The move will strengthen Singtel’s foothold in India; Singtel to also acquire 21% stake in Thailand’s Intouch Holdings for about $1.14 billion

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel) said on Thursday that it had signed an agreement with its majority owner Temasek Holdings (Pte) Ltd to purchase a 7.39% stake in Bharti Telecom Ltd, the holding company of India’s largest telco Bharti Airtel Ltd, for $659.51 million.

The deal will strengthen the foothold Singtel, South-East Asia’s largest telecom company, has in India, the world’s second largest mobile-phone market, where consumers are switching to smartphones from feature phones at a rapid pace.

Prior to the agreement with Temasek, Singtel already owned 39.78% of Bharti Telecom besides a direct stake of 15.01% in Airtel through its subsidiaries Pastel Ltd and Viridian Ltd.

With the latest deal, Singtel’s effective total holding in Airtel will increase to 36.27% from 32.94%, cementing its position as the largest shareholder in the Indian company.

The Mittal family owns just under a 30% effective stake in Airtel, largely by virtue of its 51% stake in Bharti Telecom.

Additionally, Singtel will acquire a 21% stake in Thailand’s Intouch Holdings Public Co. Ltd for about $1.14 billion. Intouch is the biggest shareholder in Thailand’s largest mobile operator Advanced Info Services Public Co. Ltd (AIS)