Business

Dubai-based finance company heading to the JSE

Luke Fraser

 ·8 Oct 2025

Optasia, a fintech company that provides micro financing and airtime credit products, plans to list on the main board of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

The Dubai-based company enables access to financial services for millions of underbanked individuals across 38 countries.

The company works closely with its distribution partners, including mobile network operators, mobile wallet operators and financial institutions. In South Africa, it works with MTN, Vodacom and Standard Bank.

The company has offices in the UAE, South Africa, Greece, Egypt, Nigeria and Pakistan.

It covers all aspects of micro financing and airtime credit products that allow airtime credit services, including scoring, financial decisioning, disbursements and collections. 

Since its inception in December 2012, the company has developed a distribution network, which has given it access to over 860 million mobile subscribers.  

As of 30 June 2025, Optasia operated via a network of 49 distribution partners and 13 financial institutions. 

With roughly 120 million monthly active users, the company processes over 32 million daily loan transactions. 

This has resulted in an average distributed value of more than $13 million per day and a total distributed value of approximately $23 billion since 2016

For the year ending 31 December 2024, the company generated $151.2 million and adjusted EBITDA of $75.1 million. 

Revenue and adjusted EBITDA grew at a compound annual growth rate of 10.4% and 13.1% respectively, between 2022 and 2024.

For the six months ended 30 June 2025, the company generated revenue of  $117.2 million and had adjusted EBITDA of $53.8 million, increasing 90.3% and 91.3%, respectively. 

The company said it has consistently maintained positive cash flow and has not raised any primary capital since its commencement. 

The listing 

Optasia is looking to undertake a primary issuance of roughly R1.3 billion to support growth organically and via future potential acquisitions. 

There will also be a secondary share sale of at least R5.0 billion from existing shareholders through a private placement to qualified investors. 

Optasia will not receive any proceeds from the selling shareholders’ sale of secondary shares.

“From a single country operation to one of the world’s largest fintechs of its kind, we’ve built a profitable, capital-light business that continues with purpose to scale,” said Salvador Anglada, Optasia CEO. 

“We have been dedicated to enabling financial inclusion across emerging markets, leveraging our AI-powered platform to provide vital access to credit and financial services for millions of underserved customers.” 

He noted that an IPO will allow the group to accelerate its growth, raise its visibility and expand financial opportunity where needed most.