Singtel sells about 0.8% stake in Airtel for S$1.5B

SINGAPORE: Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) has sold about 0.8% of its direct stake in Indian telecommunication firm Bharti Airtel for S$1.5 billion through a private placement to institutional investors. Singtel will gain about S$1.1 billion from the sale.

In a bourse filing on Friday (Nov 7), Singtel’s group CFO Arthur Lang said the company has been working with Bharti Enterprises to gradually equalise their effective stakes in Airtel. “These transactions allow us to unlock value when appropriate, yet continue to retain a significant stake in Airtel and remain invested in India’s burgeoning digital economy,” he said.

With this transaction, the company’s active capital management programme has generated S$5.6 billion, more than half of its new mid-term asset recycling target of S$9 billion. This gives Singtel the financial flexibility to strengthen its balance sheet, fund growth in digital infrastructure and digital services, and continue growing dividends sustainably, Mr Lang said.

According to The Edge Singapore, this is the company’s fourth sale since 2022.

After the latest sale, Singtel will hold a 27.5% stake in Airtel, valued at around S$51 billion. /TISG

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