Nigeria Imposes $5.2 Billion USD Fine on MTN as the South African firm's Shares Drop by 16%!

MTN is Nigeria's biggest and most profitable market, but Nigeria has imposed a record $5.2bn fine on a South African mobile phone company for failing to register users, raising concerns that regulations are being tightened to compensate for a budget shortfall. But seeing the fine go beyond $1,000 USD.

The unprecedented fine has already caused a 16% drop in the share price of MTN, Africa’s largest mobile phone company, and threatens the firm’s future in Nigeria, its biggest and most profitable market.

Nigerian regulators accused MTN of failing to deactivate unregistered sim cards in a timely manner, and argue that the fine is designed “to ensure that the wilful non-compliance ceases”.

Unregistered sim cards are seen as a major security threat by the Nigerian government, which is concerned that anonymous numbers facilitate terrorism and crime. Last year Nigeria’s parliament recommended that Shell pay a $3.96bn fine for a major oil spill at its offshore Bonga oilfield that caused long-lasting environmental damage. The fine has come as a shock to MTN’s shareholders, who know that Nigeria is the company’s largest and most profitable market. Significantly, the company’s Nigerian operating licence is up for renewal next year and there are fears that run-ins with the regulator could threaten this renewal.

MTN’s share price on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange has collapsed since the fine was imposed, with the company losing 16% of its value in just two days of trading. The company is also being investigated by the stock exchange over accusations that it failed to officially alert shareholders to the fine for more than seven hours after it first became public.

Beyond a public statement confirming the fine, MTN has not commented beyond saying that it hopes to reach a lower settlement. Failing that, analysts expect lengthy court proceedings or a dramatic exit from Nigeria.. Stanbic IBTC, the Nigerian subsidiary of South Africa’s Standard Bank, was ordered to withdraw and restate its 2013 and 2014 financial statements amid suspicion of “accounting irregularities and poor disclosures”. Stanbic denies any wrongdoing, but four directors – including the current chairman and CEO – have been suspended until the matter is resolve. The problems encountered by two of South Africa’s most prominent companies in Nigeria has caused concern. “Both MTN and Standard Bank’s Nigerian operations were hammered on the same day, which may look like an SA-focussed clampdown."