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Sasfin Wealth, the investment management arm of the broader Sasfin Group, has officially rebranded as Otto1890, effective March 2026, in what chief executive officer Erol Zeki describes as a pivotal step in the business's evolution from a stockbroking operation into a standalone global investment specialist.
The new name honors Otto Pollak, who became one of the first members of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on Feb. 11, 1890, and later founded the business. The firm has traded under various names across 136 years, including Frankel Pollak Securities before Sasfin acquired it in 1999 and integrated it into its banking and wealth divisions.
Zeki framed the rebrand as both a look backward and a step forward. "This is an important moment for us as we set ourselves up for continued growth," he said. "While our name is changing, our commitment to our stakeholders remains steadfast. Over 20% of our team have been with us for more than 15 years."
Otto1890 enters its next chapter managing more than R100 billion in assets across local and offshore markets, with more than 70 investment professionals covering multiple asset classes. Zeki said wealth management no longer defines the business. The firm is positioning itself as a broader global investment specialist serving private, corporate and institutional clients.
The rebrand sits within a much larger strategic reset at the Sasfin Group. Facing mounting pressure from a R5 billion dispute with the South African Revenue Service, a R210 million fine from the Prudential Authority for historic non-compliance in its discontinued foreign exchange business, and broader challenges facing smaller-tier banks in South Africa, the group announced in 2024 that it would exit banking entirely and focus on its two remaining businesses: Otto1890 and Sunlyn, its long-standing equipment rental finance operation.
Sasfin's banking customers had until March 2, 2026, to withdraw funds, with any uncollected balances transferred to a nominated bank. The group has already sold its Capital Equipment Finance and Commercial Property Finance loan books to African Bank in a deal exceeding R3 billion. It delisted from the JSE at the end of 2024, citing the need to reduce regulatory costs and sharpen focus on core operations.
Group chief executive Michael Sassoon said the worst is behind the business. "We've moved out of this three-year phase fighting this existential threat, and moved into a phase where we're growing these exceptional businesses," he said.
