Airtel Money eyes London IPO targeting at least $800 million valuation

Airtel Money, part of Airtel Africa Plc, has submitted paperwork to potentially float on the London Stock Exchange, targeting a minimum valuation of $800 million. The transaction would involve the sale of existing shares held by insiders rather than a fresh capital raise. If completed, it would become the biggest UK listing since 2021, based on Bloomberg figures, despite being smaller than the $1.5-$2 billion range previously anticipated.

The fintech platform processes $213 billion in payments annually and counts about 53 million monthly active users, with its strongest presence in East Africa and significant markets in Nigeria and French-speaking Africa. The decision reflects confidence in London's emerging-market investor base and recent FCA reforms that shortened IPO timelines. Major banks including Citigroup, Barclays, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan are acting as arrangers.