Singtel confirms talks about potential Optus stake sale with New Zealand investor Morrison
The deal involves an over 30% stake in the telco, valued at more than A$2 billion (US$1.4 billion), according to AFR
Published Thu, Jul 30, 2026 · 03:03 PM
[SINGAPORE] Singtel has confirmed it is in talks to sell a stake in Australia’s Optus, after the Australian Financial Review reported infrastructure investor Morrison is in discussions to buy a stake valued at more than A$2 billion (US$1.4 billion).
In a brief statement Thursday (Jul 30), Singtel gave no details on the possible buyer or the size of any deal, and said there is no certainty a transaction will occur.
It pointed to a May statement when it said it was open to working with a minority partner for Optus, which is seeking to restore its reputation after a series of damaging network outages.
New Zealand-based infrastructure investor Morrison has secured a seven-week exclusivity period to finalise the potential purchase of a more than 30 per cent stake in Optus, the AFR reported earlier, citing unidentified people involved in the negotiations.
The deal could end Singtel’s 25 year-long run at being the Australian carrier’s sole owner, the AFR added.
Morrison’s New York-based chief investment officer William Smales flew to Sydney to meet with investment bosses of the superannuation sector, and urged them to join its bidding consortium with a pitch of “bringing Optus home”, AFR reported, citing a pitch deck for potential capital partners.
Discussions are under way with at least six superannuation funds. There is no certainty a deal will go through and Morrison is still testing investor appetite, AFR said.
Morrison declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg News. Australia’s two largest pension funds, AustralianSuper and Australian Retirement Trust, also declined to comment. BLOOMBERG
