Development Partners International’s Portfolio Company Optasia Completes Initial Public Offering on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Raising c.R6.3bn and achieving a R24.5bn Market Capitalisation

• Optasia’s IPO was significantly oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor demand for Optasia’s data-driven growth model and global expansion strategy.
• FirstRand acquired a 20.1% stake in the Company in an off-market transaction announced on Monday, 27 October

London and Johannesburg, 18 November 2025 – Development Partners International (“DPI”), a leading investment firm focused on Africa, has announced the successful initial public offering (“IPO”) of its portfolio company, Optasia (“Optasia” or “the Company”) – a pioneering AI-driven platform expanding access to digital financial services – on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (“JSE”).

The IPO attracted strong demand from a wide-range of investors. The listing raised approximately R6.3 billion (c.$375 million) and Optasia achieved a R19.00 per share listing price, implying a market capitalisation of R24.5 billion. The successful listing and strategic investment by FirstRand represent a significant milestone for Optasia.

Since DPI’s investment, Optasia has evolved from a regional mobile lending platform into a global AI-led fintech operating across 38 countries.

James Griffiths, Partner, Development Partners International, commented:

“We are proud to have partnered with Optasia as it enters this exciting new chapter. DPI congratulates Optasia’s exceptional team on scaling a pioneering, technology-driven business into a global fintech platform and successfully concluding this landmark IPO. By harnessing AI to extend access to financial services for underserved populations, Optasia continues to demonstrate how innovation and impact can go hand in hand.”

ENDS

About DPI

Development Partners International (DPI) is a premier, multi-strategy investment firm that drives growth, value and positive impact in Africa while delivering top quartile returns. Founded in 2007, DPI has more than US$3 billion in assets under management and co-investments across three flagship funds, African Development Partners I, II and III.

In 2025, DPI launched DPI Venture Capital with the acquisition of the $105 million Nclude fund, Egypt’s region’s first fintech innovation engine. DPI Venture Capital is dedicated to unlocking innovation in Africa and supporting entrepreneurs to solve meaningful challenges across the continent.

Media Contacts

DPI
Edelman Smithfield
Alex Simmons, Joe Carton, Alfie Tisdall
E: dpi@edelman.com