Latest news with #Valu
Zawya
8 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Interview: Egypt's EFG Holding firm Valu drives expansion, banks on Amazon for scale
Buoyed by a strong debut on Egypt's stock exchange, Valu, a fast-growing consumer finance company, is now envisaging its first cross-border expansion and the launch of new products at home, according to CEO Walid Hasssouna. 'The listing showed that people see huge potential in the company, whose market cap stands today at more than EGP 17 billion ($344.614 million),' Hassouna said. On June 23, Valu stocks began trading on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) after EFG Holding, ValU's parent company, decided to hold a listing through in-kind dividend distribution, where 20.48% of its share capital was distributed to EFG Holding shareholders. On the first day, the company's stock surged by more than 850% from its opening price, jumping from EGP 0.78 to EGP 7.4 ($0.016 to 0.15). 'The stock has proven quite robust,' Hassouna said, almost three weeks since the initial listing. 'It has been trading at a value that surpassed the fair price included in the listing prospectus by 5% to 10%.' The unconventional listing method, which entailed no capital increase, aimed at widening the ownership base of the eight-year-old fintech company, according to Hassouna. 'It is not your typical IPO,' he said. 'The company is capital sufficient, with a book value of nearly EGP 2 billion ($40.542 million). We do not currently have the need to raise additional capital. What is really important to us is to have a balanced and diverse capital structure and to include new players.' Since its listing, Valu has secured nearly 20,000 shareholders including both institutional and retail investors, he said, while describing its one million users in Egypt as 'a core part of our journey'. 'So we thought, why not give them the opportunity to become shareholders and share in the success they helped create?' Founded in 2017, the company has facilitated more than nine million transactions, securing a 25% share of Egypt's consumer finance market. In 2024, the company accrued a net profit of EGP 423 million ($8.574 million), a 78% increase from the previous year, according to an EFG Holding official statement. The company has recently secured initial approval from the Central Bank of Jordan to launch in the kingdom. 'We view Jordan as a market that exhibits strong potential and are looking forward to launching soon and disrupting the market, similar to the impact we had in Egypt,' Hassouna said. He added that his company hopes to expand westward into North African markets after consolidating its presence in Jordan, a move that may require extra capital in the future. 'That extra capital can be raised as equity or debt, depending on the conditions of each new market,' Hassouna said. Amazon backs Valu On the first trading day, EFG Holding also executed the sale of 3.95% of Valu's shares to Amazon, honoring an option agreement signed with the global e-commerce giant three years ago. EFG Finance, a subsidiary of EFG Holding, continues to own 67% of the company. Hassouna sees Amazon's decision to acquire a direct stake in Valu as a 'a vote of confidence' attesting to the company's growth potential. 'It shows that Amazon is convinced that the company's value is bound to rise in the future.' 'Besides their expertise as the world's top player in the marketplace business, Amazon also helps transmit to us the expertise of similar consumer finance companies they work with in other parts of the world,' he added. Valu is one of 45 companies that offer consumer financial solutions in Egypt. In recent years, the Egyptian government has implemented a set of reforms to boost the non-banking financial sector. In 2024, the total value of consumer finance amounted to EGP 61.3 billion ($1.242 billion), a nearly 30% increase from the previous year, according to Egypt's Financial Regulatory Authority. At home, Valu is awaiting the necessary approvals from Egyptian regulators to launch a business-to-business subsidiary company that will provide financial solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises, he said. 'The SME market in Egypt holds vast untapped potential and significant unmet demand—opportunities we are uniquely equipped to capture and serve.' 'We have a big captive market. Most of our 8000+ merchants qualify as SMEs. As a starter, we can focus on our merchant network,' he said, adding that the service may be launched before the end of 2025. Also in the works is a full-fledged one-stop marketplace on the Valu app where consumers will be able to browse products, compare prices, and complete their purchases, he said. To widen its customer base, Valu is also set to launch a new feature whereby clients can be onboarded electronically: not exclusively through Valu app but also directly through a vendor's checkout portal. 'We are working on major partnerships [with vendors] to serve this purpose, and we are set to launch this feature in the very near future,' Hasssouna said. (Reporting by Noha El Hennawy; editing by Seban Scaria
