Following the transaction, ICIL’s stake in Bharti Airtel will drop from 2.47% to 1.67%, though the overall promoter holding remains strong at over 51%, factoring in shares held by entities like Bharti Telecom, which owns 40.47%.
Jefferies and JP Morgan are the appointed advisors and bankers for the deal. This marks ICIL’s second significant divestment in the past year. In February 2025, it had sold a 0.84% stake in Bharti Airtel for ₹8,485 crore. A portion of that was acquired by Bharti Telecom.
Industry insiders suggest the proceeds from the current stake sale will likely support Mittal’s ongoing efforts to acquire a 49% stake in Haier India, in collaboration with Warburg Pincus, in a deal estimated at ₹6,000 crore.
This stake sale comes amid strong financials for Bharti Airtel. In Q1 FY26, the telecom giant reported a net profit of ₹5,948 crore on consolidated revenue of ₹49,462 crore, beating analyst expectations. EBITDA stood at ₹27,839 crore, with a robust ARPU of ₹250, reinforcing Airtel’s leadership in India’s telecom sector.
With plans for global expansion, IPOs, and strategic investments, Bharti Airtel continues to draw strong investor interest. The block deal signals a recalibration of capital towards high-growth opportunities as the group positions itself for the next phase of telecom and digital infrastructure growth.
