Airtel Africa Plc has purchased 40,000 of its ordinary shares as part of its ongoing share buy-back programme, continuing its strategy of returning capital to shareholders amid sustained operational performance across its African markets.
In a regulatory filing released on Tuesday, the telecommunications group disclosed that the shares were acquired on 29 December 2025 through Barclays Capital Securities Limited, under the authority granted by shareholders and previously announced in September.
According to the disclosure, Airtel Africa paid between 335.80 pence and 342.00 pence per share, with a volume-weighted average price of 337.85 pence.
The shares will be cancelled, reducing the total number of shares in issue and marginally increasing earnings per share for remaining investors.
Updated Share Capital and Voting Rights
Following the cancellation of the repurchased shares, Airtel Africa now has 3.655 billion ordinary shares in issue, including 7.49 million treasury shares.
The total number of voting rights stands at 3.648 billion, a key figure for shareholders assessing disclosure obligations under UK market rules.
The company noted that the updated voting rights figure may be used by investors to determine whether they are required to notify the market of changes in their shareholdings, in line with the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.
Part of a Larger Buy-Back Programme
The latest transaction forms part of Airtel Africa’s $100 million share buy-back programme, the first tranche of which commenced in December 2024.
Since the programme began, the company has repurchased over 40.8 million shares in aggregate, at an average price of approximately 151.84 pence per share, underscoring a sustained commitment to capital discipline and shareholder returns
Trading data in the filing shows that the most recent purchases were executed across multiple European trading venues, including the London Stock Exchange, BATS Europe, CHI-X Europe, and Aquis Exchange, reflecting standard best-execution practices.
Investor Context
Share buy-backs are typically viewed by investors as a signal of management confidence in a company’s valuation and cash-flow outlook.
For Airtel Africa, the programme complements its broader strategy of balancing network investment, balance sheet strength, and shareholder distributions across its 14 African markets.
