LLH Capital, the investment firm founded by Romeo Khumalo and Gil Oved, has made a major strategic exit by selling down its stake in Optasia during the fintech company’s blockbuster IPO on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
The listing — valued at nearly $1.3 billion (R24 billion) — marks Africa’s largest IPO of 2025 and cements Optasia’s status as one of the continent’s newest unicorns.
This move delivers LLH Capital a significant capital boost, enabling the firm to expand its pan-African portfolio targeting high-impact, founder-led businesses in fintech and telecommunications.
“We don’t just deploy capital. We create exceptional returns by helping grow the businesses we invest in,” said Khumalo, emphasizing LLH Capital’s active investment model. “Our approach delivers superior risk-adjusted returns while driving inclusive growth across the continent.”
Optasia, which uses artificial intelligence to extend credit and mobile financial services across emerging markets, aligns closely with LLH Capital’s mission to unlock economic opportunity through technology.
Gil Oved, co-founder of LLH Capital and a veteran entrepreneur himself, said their investment strategy combines capital, strategic leadership, and access to networks — elements critical for scaling challenger businesses.
“Optasia is a great example of what happens when AI, finance, and telecoms converge,” said Oved. “These are real solutions for real people in frontier markets. The businesses that succeed are the ones that have both innovation and structure.”
The sale adds to LLH Capital’s growing list of successful exits, following ventures such as Smart Call, Ozow, and Bottles. With new liquidity and investor confidence, the firm is poised to expand across the continent — driving Africa’s next wave of tech-led transformation.
