Airtel Africa has announced the launch of a $110 million share buyback programme, with the repurchase set to commence on May 22, 2026, according to a statement from the company. The company has partnered with Barclays Capital Securities Limited to execute the programme.
According to Airtel Africa, the buyback is structured in two components. A non-discretionary element requires Barclays to purchase between $50 million and $60 million worth of shares. A discretionary element allows Airtel Africa to instruct Barclays to purchase an additional $50 million, subject to regulatory approvals and market conditions.
All repurchased shares will be cancelled, according to the company’s announcement, reducing Airtel Africa’s total issued share capital. The programme is scheduled to conclude by November 27, 2026, unless terminated earlier by the company.
The repurchase will cover up to 1% of Airtel Africa’s issued share capital and is being executed in compliance with UK Listing Rules and Market Abuse Regulations, according to the statement.
The announcement follows Airtel Africa’s reported financial results for the year ended March 31, 2026. The company reported pretax profit of $1.41 billion and revenue of $6.4 billion, according to its earnings statement. Mobile money services generated over $1 billion in revenue, according to Airtel Africa’s financial disclosures.
The buyback comes as parent company Bharti Airtel pursues a $2.9 billion share swap transaction. According to Bharti Airtel’s board approval dated May 13, 2026, the transaction aims to increase its direct ownership stake in Airtel Africa from approximately 62.7% to nearly 79%, with plans to eventually increase to 90%.
Airtel Africa operates across 14 African markets. The company has executed share buyback programmes previously.
