Bharti Telecom Limited has increased its stake in Bharti Airtel to approximately 40.47 per cent following a significant market transaction today. Indian Continent Investment Limited (ICIL), a promoter-group entity of Bharti Airtel, sold about 0.84 per cent shareholding (approximately 5.11 crore shares) for ₹8,485.11 crore.
The shares of Bharti Airtel Limited were trading at ₹1,662.50, down by ₹13.05 or 0.78 per cent on the NSE today at 11.05 am.
Bharti Telecom anchored the trade by acquiring approximately 1.20 crore shares, representing about 24 per cent of ICIL’s total sale. The company ensured that the remaining shares were allocated to “key marquee long only names, both global and domestic,” according to the filing.
- Also read: Airtel lands SEA-ME-WE-6 cable in Chennai; to bring 220 TBPs of global capacity to India
This transaction follows Bharti Telecom’s earlier acquisition of an additional 1.2 per cent stake (approximately 7.31 crore shares) in Airtel from ICIL in November 2024. The company stated that these moves reinforce its “previously stated intent of strengthening its position as the principal vehicle to hold controlling stake in Airtel.”
Bharti Telecom remains “focused on gradually increasing its stake while maintaining a prudent leverage profile,” according to the announcement filed with the stock exchanges today.
The transaction continues the consolidation strategy that began with earlier announcements in August 2022 and December 2023, as Bharti Telecom progressively increases its controlling interest in one of India’s largest telecommunications companies.