Morocco's HPS expands its presence in digital banking with the acquisition of CR2 Limited

After announcing in May, the intention to acquire Irish company CR2 Limited, HPS (Hightech Payment Systems) has finally completed the transaction. The purchase, although the amounts were not specified in the announcement, is estimated to contribute around 25-30 million euros in extra annual revenue. Both industry giants waited to announce the merger until all regulatory conditions in both countries had been met. 

The acquisition marks a milestone in the growth strategy of the Moroccan company, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year and in 2026, 20 years since its IPO. Showing year-on-year growth, the Moroccan company has established itself as the most experienced institution in the electronic payment solutions sector at national, regional, and international level.

With offices in Dublin, Dubai, Jordan, Australia, and India, CR2 is one of the most internationally recognized brands in the banking sector. Through its research and development department and through its flagship BankWorld, it provides a high-quality service. Among its flagship products is PowerCARD, a set of solutions that more than 350 banks in over 90 countries not only use, but also recommend its use. This mechanism serves as a processor for all types of bank cards. 

The benefits for HPS will also affect Fintech innovations. It affects the plan it is executing through AccelR8. The combination of all the tools and projects of HPS form one of the best digital banking solutions platforms in the world.  

On the financial side, the transaction is expected to deliver earnings that match the all-time high of 685 dirham per share. Since the announcement, the shares have risen by 9.58% bringing the share price to 561 dirhams. With a value of 4157.87 million dirhams and an average annual return of 1.4% capital growth.

The purchase of CR2 was a risky move. Although the company's profits increased by 13.4% in 2023 compared to 2022, the company generated a loss of 1.4% from the purchase, which it expects to recover in the last four months of 2025. 

HPS's commitment to online payment technology is yet another sign of the efforts of Moroccan companies and startups to secure and digitize all the services available to them.