El Fagr
22-07-2025
- Business
- El Fagr
Valu Offers Financial Solutions for 'Learn to Earn' Initiative Launched by RoboGarden Egypt to Equip Egyptian Youth with Digital Job-Market Skills
Lamise Negm: This initiative embodies a deeply human dimension and opens doors to technology for marginalized groups Engy El Sabban: Our goal is to train 1،000 learners by the end of 2025 Valu، MENA's leading universal financial technology powerhouse، has announced its partnership with RoboGarden Egypt، the AI-powered EdTech platform، to provide flexible payment plans for the 'Learn to Earn' initiative. This initiative seeks to empower youth across Egypt — with a special focus on women and people with disabilities — by providing specialized digital training programs designed to equip them with the skills needed to thrive in today's evolving job market. The initiative features an innovative approach that promotes equal opportunity in education by offering a hybrid learning experience. Combined with Valu's flexible payment solutions، it ensures that high-quality digital training is accessible and affordable to all. 'Learn to Earn' marks a significant milestone for both companies، with strong strategic value for the supporting entities. For Valu، this collaboration represents an opportunity to expand its diverse portfolio in lifestyle enablement، particularly in skill development and education — in alignment with national development goals and impactful community engagement. Commenting on the partnership، Walid Hassouna، CEO of Valu، said: 'This collaboration reflects Valu's deep-rooted commitment to education and to the community we serve. As we expand beyond the traditional buy-now-pay-later model، initiatives like 'Learn to Earn' allow us to channel our financial tools toward meaningful، long-term impact. By partnering with RoboGarden Egypt، we're enabling individuals — particularly those from less fortunate communities — to acquire in-demand skills and unlock economic opportunities.' The program features a comprehensive، engaging learning experience — including self-paced content، live online sessions، and in-person workshops. Pathways such as web development open real opportunities for employment or freelance work in Egypt's digital economy. Participants receive a certificate upon completing 75% of the content، with their progress tracked through analytics، attendance، and assessments. As part of its commitment to supporting the initiative، Valu is hosting five training cohorts at Valu Café، sponsoring a total of 20 students، with four participants from each cohort receiving a 50% discount on the program fees. Lamise Negm، Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of RoboGarden Egypt and Advisor to the Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Authority، expressed her pride and appreciation for launching this initiative، noting that it transcends traditional digital education to represent a deeply human mission. Negm stated: "What makes this initiative truly special is its focus on traditionally marginalized groups—women، people with disabilities، and youth in remote areas—by opening doors to the tech sector without requiring them to abandon their daily lives or overcome insurmountable barriers. It offers real opportunities for professional growth and economic empowerment by building solid bridges between education and employment. This reflects a conscious collaboration between the private sector and development partners to create a more just and inclusive tech landscape—one where no one is left behind." Engy El Sabban، CEO and Co-founder of RoboGarden Egypt، added: 'Through this initiative، we aim to extend RoboGarden's reach to the underserved youth، women، and people with disabilities — empowering them with remote work opportunities and flexible career paths. Our hybrid model proves scalable in the local market. We target more than 1،000 trainees across Egypt by the end of the year. Early pilot groups، delivered in collaboration with both local and international organizations، have shown strong support across sectors — and Valu's contribution will be instrumental in scaling our impact.' El Sabban noted that five training cohorts will be held under this partnership، with 25 participants in each — reaching a total of 125 learners. She emphasized that vocational and skills-based training is key to enhancing labor market competitiveness in Egypt، especially amid global economic shifts and the growing reliance on technology. Statistics show that around 60% of Egyptian university graduates struggle to secure employment immediately after graduation due to the gap between educational outcomes and market needs.
