Airtel Money cae un 6% en su debut en la Bolsa de Londres

Airtel Money, a major African mobile money platform, made its debut on the London Stock Exchange on Monday, but the experience was far from a success. The shares fell 6% to 184.26 pence, the lowest point of the session, and the company's flotation raised just 4.975 million pounds in capital. Despite strong demand for the shares, Airtel Money's official name, Airtel Mobile Commerce, was valued at 5.3 billion pounds.

The majority shareholder, Airtel Africa, and Mastercard may sell another 27 million shares through a rights issue following the stock market debut, according to Bloomberg.

The performance of Airtel Money's stock is being tested as London tries to revitalize its capital markets. A strong debut would demonstrate the City's suitability for such listings, potentially encouraging more companies to float on the British market. On the other hand, a below-par opening would send a negative signal to the market, possibly discouraging other firms from following suit.

Airtel Money's CEO, Ian Ferrao, expressed disappointment after the stock opened lower, stating that the company has worked hard to reach this day.

The London Stock Exchange has been experiencing a prolonged period without significant new listings, entering its sixth year with no new public offerings. It is unlikely that Airtel Money's debut will break this trend, as the total amount raised through recent stock market launches does not surpass last year's figures. London began the year with a strong lineup of potential public offerings, but many projects have been delayed due to market volatility or the need for more preparation time.

The weather also did not help on Friday, with Revolut's CEO, Nik Storonsky, stating to Bloomberg that he wants the digital bank to primarily list in the US, with its London listing being secondary.