Singtel Offloads 1.2% Stake in Bharti Airtel for S$2 Billion in Portfolio Optimisation Move

New Delhi, May 16—Singapore-based telecom giant Singtel has divested approximately 1.2 percent of its direct stake in Bharti Airtel, raising S$2 billion (approximately USD 1.5 billion) as part of its ongoing strategy to optimise its asset portfolio and boost sustainable shareholder returns.

Transaction Attracts Strong Demand from Institutional Investors​

The stake sale was conducted through a private placement to international and Indian institutional investors, including several existing Airtel shareholders. According to Singtel, the offering received robust interest and was significantly oversubscribed, prompting an increase in transaction size and enabling tighter final pricing than initially projected.

A large portion of the shares were acquired by domestic mutual funds and international long-only funds, underlining the confidence of long-term investors in Airtel's growth trajectory.

Strategic Focus on Capital Management​

In a statement, Singtel emphasized that this divestment aligns with its active capital management approach, which aims to unlock value from its assets and drive returns for shareholders. The telecom major has been a long-term strategic investor in Airtel for over 20 years and noted that it continues to work closely with Bharti Enterprises to align and equalize their effective stake in Airtel over the medium term.

Post-Transaction Holding and Financial Impact​

Following the transaction, Singtel’s stake in Airtel now stands at 28.3 per cent, which is valued at around S$48 billion. The company also expects to realize an estimated gain of S$1.4 billion from this sale.

This move reflects Singtel’s broader ambition to recalibrate its investment holdings while maintaining a strong presence in key regional associates like Bharti Airtel.