Airtel Africa has postponed the $1.5 billion to $2 billion anticipated public offering of its mobile money business to the second half of 2026. The company cited market volatility linked to the ongoing Middle East war.
The London-listed telecom giant had originally planned to list the fintech unit by June 2026. However, rising energy costs and inflationary pressures from regional tensions have forced a strategic timeline shift.
This delay comes despite record financial performance. Airtel Africa reported a 147% surge in annual profit to $813 million, driven by a mobile money user base that has grown to 54 million customers.
However, Bloomberg cited last month that sources familiar with the matter stated that Airtel is targeting a fundraise of $1.5 billion to $2 billion, which would peg the unit’s total valuation at approximately $10 billion.
Geopolitical risks in Iran and the broader Middle East have clouded investor sentiment for emerging market assets. Airtel’s management noted that waiting ensures a more stable environment to reflect the business’s true valuation.
The company remains committed to the listing, likely in London or the UAE. In the interim, Airtel continues to scale its digital services, capitalizing on a 21% increase in mobile money engagement.
