
Egypt: Palm Hills sees 105.81% YoY consolidated profit leap in 2024
Egypt - Palm Hills Development Company (PHDC) reported a 105.81% year-on-year (YoY) growth in consolidated net profits after tax and non-controlling interest for 2024 to EGP 3.254 billion from EGP 1.581 billion, as per a disclosure on March 6th.
The company's net operating revenues amounted to EGP 27.167 billion in the January-December period, compared to EGP 17.462 billion in 2023.
The firm's standalone net profit after tax hit EGP 261.522 million last year, down from EGP 928.161 million in 2023.
Palm Hills is an Egypt-based company that focuses on real estate investment in new cities and urban communities, land reclamation and cultivation, and other activities associated with the company's operations.
© 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arabian Post
4 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Afreximbank downgrade dispute raises questions on loan categorisation
African Union's African Peer Review Mechanism has challenged Fitch Ratings' downgrade of the African Export‑Import Bank, arguing the move rests on a misinterpretation of its sovereign loan portfolio. On 4 June, Fitch lowered Afreximbank's long‑term foreign‑currency issuer rating from BBB to BBB‑—a notch above junk—with a negative outlook. The agency attributed the downgrade to elevated credit risk, citing an estimated non‑performing loan ratio of 7.1 %, primarily due to sovereign exposures to Ghana, South Sudan and Zambia classified as NPLs. The APRM asserts that Fitch's classification is flawed and inconsistent with Afreximbank's own disclosure of an NPL ratio of 2.44 % as of end‑March. The AU‑established body emphasises the bank's status as a multilateral lender created under a 1993 treaty, which binds member governments—including Ghana and Zambia—as signatories, shareholders and founding members. APRM contends such loans are grounded in intergovernmental cooperation rather than standard commercial terms, so treating them as NPLs misrepresents their nature. Fitch defended its methodology, stating that its supranational rating decisions adhere to globally consistent and publicly available criteria, and highlighting that their analysis clearly identified rating drivers and sensitivities. The agency maintains sovereign exposures showing delayed repayments meet its threshold for classification as non‑performing, irrespective of legal structures or treaties. In that sense, the downgrade aligns with accepted analytical standards. ADVERTISEMENT APRM's critique zeroes in on that threshold. It argues that sovereign repayment negotiations are routine diplomatic engagements, not signs of default. It remains concerned that Fitch's decision conflates financial dialogue with credit impairment. The body has formally called on Fitch, Afreximbank and other African institutions to convene technical consultations and reassess the rating, emphasising the importance of contextually intelligent credit assessments. Beyond the immediate dispute, this episode resonates with a broader continental debate over the relevance and fairness of global credit‑rating frameworks applied to African multilaterals. Africa's longstanding concerns that Western rating methodologies fail to grasp local realities and may unfairly inflate borrowing costs have sparked momentum for alternative mechanisms. Among these, an Africa‑led credit‑rating agency is under development, envisaged to begin operations by September 2025, aimed at providing sovereign ratings that reflect regional economic and institutional contexts. Central to the debate is Afreximbank's evolving lending strategy. Under outgoing president Benedict Okey Oramah, the Cairo‑based lender has aggressively expanded its footprint, increasingly financing private sector projects across the continent and taking calculated sovereign exposure. Supporting growth in under‑served markets like Zimbabwe and Nigeria, the bank grew its asset base from around US$7 billion in 2015 to approximately US$40 billion in 2024, with deposits rising to US$37 billion. That growth has attracted scrutiny. Fitch has highlighted what it sees as elevated concentration of corporate and sovereign risk, pointing to an NPL ratio that exceeds its internal threshold. Observers note that up to 92 % of Afreximbank's lending is directed at commercial businesses, and certain sovereign loans carry interest rates as high as 6.875 % over benchmark rates—much higher than traditional development finance institutions. Proponents of the APRM's position, including lead credit‑ratings expert Misheck Mutize, argue that supplementary indicators such as capital adequacy, collateral density and profitability should carry mitigating weight. Mutize points to a strong equity ratio of 19 %, risk‑weighted capital at 21 %, internal capital generation through profits, and loan collateral cover for 84 % of the portfolio. These factors, he suggests, are downplayed in the rating downgrade despite being explicitly acknowledged in Fitch's own analytic framework. He warns that over‑reliance on contested NPL figures can breach the methodology's balance principles. ADVERTISEMENT Not everyone supports APRM's framing. Analysts note that countries like Zambia officially halted repayments to Afreximbank in 2021, and South Sudan failed to honour its obligations, prompting legal recourse in London. Zambia's treasury has openly stated its debt will be restructured. Against this backdrop, Fitch's interpretation that certain sovereign debt has become non‑performing appears defensible under global standards. This dispute underscores a tension: Afreximbank's assertive growth strategy has boosted its developmental reach and institutional clout, yet it must reconcile that dynamism with risk and transparency expectations imposed by global credit agencies. With Oramah set to step down later this month, the new president will face a pivotal choice: maintain aggressive expansion as the bank charts an independent path, or recalibrate operations to conform more closely with multilateral development bank norms—a course change that could preserve borrowing benefits but limit growth prerogatives. Beyond institutional implications, the outcome has broader financial consequences. A downgrade to BBB‑ tightens Afreximbank's borrowing costs, heightens the risk premium for countries swayed by its lending, and complicates its mission to finance intra‑continental trade. That may squeeze African exporters and traders relying on the bank's funding. Policy stakeholders are paying attention. The APRM's call for dialogue and transparency signals a pushback against the perceived hold of Western agencies over African financial destiny. Meanwhile, the African Development Bank is developing a Continental Financial Stability Mechanism that may borrow under a regional rating—another step towards financial sovereignty.


