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The Rise Fund to invest $200 million in Airtel Africa’s mobile money business, at $2.65 billion valuation

Airtel Africa to explore potential listing of mobile money business within four years.

Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with a presence in 14 countries across Africa, announced on 18th March the signing of an agreement under which The Rise Fund, the global impact investing platform of leading alternative investment firm TPG, will invest $200 million in Airtel Mobile Commerce BV (“AMC BV”),  a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airtel Africa plc (the “Transaction”). AMC BV is currently the holding company for several of Airtel Africa’s mobile money operations; and is now intended to own and operate the mobile money businesses across all of Airtel Africa’s fourteen operating countries.

The Transaction values Airtel Africa’s mobile money business at $2.65 billion on a cash and debt-free basis. The Rise Fund will hold a minority stake in AMC BV upon completion of the Transaction,  with Airtel Africa continuing to hold the remaining majority stake. The Transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including necessary regulatory filings and approvals, as necessary, and the inclusion of specified mobile money business assets and contracts into AMC BV.  

The Transaction is the latest step in the Group’s pursuit of strategic asset monetization and investment opportunities, and it is the aim of Airtel Africa to explore the potential listing of the mobile money business within four years. The Group is in discussions with other potential investors in relation to possible further minority investments into Airtel Money, up to a total of 25% of the issued share capital of AMC BV. There can be no certainty that a transaction will be concluded or as to the final terms of any transactions. 

The proceeds from the Transaction will be used to reduce Group debt and invest in network and sales infrastructure in the respective operating countries.  

Airtel Africa mobile money services 

Operating under the Airtel Money brand, Airtel Africa’s mobile money services is a leading digital mobile financial services platform catering to a large addressable market in Africa (characterised by limited access to formal financial institutions with limited banking infrastructure) and includes mobile wallet deposit and withdrawals, merchant and commercial payments, benefits transfers,  loans and savings, virtual credit card and international money transfers. 

Mobile money services are available across the Group’s 14 countries of operation, however in  Nigeria, the Group offers Airtel Money services through a partnership with a local bank and has applied for its own mobile banking license. It is the intention that all mobile money operations will be owned and operated by AMC BV. 

In our most recent reported results for Q3, the mobile money service segment (corresponding to all  the businesses that are intended to be transferred to AMC BV) delivered a strong operational  performance: 

Our mobile money business benefits from strong network presence with our core telecom business through the extensive distribution platform of kiosks and mini-shops as well as dedicated Airtel  Money branches supplementing our extensive agent network, to facilitate customers’ assured wallet and cash. 

We have a clear strategy to continue to drive sustainable long-term growth in Airtel Money with a  focus on assured float availability, distribution expansion and increased usage cases for our customers. 

In this year alone we have added partnerships with Mastercard, Samsung, Asante, Standard  Chartered Bank, MoneyGram, Mukuru and WorldRemit to expand both the range and depth of the  Airtel Money offerings and to further drive customer growth and penetration. 

The profits before tax in the full year ending 31 March 2020 and the value of gross assets as of that date, attributable to the mobile money businesses were $143.4 million and $463.2 million, respectively. 

Key elements of the Transaction 

The Transaction is expected to reach first close over the next three to four months. From first close, The Rise Fund will be entitled to appoint a director to the board of AMC BV and to certain customary information and minority protection rights. 

Raghunath Mandava, CEO of Airtel Africa, commented: 

In line with our vision of enhancing financial inclusion, Airtel Africa offers a unique digital mobile financial services platform under the Airtel Money brand. In most of our markets there is limited access to traditional financial institutions, and little banking infrastructure, with less than half of the population having a bank account across sub-Saharan Africa. Our markets therefore afford substantial market potential for mobile money services to meet the needs of the tens of millions of customers in Africa who have little or no access to banking and financial services, and  this demand is driving growth. 

With today’s announcement we are pleased to welcome The Rise Fund as an investor in our mobile  money business and as a partner to help us realise the full potential from the substantial opportunity  to bank the unbanked across Africa.” 

Yemi Lalude, Partner at TPG who leads Africa investing for The Rise Fund, added: 

“Financial inclusion is a global issue that is most acute in Africa. Through Airtel Money, Airtel Africa has built a unique platform that is closing the gap between traditional financial institutions and the millions of unbanked Africans across the 14 countries where Airtel Africa operates. We look forward to working with Airtel Africa to enhance their mobile money services, broaden its use cases, and grow into new markets. With this investment in Airtel Africa’s mobile money operations, we are  excited to expand The Rise Fund’s global fintech portfolio and continue to deepen our focus on  improving financial inclusion in Africa and around the world.”  

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