Airtel Africa falls as Bharti Airtel raises stake at discounted price

(Alliance News) - Shares in Airtel Africa PLC slumped Wednesday afternoon in London after Bharti Airtel Ltd confirmed it will raise its stake, but buy shares at a discount to the prior closing share price.

Shares in London-based telecommunications firm Airtel Africa, which operates primarily in Africa, fell 13% to 359.20 pence each in London on Wednesday.

On Monday, shares had shot up 15% after Bharti Airtel - which has a 63% stake in the company - convened a meeting for Wednesday to consider a reorganisation of its subsidiaries' shareholding structure, including Airtel Africa.

In a regulatory filing, New Delhi, India-based Bharti Airtel approved the issue of 146.8 million shares to Indian Continent Investment Ltd, in exchange for up to 16.3% of Airtel Africa shares.

ICIL is a Mauritius-based investment entity controlled by the family of billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal, acting as a key investment arm for Bharti Global. It holds and manages significant stakes in companies related to Bharti Enterprises, including Bharti Airtel and Airtel Africa.

Bharti Airtel said the Airtel Africa shares will be bought at a discount of around 11.6% to the last closing price and said the deal is "in line with the objective of consolidating/ strengthening shareholding in a strategic subsidiary."

By Jeremy Cutler, Alliance News reporter

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