Key Points:
- Bharti Airtel sees a major promoter-level stake sale as ICIL offloads 3.43 crore shares worth ₹7,190 crore.
- Promoter holding dips as ICIL’s stake falls from 1.48% to 0.92% after the block deal.
- Recent transactions align with ongoing capital reallocation, including multiple stake sales by ICIL and Singtel in 2025.
ICIL, a promoter entity of Bharti Airtel, on Nov. 26 sold 3.43 crore equity shares of the telecom company for about Rs 7,190 crore. The block deal represented 0.56 percent of Bharti Airtel’s outstanding share capital and took place at a floor price of Rs 2,096.70 per share.
Stake Sale Details Emerge
The transaction, executed on Wednesday, involved the sale of up to 34.3 million shares by the Indian Continent Investment Ltd (ICIL), a company linked to the family office of Sunil Bharti Mittal. ICIL sold the shares at a 3 percent discount to Airtel’s Nov. 25 closing price of Rs 2,161.60 on the NSE. The deal value stands at approximately USD 806 million.
Following the sale, Airtel’s stock declined 3 percent to Rs 2,097.50 on the NSE. It slipped 2.81 percent to Rs 2,100 on the BSE.
Promoter Holding Changes
Stock exchange data showed that ICIL held a 1.48 percent stake in Bharti Airtel at the end of the September quarter. The latest sale reduced its holding to 0.92 percent. Promoter entities, including Bharti Telecom Ltd and Pastel Ltd, an affiliate of Singtel, collectively hold 50.27 percent in the company.
The stake reduction aligns with a broader pattern of portfolio adjustments by key shareholders. Earlier this month, Singtel sold about 0.8 percent stake in Airtel for Rs 10,353 crore as part of its asset recycling strategy.
Context of Recent Transactions
ICIL has executed multiple stake sales in Bharti Airtel this year. In August, it sold nearly one percent stake for Rs 11,227 crore. In February, it divested shares worth about Rs 8,485.11 crore through a market transaction.
Airtel, one of India’s largest telecom operators, has witnessed steady promoter-level stake movements as major shareholders reallocate capital. The company continues to maintain a majority promoter holding above 50 percent.
The recent sale by ICIL adds to a series of significant transactions in 2025 that reflect evolving investment decisions within the promoter group.
Visit more of our news! Business Viewpoint Magazine
