Push to lift Iran sanctions boosts MTN’s plan to withdraw cash

Iran’s efforts to remove US-led sanctions from its economy could allow MTN Group to repatriate about R2.8-billion from the country, according to people familiar with the matter.

MTN has been prevented from taking cash out of Iran since 2018, when former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear accord signed by his predecessor, Barack Obama. The administration of Joe Biden is more in favour of the deal, and diplomats are hoping to have the landmark 2015 deal restored within the next few months.

The R2.8-billion stuck in the country is owed to MTN in loan repayments and dividends, the Johannesburg-based firm said in its last annual results. The company owns 49% of MTN IranCell, one of the nation’s largest wireless carriers, and e-commerce business Snapp.

Should MTN be able to withdraw some or all of the funds, the company could look to further pay down debt, said the people, who asked not to be identified as dealings with Iran is a sensitive issue. An Iran exit isn’t on the cards at present, they said, even as the South African company looks to sell operations elsewhere in the Middle East, namely in Syria and Afghanistan.

“MTN Irancell has started the year on a very strong operational performance and we are pleased with the results delivered,” MTN said in e-mailed comments, without elaborating any further on the talks to lift sanctions or the company’s chances to repatriate funds.

Shares up 70%

MTN’s shares have gained 70% this year, the second best performance on the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index, and are trading at their highest level since September 2019. Investors are backing an asset disposal and debt repayment plan, alongside efforts to monetise fintech services such as mobile money.

After Iran’s previous sanctions were lifted in 2015, MTN repatriated about US$1-billion. The restrictions, which centre on Iran’s nuclear activity, cover the country’s financial services sector, making large transfers of capital and foreign currency difficult.  — Reported by Loni Prinsloo and Golnar Motevalli, (c) 2021 Bloomberg LP