Zawya
14 hours ago
- Zawya
World's top solar PV producers plan to open factories in Middle East: Report
Many of the world's top solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturers are expected to open production facilities in the Middle East region, according to Wood Mackenzie. These companies are likely to expand into Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, the global research consultancy said in its latest global solar PV module manufacturer rankings report. Although China continues to dominate the solar module manufacturing landscape in terms of scale, emerging challengers from India, South Korea, and Vietnam are rapidly closing the gap. Seven of the top 10 manufacturers now operate production facilities in three or more countries, including Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Mexico, and Vietnam. As solar PV module prices remain under pressure, manufacturers will need to strike a balance between cost reduction and ongoing investment in technology and geographic expansion. The industry's future will be shaped by continued expansion into the Middle East and Africa, efficiency gains across various technologies, rising consolidation through vertical integration, and evolving strategies to navigate trade policies and local market regulations. 'Despite financial headwinds, the solar manufacturing industry is quickly repositioning for the next cycle of global growth,' said Yana Hryshko, head of global solar supply chain at Wood Mackenzie. 'Technology leadership, supply chain control, and geographic agility will define the winners in the years ahead,' she said. (Writing by P Deol; Editing by Anoop Menon) (


Tourism Breaking News
16 hours ago
- Tourism Breaking News
Etihad Airways and STARLUX Airlines sign strategic codeshare partnership
Post Views: 61 Etihad Airways has signed a strategic codeshare agreement with Taipei-based STARLUX Airlines, expanding customer access to Northeast Asia and strengthening Abu Dhabi's position as a gateway between East and West. The partnership, announced at the International Air Transport Association Annual General Meeting in New Delhi, enables Etihad customers to connect seamlessly to key Japanese cities including Nagoya, Sapporo, and Fukuoka via Taipei, whilst offering STARLUX passengers direct access to Etihad's European network through Abu Dhabi. Etihad will launch daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Taipei on 7 September 2025, operated by Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The new route creates the foundation for the codeshare partnership, positioning Taipei as a gateway for Etihad's expansion into Northeast Asia. Etihad customers booking through and the airline's mobile app will benefit from streamlined travel with single-ticket bookings, coordinated check-in processes, and automatic baggage transfers to final destinations across STARLUX's Asia-Pacific network. The agreement also opens new pathways for STARLUX passengers to reach European destinations including Prague, Madrid, and Barcelona via Abu Dhabi, positioning the emirate as an attractive transit hub for Asian travellers bound for Europe. Both airlines will launch joint marketing initiatives in Taiwan and establish a reciprocal frequent flyer programme by year-end, allowing Etihad Guest members to earn and redeem miles across both networks. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said: 'This partnership with STARLUX Airlines opens new market opportunities in Northeast Asia, giving our customers access to Japan's key business and leisure destinations through Taipei. STARLUX Airlines' reputation for premium service aligns perfectly with our standards, and together we're offering travellers more choice and convenience when connecting across three continents.' Simon Liu, Chief Strategy Officer of STARLUX Airlines, said: 'Our partnership with Etihad Airways marks a significant milestone in STARLUX Airlines' global expansion, laying the foundation for future European routes. As one of the Middle East's leading carriers, Etihad is globally recognised for its innovation and premium service—values that strongly align with the STARLUX brand. By leveraging Abu Dhabi's role as a major hub, this codeshare allows us to rapidly extend our network into Europe, offering passengers a wider range of travel options. We also look forward to deepening collaboration on mileage accrual and premium services to ensure an exceptional experience for customers.' The codeshare agreement builds on Etihad's strategic network expansion, which has seen the airline grow to serve over 90 destinations worldwide. The partnership with STARLUX further demonstrates Abu Dhabi's appeal as a premium transit destination, offering travellers world-class facilities at Zayed International Airport alongside the option to extend layovers with Etihad's complimentary Abu Dhabi Stopover programme. Codeshare flights will be available for booking through the Etihad app, and travel partners, with services expected to commence following regulatory approvals.