Optasia, the AI-powered financial infrastructure platform serving underbanked customers in emerging markets, notes that FirstRand Limited has increased its shareholding in Optasia to 26.1% through the acquisition of an additional 6% stake.
FirstRand acquired 74,103,711 ordinary shares in Optasia at ZAR20.00 on 25 March 2026 from an entity owned by Bassim Haidar, founder and non-executive director of Optasia. This follows FirstRand’s initial strategic investment in Optasia in October 2025, where it acquired 20.1% of Optasia ahead of its IPO.
Subsequent to the transaction, Bassim Haidar now holds an aggregate, indirect shareholding of 1.5% of the total issued shares in Optasia, and remains on the Board of the Company, continuing to actively support the company’s strategic direction.
Salvador Anglada, Optasia’s Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“We are delighted that FirstRand has increased its investment in Optasia. The exceptional performance reported for full year 2025 demonstrates how well positioned Optasia is to address the substantial market opportunity and advance its strategic pursuit of disciplined, responsible scaling to create long-term sustainable value for all stakeholders.”
Issued on behalf of Optasia
FTI Consulting
Sherryn Schooling
T: +27 82 776 2840
About Optasia
Founded in 2012, Optasia is a publicly listed AI-powered financial infrastructure platform that enables financial institutions, mobile network operators and digital platforms to expand financial access across emerging markets. Acting as the technology and risk intelligence layer behind its partners’ financial products, Optasia delivers Micro Financing Solutions (MFS) and Airtime Credit Solutions (ACS) through mobile ecosystems that reach millions of underserved consumers.
Designed from the ground up for data-scarce markets, Optasia’s platform combines real-time data, advanced analytics and machine learning to support responsible credit decisioning at scale. By helping partners assess creditworthiness beyond traditional financial records, the platform enables millions of people to establish financial identities and participate more fully in the digital economy.
Today, Optasia processes more than 34 million transactions daily and operates across 38 countries, delivering financial access responsibly.
Optasia listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in November 2025 and trades under the stock ticker OPA.