Hannam and Partners to buy stake in AirtelTigo
Reports indicate that the Ghanaian government has secured a possible equity partner for AirtelTigo, a UK-based investment company called Hannam and Partners.
While the accuracy of this information has yet to be confirmed, Hannam and Partners is known as a blueblood company, which cannot guarantee specific expertise in the areas in which it invests. The company claims to be owned by more than ten partners with a combined 160 years of experience in natural resources, energy, and financial services.
However, a closer examination of their profiles reveals that the majority of their expertise lies in mining and natural resources, with only two partners having finance experience. None have stated backgrounds in telecoms or technology.
There is no evidence on the company’s website to demonstrate their involvement in investments or similar fields. However, they claim that their team members have provided advisory services for mergers and acquisitions over the past three decades.
It has been discovered that the company may have a relationship with one of the top mining gurus in Ghana, who is thought to be behind their acquisition of the majority stake in AirtelTigo. The company denies any involvement in the deal.
The involvement of Hannam and Partners in the AirtelTigo deal and their intentions for the telco are still being investigated. Sources suggest that the ultimate plan is to prepare AirtelTigo for an IPO within the next few years.
The equity partner may bring in a UK-based telecoms partner, possibly Lebara, which acquired a license in Ghana a few years ago. However, Lebara later secured a deal to manage the Ghanaian government’s fiber optics infrastructure and LTE network, delaying their rollout plans.
It is important to note that the Hannam and Partners website was previously accessible but is now inaccessible. Attempts to open the site from various locations have all failed. Hannam and Partners, along with Lebara, may be the main financiers of the AirtelTigo deal.
