MTN Group Limited announced earnings guidance for the year ended December 31, 2017. For the year, the company expects to report an improvement of at least 20% in both headline earnings per share (HEPS) and earnings per share (EPS) for the 12-month period ended 31 December 2017, compared with a headline loss per share of 77 cents and attributable loss per share of 144 cents for the prior financial year. The negative performance in the prior comparable period was mainly as a result of non-recurring costs, including those related to the Nigerian regulatory fine and losses on MTN's 51% equity interest in the Nigerian tower company. Both HEPS and EPS for the 12-month period ended 31 December 2017 are expected to be positive and a further trading statement will be issued once the company obtains a reasonable degree of certainty as to the likely range within which the HEPS and EPS are expected to be finalised.