M-kopa Buys KilpiTek for $8M to Bring Device Locks In-House

In Short

M-KOPA acquired Finnish communications company KilpiTek Oy for $8 million in March 2026.

What Happened

M-KOPA says it bought KilpiTek Oy to bring remote device-locking software in-house. Remote device locking is software that can disable a phone if repayments stop, similar to how a car can be immobilised when financed.

The deal was a cash-and-stock transaction. M-KOPA acquired 100% of KilpiTek’s voting shares, paying $2.67 million in cash and the rest in equity.

The company disclosed the acquisition in filings with the UK’s Companies House on October 5, 2026. In the filing, M-KOPA said the transaction is meant to “strengthen the group’s control over a critical component of its technology stack,” and to support product and sourcing strategy.

Device locking matters in pay-as-you-go financing, where customers pay for smartphones or other assets in instalments. If a borrower defaults, the lender needs a way to reduce losses in markets where formal credit data is limited.

M-KOPA has used device locking since its early days in solar home systems. It previously relied on third-party licensed locking tools in smartphones, including Samsung Knox and HMD Global’s Softlock. KilpiTek’s software gives it more direct control over this enforcement layer.

M-KOPA reached profitability in 2024, and Nigeria has been one of its fastest-growing markets. The filings did not disclose what happens to KilpiTek’s team, which was formed in 2023 by five cofounders.

Why It Matters

Owning the collateral control layer can protect margins. It can also reduce reliance on external vendors for a core part of M-KOPA’s underwriting and collections model.

For African device-finance lenders, better control over enforcement can mean fewer defaults and more predictable repayments. That can translate into cheaper credit or faster scaling, especially in markets where alternative data and credit bureaus are still developing.