Airtel Africa has made significant strides in its share buyback initiative, having repurchased over 4 million shares as part of its ongoing program. This move, disclosed in a recent filing with the Nigerian Exchange, highlights the company's commitment to optimizing its capital structure and enhancing shareholder value. Based on the data provided in the document, the impact of such initiatives on market perception can be substantial.
Airtel Africa Completes Share Buyback Program
In a corporate disclosure dated January 2, 2026, Airtel Africa reported that it has successfully repurchased 4,093 million shares under the first tranche of its 100 million share buyback program. This follows the acquisition of 40,000 ordinary shares on December 31, 2025, marking a continued effort to execute the buyback strategy initiated in December 2024.
Details of the Repurchase
The repurchase was facilitated by Barclays Capital Securities Limited and adhered to the revised buyback framework announced in September 2025. Shares were acquired at prices between 35.400 pence and 35.700 pence, with a volume-weighted average price of 35.595 pence. Post-transaction, the total number of ordinary shares in circulation will be 3,655,880,539, including 7,489,044 treasury shares, resulting in 3,648,391,495 voting rights for the company.
Overall Buyback Performance
Since the program's inception, Airtel has repurchased a total of 40,925,209 ordinary shares at an average price of 15.224 pence per share. At the current exchange rate of approximately N1,970 to the British pound, the total value of the buyback amounts to around N1.227 billion. The majority of the shares were purchased on the London Stock Exchange, with additional liquidity sourced from BATS Europe.
Impact on Share Capital
Airtel has confirmed that all repurchased shares will be canceled, effectively reducing its issued share capital. This strategic move is part of the company's broader plan to enhance its capital structure, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to benefit from the ongoing optimization efforts.
In a recent development, Helium's founder Amir Haleem announced the discontinuation of the token buyback program, a move that contrasts with Airtel Africa's ongoing share buyback efforts. For more details, see read more.
