Airtel Money boss: This is why we picked London for our float
The boss of Airtel Money has laid out his rationale for selecting London as his chosen venue after the firm unveiled plans for a multi-billion pound IPO that could be Britain’s biggest in years. The African mobile payments business, which is controlled by Indian-owned telecoms group Airtel Africa, is reportedly seeking a valuation at as [...]
Ian Ferrao, the CEO of Airtel Money, an African mobile payments business owned by Airtel Africa, revealed his choice of London for the firm's upcoming IPO. The company is expected to raise up to $800 million from investors and has a valuation of up to $9 billion, potentially making it Britain's largest IPO in years. Ferrao, a Warwick graduate and former Vodacom executive who joined Airtel Money in 2019, chose London after evaluating various markets across Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
He highlighted three key reasons: the abundance of capital in London markets, the deep understanding of emerging markets, particularly financial services, fintech, and technology platforms, and Airtel Africa's strong presence and reputation in London. The IPO, which could be the biggest in London since the Haleon spin-off in 2022, comes during a period of fewer IPOs in the capital as companies either delay or relocate their listings to New York.
According to Ferrao, while there was initial uncertainty due to market disruptions, including the Middle East conflict, the current market conditions are favorable, allowing them to proceed with the London listing.
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