IHC Expands Digital Services Portfolio With 70% Stake In Peko Holdings

IHC has acquired a 70% share in Peko Holdings Limited, gaining control of a technology-driven digital platform used to manage business operations. The deal supports IHC’s plans to grow in digital services and technology. Peko focuses on simplifying routine financial and administrative tasks, offering businesses a single system to handle daily operations more efficiently.

This latest transaction comes after six months of steady deal activity by IHC. The company has recently completed investments in Invictus Investment, Sammaan Capital, First Women Bank Limited, and Zelo. These moves highlight IHC’s continuing focus on high-growth platforms in financial services, technology, and digital infrastructure across global markets.

Peko operates as an all-in-one digital platform designed to centralise core business processes within one interface. The system allows companies to manage bill payments, payroll, business travel, invoicing, and corporate cards. It also supports compliance services and a wide spectrum of operational workflows. By bringing these tasks together, the platform aims to cut friction and support smoother scaling.

The company uses a modular, platform-as-a-service model that targets SMEs and mid-market firms. These organisations often rely on fragmented legacy systems, which can slow operations. Peko offers automated infrastructure that replaces many separate tools with integrated services. The business is built on recurring subscription revenues, strong customer retention, and scalable technology, positioning it as core digital infrastructure.

Peko is incorporating artificial intelligence throughout its digital platform to improve automation and accuracy. The company has launched an AI-powered assistant to handle routine work. This includes invoicing, expense management, forecasting, and administrative documentation. By automating these activities, Peko seeks to boost productivity for customers and support more efficient financial and operational management.

The acquisition of Peko Holdings aligns with IHC’s wider investment strategy. IHC targets category-defining platforms with disciplined governance and clear growth potential. The group looks for assets that can generate long-term value in multiple markets. Technology-enabled businesses that improve efficiency, expand financial access, and support operational resilience remain central to this approach.

Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC, said: "Peko represents the kind of scalable, future-ready platform we actively invest in, one that addresses real operational challenges for businesses while leveraging technology to unlock productivity and growth. This acquisition strengthens our digital services portfolio and advances our strategy of building integrated value networks across high-growth sectors. We see strong potential for Peko to scale regionally and globally, particularly as AI becomes increasingly embedded in enterprise operations."

Kashif Khan, Founder and CEO of Peko Holdings Limited, added: "Peko was built with a clear vision to empower businesses with a single, intelligent platform to manage their operations end to end. Partnering with IHC marks a defining moment in our journey. With IHC’s scale, long-term perspective, and strategic support, we are well positioned to accelerate innovation, expand into new markets, and deliver greater value to SMEs worldwide."

The purchase of a 70% stake in Peko Holdings further strengthens IHC’s global portfolio. It adds a subscription-based digital platform focused on operational efficiency and AI-driven automation. Together with recent deals, the move reflects IHC’s commitment to businesses that support economic participation and sustainable growth across diverse regions, including markets important to the Middle East.

With inputs from WAM