Standard Bank enables Actis Consortium’s acquisition of Swiftnet to support South Africa’s digital future
24 Mar 2025
Country
South Africa
Year
2025
Sector
Telecoms Media and Technology
Business Unit
Structured Capital
Specific Role
Sole Mandated Lead Arranger
Standard Bank is proud to have played a pivotal role in enabling a consortium led by Actis Africa Limited (Actis Consortium) to acquire Swiftnet SOC Limited (Swiftnet), a key player in South Africa’s tower infrastructure market.
Swiftnet, previously owned by Telkom SOC Limited, is a leading tower company with an extensive portfolio of communication towers across 9 provinces in South Africa.
Actis is one of the leading private investment firms on the African continent with an extensive track record of investing in emerging markets and sustainable infrastructure.
The acquisition by the Actis Consortium follows Telkom’s strategic decision to streamline its operations and focus on its core mobile network offering. This transaction not only supports Telkom’s strategic objectives but also positions Swiftnet to meet the increasing demand for digital connectivity in South Africa.
With South Africa’s internet penetration and data consumption on the rise and the transition to 5G and 6G technologies on the horizon, this investment will enable Swiftnet to expand its tower portfolio and enhance connectivity for businesses and communities across the country.
Standard Bank acted as the Sole Mandated Lead Arranger of the Debt Financing Package for the acquisition. This transaction demonstrated the bank’s agility, strong balance sheet capacity, appetite to deliver structured solutions to clients.
Through partnering with Actis, Standard Bank has reinforced its position as a trusted partner in the development of Africa’s infrastructure.
By working together, Standard Bank and Actis are unlocking opportunities that drive sustainable economic growth and promote greater digital inclusion across the continent.