Lesaka completes the acquisition of Recharger

Rhea-AI Summary

Lesaka Technologies (Nasdaq: LSAK; JSE: LSK) has completed the acquisition of Recharger for ZAR 507 million ($27 million). The purchase structure includes:

• ZAR 332 million ($18 million) in cash
• ZAR 175 million ($9 million) in Lesaka common stock

The deal is being settled in two tranches: The first tranche at closing comprises ZAR 153 million ($8 million) cash and 1,092,361 Lesaka shares valued at ZAR 98 million ($5 million). The second tranche, due March 3, 2026, will include ZAR 175 million ($9 million) cash and shares worth ZAR 75 million ($4 million). Additionally, Lesaka provided a ZAR 43 million ($2 million) loan to Recharger to repay an existing seller loan. This strategic acquisition marks Lesaka's entry into South Africa's private utilities space and enhances its Enterprise Division's alternative payment offerings.

Positive

• Strategic entry into South African private utilities market
• Expansion of Enterprise Division's payment offerings
• Structured payment terms spreading capital outlay over 1 year

Negative

• Share dilution through issuance of new common stock
• Significant cash outlay of $18 million
• Additional $2 million loan extended to Recharger

JOHANNESBURG, March 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lesaka Technologies, Inc. (“Lesaka” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LSAK; JSE: LSK) today announced the completion of the acquisition of Recharger (Pty) Ltd (“Recharger”) on March 3, 2025. The purchase consideration of ZAR 507 million ($27 million) comprises ZAR 332 million ($18 million) in cash and ZAR 175 million ($9 million) in shares of Lesaka common stock, to be settled in two tranches. Lesaka extended a ZAR 43 million ($2 million) loan to Recharger at closing which was exclusively used to repay an existing loan due by Recharger to the seller.

The first tranche, comprising ZAR 153 million ($8 million) in cash and 1,092,361 shares of Lesaka’s common stock with a value of ZAR 98 million ($5 million), was settled at closing.

The second and final tranche will comprise a cash payment of ZAR 175 million ($9 million) and shares of Lesaka’s common stock with a value of ZAR 75 million ($4 million) and is due on March 3, 2026.

This acquisition demonstrates positive advancement of Lesaka’s strategy in its Enterprise Division. The Company expects the acquisition to act as an entry point for it into the South African private utilities space while augmenting the Enterprise division’s alternative payment offering.

All amounts in this release have been translated to U.S. dollars at the March 3, 2025, closing exchange rate of $1: ZAR 18.63.

About Recharger (www.recharger.co.za)

Recharger is a South African prepaid electricity submetering and payments business with a base of over 460,000 registered prepaid electricity meters.

Recharger enables landlords to collect payment for utilities usage from tenants in advance, eliminating the need to manage billing and collections. This model further provides tenants with the ability to manage their utility usage and payments directly, providing them with greater control over cost.

About Lesaka (www.lesakatech.com)

Lesaka Technologies, (Lesaka™) is a South African Fintech company driven by a purpose to provide financial services and software to Southern Africa’s underserviced consumers and merchants (including small-and-medium businesses and micro-merchants), improving people’s lives and increasing financial inclusion in the markets in which we operate. We offer an integrated multiproduct platform that provides transactional accounts (banking), lending, insurance, payouts, card acquiring, cash management, software and Alternative Digital Payments (“ADP”). ADP includes our pre-paid solutions and supplier enabled payments (previously referred to as our value-added services). By providing a full-service fintech platform in our connected ecosystem, we facilitate the digitization of commerce in our markets.

Lesaka has a primary listing on NASDAQ (NasdaqGS: LSAK) and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: LSK). Visit www.lesakatech.com for additional information about Lesaka Technologies (Lesaka™).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such statements may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “will,” “intends,” “outlook,” “focus,” “seek,” “potential,” “mission,” “continue,” “goal,” “target,” “objective,” derivations thereof, and similar terms and phrases. Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, which could cause future events and actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. In this press release, statements relating to future financial results and future financing and business opportunities are forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statement is contained in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, as filed with the SEC, as well as other documents we have filed or will file with the SEC. We assume no obligation to update the information in this press release, to revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations Contact:
Phillipe Welthagen
Email: phillipe.welthagen@lesakatech.com
Mobile: +27 84 512 5393

FAQ

What is the total value of Lesaka's (LSAK) acquisition of Recharger?

The total acquisition value is ZAR 507 million ($27 million), comprising ZAR 332 million in cash and ZAR 175 million in Lesaka common stock.

How is the payment structure arranged for LSAK's Recharger acquisition?

The payment is structured in two tranches: first tranche at closing (ZAR 153M cash + shares worth ZAR 98M) and second tranche due March 2026 (ZAR 175M cash + shares worth ZAR 75M).

What strategic benefits does the Recharger acquisition bring to LSAK?

The acquisition provides Lesaka entry into South Africa's private utilities space and enhances its Enterprise Division's alternative payment offerings.

How many Lesaka (LSAK) shares were issued in the first tranche of the Recharger acquisition?

1,092,361 shares of Lesaka common stock were issued in the first tranche, valued at ZAR 98 million ($5 million).