Optasia, a Dubai-based fintech firm, has announced its intention to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in a move to raise up to $375 million. The company, which specializes in AI-powered financial services for emerging markets, plans to achieve this through a combination of a public offering and a private placement for existing shareholders.
A Two-Pronged Capital Raise
The proposed fundraising is structured in two parts. Optasia will seek to raise approximately 1.3 billion rand (US70million)throughanInitialPublicOffering(IPO)ofnewshares.Concurrently,thefirmwillholdaprivateplacementofatleast5billionrand(US270 million) for its current shareholders. This dual approach aims to provide fresh capital for growth while also allowing existing investors to capitalize on their holdings.
Powering Financial Inclusion At Scale
Founded in 2012, Optasia provides micro-financing and mobile airtime credit to individuals who often lack access to traditional banking services. The company’s AI-driven platform operates across 38 countries, primarily in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. It has achieved significant scale by partnering with major telecom operators such as MTN, Vodacom, and Airtel. Optasia reports a massive user base with around 121 million monthly active users and processes over 32 million loan transactions daily, underscoring its deep penetration in its target markets.
Strategic Vision Behind The IPO
The decision to go public is a strategic step to fuel the company’s next phase of expansion. Salvador Anglada, CEO of Optasia, commented on the move, stating, “An IPO will allow us to accelerate our growth, raise our visibility as a leading global fintech and continue innovating to expand financial opportunity where it is needed most.” Listing on the JSE, one of Africa’s largest stock exchanges, aligns with the company’s strong operational footprint across the continent and provides a platform to attract further investment.
About Optasia
Headquartered in Dubai, Optasia is a global fintech company that provides AI-powered financial solutions. Its platform enables micro-financing, airtime credit, and other financial services for unbanked and underbanked populations in emerging markets. Operating in 38 countries, Optasia partners with mobile network operators and financial institutions to deliver accessible financial services to millions of users.
Source: Tech in Asia
