Khalti and IME Pay finally approved for a merger agreement

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has given final approval for the merger of Khalti and IME Pay, two of Nepal’s largest digital payment service providers. The decision, confirmed by Amit Agarwal, Director of Khalti Digital Wallet, marks a major development in the country’s fintech sector.

Khalti and IME Pay Merger Confirmed

The merger between the two competing platforms is now official, following previous reports and speculations. This is the first-ever merger in Nepal’s digital payments industry, and it positions the combined entity as the most prominent player in the sector.

New Entity Name and Leadership

The merged company will operate under the name IME Khalti Limited, with its registered office located at Panipokhari, Kathmandu. Despite the official entity name, the Khalti app will remain the active platform for users.

Leadership details, including the Board of Directors and CEO, have reportedly been finalized, though specific names have not been disclosed. The company is set to begin integrating user accounts over the next three months, including the unification of wallet balances and reward points from both platforms.

Market Competition and Financial Standing

With this consolidation, IME Khalti Limited is expected to become the largest digital wallet company in Nepal—surpassing competitors in user numbers, transaction size, distribution center coverage, capital, and workforce.

Khalti, known for mobile payments, has over 4 million users, while IME Pay brings strength in remittance services. Although IME Pay previously had a higher paid-up capital (Rs 300 million) compared to Khalti’s Rs 50 million, the merger enhances their combined capabilities to challenge eSewa, which currently holds an estimated 80% market share.

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Regulatory Compliance

The merger has been approved under Nepal Rastra Bank’s revised Transaction and Settlement Bylaw, 2077, which enables digital wallet consolidations. This is the first merger conducted under this regulatory framework.

Ownership and Stakeholders

IME Group is the main investor in IME Pay. Khalti Private Limited is backed by internet service provider WorldLink, which owns a 40% stake in the company. The merged entity brings together these two major investment forces under a unified platform..