved Jurisdiction, an Approved Jurisdiction.”

10.

Paragraph (a)(i) of clause 23.9 (Insolvency Proceedings) of the Facility Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

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“(i)

the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of an Obligor other than a solvent liquidation or reorganisation (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a Permitted Redomiciliation);”

8