Bharti Airtel acquires additional stake in Airtel Africa, now owns 79.22%

Indian telecoms operator Bharti Airtel Limited has acquired an additional 16.35% stake in Airtel Africa’s shares, pushing its total stake in the African telecoms giant to 79.22%.

In a corporate disclosure filed by Bharti Overseas Private Limited and notified to Airtel Africa on June 24, 2026, the share acquisition was a direct buyout of Indian Continent Investment Limited’s (ICIL) stake in Airtel Africa.

The deal, completed in a share-for-share transaction on June 22, 2026, increased Bharti Group’s direct shareholding in Airtel Africa Plc from 62.32% to 79.22%. The process involved the transfer of about 595.2 million Airtel Africa shares, representing a 16.3% stake.

Providing more context on the deal, the statement signed by Bharti Group Secretary Simon O’Hara revealed that while the shares were transferred from ICIL to Bharti Airtel Limited, ICIL received 146.8 million newly issued shares in Bharti Airtel.

The summary of the development indicates that ICIL swapped its Airtel Africa shares to acquire a new stake in Bharti Airtel. It also means that ICIL’s direct ownership position in Airtel Africa fell to zero.

As the share acquisition is an internal restructuring within the Bharti Group, it has now moved direct ownership of the Airtel Africa shares to Bharti Airtel. However, the transaction did not change the group’s economic position in Airtel Africa as no cash was exchanged in the transaction.

In addition, the transaction is purely an internal restructuring and does not affect the number of shares available to public investors on the NGX or London Stock Exchange, where Airtel Africa shares trade.

This acquisition marks another key milestone for Bharti Airtel’s investment strategy in the African telecom market. It further cements its direct and indirect control over the Africa-focused telecoms business through an internal restructuring of its shareholding chain.

On the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), Airtel Africa shares opened at N4,358.80 per unit on Monday, June 29, 2026.

Also Read: Airtel Africa to repurchase $50 million worth of shares in new buyback program.

Bharti Airtel’s previous acquisitions in Airtel Africa

Bharti Airtel has been increasing its ownership stake, a critical part of its structured approach to managing cross-border investments and optimising corporate governance.

For the Indian company, the moves help reduce corporate complexity, improve transparency and make ownership structures easier for regulators and investors to comprehend.

Bharti Airtel not only secures its current position but also paves the way for a more influential role in shaping the future of telecommunications across Africa.

In February 2025, the group acquired a 4.45% stake in Airtel Africa, a move that pushed its holdings to 62.32%. It purchased 163,580,582 new shares on the London Stock Exchange at a share price of £1.32, valuing the new stake at N409.4 billion then.

For Airtel Africa, the move serves as proof of its robust financial growth. It will also lead to more investor confidence, particularly on the London Stock Exchange, where the stock has gained significant traction.