SingTel may raise itsstake in Bharti Telecom

Singapore-based telecom major SingTel may raise stake in Bharti Telecom, a promoter entity of Airtel, to more than 50 per cent, making the country’s first private telecom services provider a foreign entity.

Bharti Telecom is the single-largest shareholder in Bharti Airtel with about 41 per cent equity stake, according to the BSE data. Sunil Bharti Mittal and his family currently own around 52 per cent stake in Bharti Telecom.

“Bharti Telecom Ltd (promoter of Bharti Airtel Ltd), in order to retire some debt may seek equity from its existing promoter group (which may include its overseas entities) and SingTel in proportionate to its holding,” Bharti Airtel said in response to an e-mail query.