Singtel Sells $1.16B Stake in Bharti Airtel Amid Market Dip

Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) has made a significant move in the Indian telecom market, selling a 0.8% stake in Bharti Airtel, the country’s second-largest mobile carrier, for S$1.5 billion ($1.16 billion). The sale, executed through block deals, involved over 55 million shares trading hands on the stock market.

Singtel’s unit, Pastel, sold 51 million shares at 2,030 rupees ($23.10) per share, which represented a discount of approximately 3.1% compared to Airtel’s last closing price on Thursday. The transaction caused Airtel shares to dip nearly 4% in subsequent trading, reflecting market reactions to the sizable offload.

The deal highlights the ongoing interest of global investors in India’s telecom sector, even as companies navigate pricing pressures and intense competition. The scale of the sale also underscores Bharti Airtel’s stature in the market, attracting institutional players like Singtel to participate in large, high-value transactions.

For investors and market watchers, the move serves as a signal of strategic portfolio adjustments by major shareholders. While the sale was substantial, it constitutes a minor fraction of Airtel’s total equity, leaving the company’s long-term market positioning largely unaffected.

The transaction reflects both confidence in Airtel’s fundamentals and the dynamic nature of cross-border investment in India’s telecom industry, which continues to draw attention from major global players seeking exposure to one of the world’s fastest-growing mobile markets.