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Chief Executive Officer, Old Mutual, Jurie Strydom. Image credits: innovation-village.com<\/p><\/div>\n
10X Investments<\/a>, founded as a challenger in South Africa\u2019s notoriously high-cost retirement savings market, has grown from R3 billion in assets under management in 2014 to more than R68 billion today, serving over 60,000 clients. Its growth trajectory, supported by Old Mutual Private Equity<\/a> (OMPE) and DiGAME Investments<\/a>, demonstrates that technology-led solutions can democratize finance while maintaining profitability.<\/p>\n As Africa faces a youth-driven demographic surge, with over 60% of its population under 25<\/a>, scalable, transparent, and affordable investment vehicles are no longer optional; they are an economic necessity.<\/p>\n Read also:\u00a0CMAS 2025 positions Africa as the next frontier of high-integrity carbon markets<\/a><\/p>\n Old Mutual\u2019s move is therefore not only a business acquisition but a sustainability intervention. Financial exclusion remains one of the continent\u2019s most persistent social challenges, curbing economic mobility and deepening inequality.<\/p>\n The African Development Bank<\/a> estimates that more than 350 million adults across sub-Saharan Africa remain unbanked, while fewer than 10% have access to long-term savings products such as pensions or mutual funds. In this context, 10X\u2019s low-fee, passive investment model offers a tangible pathway toward inclusive capital accumulation.<\/p>\n The company\u2019s technology-driven approach, particularly its digital onboarding and self-directed investment tools, aligns with the emerging model of sustainable finance, where efficiency, transparency, and accessibility converge. Passive investment products, such as exchange-traded funds<\/a> (ETFs), carry lower environmental and operational footprints compared to traditional fund management models.<\/p>\n By minimizing transaction intensity and administrative costs, they indirectly support resource-efficient financial systems. In a world where sustainability is increasingly defined by systemic resilience, this efficiency is not trivial; it forms part of a broader sustainability calculus that includes financial integrity and social equity.<\/p>\n From a policy perspective, the acquisition comes at a critical moment for Africa\u2019s capital markets. Across Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, regulators are revisiting the structure of pension and savings schemes to encourage domestic investment and financial literacy. South Africa\u2019s National Treasury has set a goal to double voluntary retirement savings by 2030<\/a>, while Kenya\u2019s Capital Markets Authority has introduced initiatives to expand collective investment schemes to informal sector workers<\/a>.<\/p>\n These ambitions face a structural challenge: the cost and complexity of investment products. 10X\u2019s model, simple, transparent, and affordable, is the kind of innovation policymakers are seeking to replicate.<\/p>\n Read also:\u00a0Ghana and China plan to seal zero-tariff trade deal as Accra eyes export-led growth<\/a><\/p>\n Jurie Strydom, Old Mutual\u2019s Chief Executive, described the acquisition as a way to \u201cexpand access to quality investment solutions for a wider base of investors.\u201d<\/em> This language resonates deeply with the sustainability agenda. The notion of \u201cquality access\u201d<\/em> is no longer confined to infrastructure or energy; it extends to finance, the foundation upon which equitable development rests. By leveraging Old Mutual\u2019s institutional strength and 10X\u2019s agility, the partnership could scale solutions that bridge the gap between informal savers and formal financial systems.<\/p>\n The success of this partnership will still depend on how effectively it translates strategic intent into impact. The South African savings gap remains stark: nearly 70% of working-age adults have no formal retirement savings<\/a>, and those who do often face high administrative fees eroding long-term returns.<\/p>\n If Old Mutual and 10X can maintain low costs while expanding reach beyond urban centers, the model could set a precedent for the rest of Africa, from fintech-driven savings cooperatives in Ghana to pension digitalization pilots in Rwanda.<\/p>\n Beyond access, the deal also raises the question of sustainability in governance and ownership. 10X\u2019s management team will retain a meaningful stake in the company, preserving continuity and accountability, an increasingly important factor as African investors call for locally owned financial institutions with long-term stewardship values. DiGAME\u2019s exit note emphasized that the transfer of ownership to a South African custodian \u201cwith the calibre and longstanding track record of Old Mutual\u201d ensures local control and sustainable business continuity.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GRI-NOV-2025-900-by-500.jpg\")
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