African mobile payments giant Airtel Money plots largest float on the London Stock Exchange for five years

Airtel Money, the African digital financial services firm, has announced its plans to list shares on the London Stock Exchange through an initial public offering (IPO). The company, operating across 13 African markets, aims to use the IPO to fuel its growth as it expands its customer base and enhances its digital financial services.

Further details about the proposed offering will be disclosed in a prospectus expected to be published in early October 2026. The final offer price is anticipated to be revealed in mid-October following a book-building process. Importantly, the IPO will involve only existing shares, signifying no new capital raised through the offering.

Following the listing on the London Stock Exchange, Airtel Money expects to maintain a free float of at least 10%. The company's CEO, Ian Ferrao, highlighted that this marks a new chapter for Airtel Money, now one of Africa's largest fintech platforms. With approximately 53 million monthly active users as of June 30, 2026, Airtel Money has experienced a compound annual growth rate of 20% between March 2018 and June 2026.

The company's total processed value (TPV) rose to $213 billion in the 12 months ending June 30, 2026, reflecting a 33% compound annual growth rate in US dollar terms. Airtel Money currently has no external borrowings, and its capital expenditure accounted for only 3% of revenue in the fiscal year ending March 2026.

Airtel Africa, as the company's founding shareholder and telco partner, has been instrumental in preparing Airtel Money for a public listing over several years. Citigroup was reported as the lead adviser for the IPO in September 2025. The mobile money business generated $1.08 billion in revenue during the fiscal year ending March 2026, up from $770 million the previous year, according to Airtel Africa's full-year results.