Quick overview

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Lesaka Technologies shares jumped on news of its planned R1.1 billion acquisition of Bank Zero, signaling a bold move to disrupt South Africa’s banking sector—but investors remain cautious.

Strong Start Fades After Acquisition Buzz

Lesaka Technologies (JSE: LSKJ) had an eventful trading session on Friday, with shares soaring more than 9% from R75.20 at the open to a midday high of R82.30. The rally was driven by reports that Lesaka would pay R1.1 billion to acquire digital lender Bank Zero Mutual Bank. However, enthusiasm cooled, and the share price ultimately retreated to its starting level by market close.

LSKJ Share Price Chart Weekly – Still Ended the Week Down

This pullback suggests mixed investor sentiment about the deal, with some likely booking profits before the weekend or questioning the valuation and integration risks. Overall, LSKJ has traded in a broad consolidation band between R60 and R100 for the past four years, and this range may continue to define its near-term moves.

Details of the R1.1 Billion Acquisition

Bank Zero co-founder and chairman Michael Jordaan confirmed that, pending regulatory approval, Lesaka Technologies will acquire the innovative digital bank for R1.1 billion. The deal will be settled through a combination of newly issued Lesaka shares and up to R91 million (about $5.1 million) in cash.

Once completed, Bank Zero’s current shareholders will own around 12% of Lesaka’s fully diluted shares, valued at approximately R1 billion ($56.3 million). The deal is based on an expected Lesaka share price of R88.26 ($4.97).

Strategic Rationale and Integration Plans

Lesaka’s acquisition aligns with its ambition to build a fully integrated fintech platform that can compete with South Africa’s traditional banking giants. By adding Bank Zero’s digital banking infrastructure, Lesaka aims to enhance its product offering to include a full suite of banking services, tap new revenue streams and operational synergies, expand lending capacity using customer deposits and improve its balance sheet by reducing gross debt by more than R1 billion after the deal.

About Bank Zero

Bank Zero was founded in 2018 by Michael Jordaan, banking pioneer Yatin Narsai, and five other co-founders. Notably, its leadership includes 20% women and 45% Black ownership, reflecting efforts toward inclusive governance in South Africa’s financial sector.

Operating as a fee-free digital bank, Bank Zero offers secure app-based retail and business banking. As of April 2025, it reported over 40,000 funded accounts across South Africa and more than R400 million in deposits.

: Lesaka Technologies’ bold R1.1 billion move to acquire Bank Zero underscores its determination to reshape the South African banking landscape. While the acquisition promises new revenue opportunities and greater scale, investor reaction remains cautious, reflected in the share price retracing its gains by the end of the day. The market will watch closely in the coming weeks to see if Lesaka can deliver on its vision of becoming a fully integrated fintech powerhouse.