MTN Group Ltd\u2019s fights with Nigerian authorities over $10 billion in repatriated funds and back taxes could increase risk in South Africa\u2019s financial system depending on the outcome, the Reserve Bank said.<\/p>\n
MTN, which is Africa\u2019s biggest wireless carrier by subscribers and is based in Johannesburg, is facing mounting pressure to return $8.1 billion to Nigeria after its central bank argued that the South African company had repatriated funds illegally.<\/p>\n
Separately, the West African nation\u2019s attorney general\u2019s office alleges the company owes $2 billion in back taxes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe immediate, or at least near-term, repatriation of the funds to the Nigerian authorities could affect MTN Group\u2019s ability to continue meeting its debt obligations, including those in the South African banking sector, which, given the interconnected nature of the financial system, could increase systemic risk,\u201d the South African Reserve Bank said in its Financial Stability Review released Wednesday in the capital, Pretoria.<\/p>\n
The claims amount to almost all of MTN\u2019s market value of about $12 billion, it said.<\/p>\n
A \u201cpotential worst-case scenario\u201d would be for MTN to pull out of Nigeria, which would increase the company\u2019s exposure level to reputational risk, the Reserve Bank said.<\/p>\n
Nigeria\u2019s central bank alleged in late August that MTN and four banks – Standard Chartered Plc, Citigroup Inc, Stanbic IBTC Plc and Diamond Bank Plc – illegally repatriated the money from Nigeria.<\/p>\n
MTN sought an injunction in early September to buy itself time and fight the claim in its biggest market, which has wiped 18 percent off its market value within two weeks.<\/p>\n