Investec acted as Bookrunner on the R23.5 billion IPO of Optasia Limited
About the deal
Our global Investment Banking teams across the UK and South Africa are pleased to have acted as Joint Bookrunner to Optasia Limited on its R23.5 billion ($1.3 billion) IPO on the Prime Segment of the Main Board of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
The capital raise was multiple times oversubscribed at the top end of the offer range, at a final offer price of R19.00 per share.
About Optasia
Founded in 2012, Optasia has evolved into one of the world’s largest AI-led fintech platforms that provides micro-financing and airtime credit solutions, including scoring, financial decisioning, disbursements and collections. These solutions enable distribution partners and financial institutions to extend meaningful financial access to retail and SME customers, many of whom are otherwise excluded from traditional banking systems. The group has grown from a single-country operation and now reaches over 120 million active users monthly across 38 countries, processing more than 31 million transactions daily. The company’s proprietary B2B2X platform enables mobile operators and financial institutions to extend credit and liquidity to underserved populations, using real-time data and AI-driven affordability assessments. With deep integrations across mobile networks and financial ecosystems, Optasia delivers scalable, responsible financial solutions that empower individuals and small businesses.
Our role
We are delighted to support Optasia in this milestone achievement and look forward to continuing to support its growth as a publicly listed company.
This transaction reinforces Investec’s reputation as a trusted partner for capital raises and equity issuances in the South African capital markets. It’s also a testament to the strength of Investec’s cross-border capabilities and notable reputation in the fintech sector.
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Investec Bank is proud to have acted as Bookrunner on the Optasia IPO, allowing us to assist in unlocking value for both the company and its shareholders. The listing of Optasia has brought a differentiated, AI-embedded finance story to investors across South Africa and beyond.
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Investec is delighted to have played a role in helping Optasia with its successful listing on the JSE, the largest South African IPO so far in 2025 – congratulations to the whole Optasia team. Our involvement is a testament to Investec’s strength in South African ECM, our connected global platform, the close partnership between our London and South African teams and a clear demonstration of how effective cross-border collaboration delivers exceptional results for our clients.
– Duncan Smith, Head of UK & European Equity Capital Markets, Investec
