Airtel Money begins trading on London Stock Exchange after £5.3bn IPO

London: Airtel Money has started conditional trading on the London Stock Exchange at a valuation of £5.3 billion, approximately $7 billion, marking a milestone for its digital financial services business across Africa.Shares began trading under the ticker AMC at 8 am on October 9, 2026. The offer price was fixed at £1.96 per share.London Listing TimelineAdmission to the Official List and unconditional trading are expected on October 14, according to the company’s announcement.During conditional dealings, only investors who applied for shares and received allocations in the offer can trade them, the company said.Airtel Money’s issued share capital will comprise 2.7 billion shares immediately after admission.Airtel Postpaid Tariffs To Rise By ₹50 From October 8, Revamped Plans Include One Free International Roaming Trip Every Year IPO Size And Share SaleThe initial public offering involves 270 million existing shares sold by minority shareholders. Mastercard Asia/Pacific is making up to another 27 million shares available.If the overallotment option is fully exercised, the offer will total £582 million, representing approximately 11 per cent of share capital at admission.As the transaction comprises existing shares, the offering represents a sale by shareholders rather than a fresh share issue.IFC Makes Cornerstone InvestmentInternational Finance Corporation received an allocation of 34,285,714 shares, amounting to £67.2 million. This completes its commitment under the cornerstone investment agreement.Sunil Bharti Mittal, Airtel’s founder and Bharti Enterprises’ chairman, welcomed the listing, citing London’s stable policy environment and investor base.He said the reasons behind Airtel Africa’s 2019 London listing also supported the choice for Airtel Money. The offering’s oversubscription, he added, reflected investor appetite for quality businesses.Airtel Business Launches IQ Gateway, New Fraud Protection Platform Africa Digital Finance ExpansionChief Executive Officer Ian Ferrao described the listing as a new chapter, with the company focused on making financial services more accessible across Africa.Airtel Money aims to connect more individuals and businesses with the formal financial system.Following admission, the company and selling shareholders face 180-day lock-ups, while directors face 365-day restrictions, subject to specified exceptions outlined in the announcement.

The group saw shares rise as much as £2 each from an initial price set at £1.96 in conditional trading, before the stock later eased back.

The group saw shares rise as much as £2 each from an initial price set at £1.96 in conditional trading, before the stock later eased back.

Airtel Money Chief Executive Officer Ian Ferrao discusses the mobile payments firm's decision to start trading on the London Stock Exchange on Friday in what could be the largest initial public offering for the bourse in five years. The IPO is "a big milestone for Airtel," Ferrao tells Bloomberg Television. (Source: Bloomberg)

Majority owner Airtel Africa Plc and Mastercard Inc. may sell an additional 27 million shares through an overallotment option after the stock debuts in London under the ticker symbol “AMC”

Mobile payments firm Airtel Money is set to start trading on the London Stock Exchange later on Friday, a listing that may mark the largest initial public offering for the bourse in five years.