Airtel Money to launch London IPO with $9bn target valuation

Airtel Money, the mobile money division of Airtel Africa, has confirmed plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange. The digital payments platform, which operates across 13 to 14 Sub-Saharan African countries, is targeting a valuation between $8 billion and $9 billion.

The transaction is expected to be a secondary offering, meaning existing shareholders will sell their shares rather than the company issuing new equity to raise fresh capital. The offering aims to raise approximately $800 million. Airtel Africa, which currently holds approximately 78% of Airtel Money, intends to remain a long-term strategic shareholder following the listing.

Airtel Money serves over 50 million monthly active users and reported revenue of approximately $1.36 billion for the fiscal year ending March 2026. The company's CEO, Ian Ferrao, cited London’s deep capital pools and investor enthusiasm for fintech as key reasons for choosing the UK market. The listing is expected to begin trading in October, subject to regulatory approval and market conditions.