Novatti Group (ASX: NOV) has reported strong initial traction for its cross-border payment solutions in the education sector, with its Alipay integration at UNSW exceeding expectations.
The integration, which went live in October 2025 following contracting in August 2025, has delivered $33.6 million in gross transaction value and $0.5 million in revenue as of 30 April 2026.
UNSW marks the first Australian university to go live on Novatti's Asian wallet integration via Xetta.
This partnership allows international students to make payments in Chinese yuan, which are then settled in Australian dollars for UNSW.
Education Sector Expansion and Opportunities
Novatti considers the education sector a vital growth vertical, with the company strategically focused on scaling higher-margin recurring payment infrastructure within this space.
The success at UNSW points to a broader opportunity, given that more than 30 additional tertiary institutions already utilise Xetta.
This network provides a clear pathway for wider adoption of Novatti's cross-border payment solutions.
The integration streamlines the payment process for international students, enabling them to conveniently pay tuition and related fees through the MyUNSW portal.
Financial Context and Previous Performance
Novatti's latest half yearly report for H1 FY26 indicated a revenue decline, reflecting the rationalisation of low-margin services.
However, the company also reported an improvement in underlying EBITDA, narrowing its loss.
As of 31 December 2025, Novatti held $3.7 million in cash, securing $1.0 million in growth funding during the halfthrough a share placement.
Earlier in February 2026, Novatti received a writ of summons in Malaysia concerning alleged unpaid deferred and earn-out consideration from its January 2022 ATX acquisition.
The company disputes this claim and has provisioned for a majority of the amount.
Quarterly updates have consistently highlighted commercial traction in its Payments AU/NZ business, particularly in Issuing, which achieved four consecutive quarters of positive EBITDA in Q2 FY26.
Risks and Investor Considerations
Investors should acknowledge several ongoing risks for Novatti Group that include challenges in execution, the timing of further market penetration, regulatory compliance in cross-border payments, and funding requirements.
The auditor's emphasis on material uncertainty regarding going concern is a key consideration highlighting the importance of the company's ability to generate sustainable cash flow.
The success of Novatti's education sector strategy is contingent on extended take-up.
Scaling across additional institutions may take time, and adoption rates could vary significantly from the early performance observed at UNSW.
Furthermore, the unresolved legal dispute over the ATX acquisition consideration and the accounting complexities from asset deconsolidations add layers of financial and operational risk.