bnok24
21-07-2025
- Business
- bnok24
Valu Offers Financial Solutions for 'Learn to Earn' Initiative Launched by RoboGarden Egypt to Equip Egyptian Youth with Digital Job-Market Skills
Valu, MENA's leading universal financial technology powerhouse, has announced its partnership with RoboGarden Egypt, the AI-powered EdTech platform, to provide flexible payment plans for the 'Learn to Earn' initiative. This initiative seeks to empower youth across Egypt — with a special focus on women and people with disabilities — by providing specialized digital training programs designed to equip them with the skills needed to thrive in today's evolving job market The initiative features an innovative approach that promotes equal opportunity in education by offering a hybrid learning experience. Combined with Valu's flexible payment solutions, it ensures that high-quality digital training is accessible and affordable to all 'Learn to Earn' marks a significant milestone for both companies, with strong strategic value for the supporting entities. For Valu, this collaboration represents an opportunity to expand its diverse portfolio in lifestyle enablement, particularly in skill development and education — in alignment with national development goals and impactful community engagement Commenting on the partnership, Walid Hassouna, CEO of Valu, said: 'This collaboration reflects Valu's deep-rooted commitment to education and to the community we serve. As we expand beyond the traditional buy-now-pay-later model, initiatives like 'Learn to Earn' allow us to channel our financial tools toward meaningful, long-term impact. By partnering with RoboGarden Egypt, we're enabling individuals — particularly those from less fortunate communities — to acquire in-demand skills and unlock economic opportunities The program features a comprehensive, engaging learning experience — including self-paced content, live online sessions, and in-person workshops. Pathways such as web development open real opportunities for employment or freelance work in Egypt's digital economy. Participants receive a certificate upon completing 75% of the content, with their progress tracked through analytics, attendance, and assessments As part of its commitment to supporting the initiative, Valu is hosting five training cohorts at Valu Café, sponsoring a total of 20 students, with four participants from each cohort receiving a 50% discount on the program fees Lamise Negm, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of RoboGarden Egypt and Advisor to the Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Authority, expressed her pride and appreciation for launching this initiative, noting that it transcends traditional digital education to represent a deeply human mission. Negm stated: 'What makes this initiative truly special is its focus on traditionally marginalized groups—women, people with disabilities, and youth in remote areas—by opening doors to the tech sector without requiring them to abandon their daily lives or overcome insurmountable barriers. It offers real opportunities for professional growth and economic empowerment by building solid bridges between education and employment. This reflects a conscious collaboration between the private sector and development partners to create a more just and inclusive tech landscape—one where no one is left behind Engy El Sabban, CEO and Co-founder of RoboGarden Egypt, added: 'Through this initiative, we aim to extend RoboGarden's reach to the underserved youth, women, and people with disabilities — empowering them with remote work opportunities and flexible career paths. Our hybrid model proves scalable in the local market. We target more than 1,000 trainees across Egypt by the end of the year. Early pilot groups, delivered in collaboration with both local and international organizations, have shown strong support across sectors — and Valu's contribution will be instrumental in scaling our impact El Sabban noted that five training cohorts will be held under this partnership, with 25 participants in each — reaching a total of 125 learners. She emphasized that vocational and skills-based training is key to enhancing labor market competitiveness in Egypt, especially amid global economic shifts and the growing reliance on technology. Statistics show that around 60% of Egyptian university graduates struggle to secure employment immediately after graduation due to the gap between educational outcomes and market needs Google News تابعونا على تابعونا على تطبيق نبض
Zawya
21-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Valu Offers Financial Solutions for 'Learn to Earn' initiative launched by RoboGarden Egypt
Walid Hassouna: The 'Learn to Earn' initiative is a way to direct our financial solutions towards real social impact Lamise Negm: This initiative embodies a deeply human dimension and opens doors to technology for marginalized groups Engy El Sabban: Our goal is to train 1,000 learners by the end of 2025 Cairo, Valu, MENA's leading universal financial technology powerhouse, has announced its partnership with RoboGarden Egypt, the AI-powered EdTech platform, to provide flexible payment plans for the 'Learn to Earn' initiative. This initiative seeks to empower youth across Egypt — with a special focus on women and people with disabilities — by providing specialized digital training programs designed to equip them with the skills needed to thrive in today's evolving job market. The initiative features an innovative approach that promotes equal opportunity in education by offering a hybrid learning experience. Combined with Valu's flexible payment solutions, it ensures that high-quality digital training is accessible and affordable to all. 'Learn to Earn' marks a significant milestone for both companies, with strong strategic value for the supporting entities. For Valu, this collaboration represents an opportunity to expand its diverse portfolio in lifestyle enablement, particularly in skill development and education — in alignment with national development goals and impactful community engagement. Commenting on the partnership, Walid Hassouna, CEO of Valu, said: 'This collaboration reflects Valu's deep-rooted commitment to education and to the community we serve. As we expand beyond the traditional buy-now-pay-later model, initiatives like 'Learn to Earn' allow us to channel our financial tools toward meaningful, long-term impact. By partnering with RoboGarden Egypt, we're enabling individuals — particularly those from less fortunate communities — to acquire in-demand skills and unlock economic opportunities.' The program features a comprehensive, engaging learning experience — including self-paced content, live online sessions, and in-person workshops. Pathways such as web development open real opportunities for employment or freelance work in Egypt's digital economy. Participants receive a certificate upon completing 75% of the content, with their progress tracked through analytics, attendance, and assessments. As part of its commitment to supporting the initiative, Valu is hosting five training cohorts at Valu Café, sponsoring a total of 20 students, with four participants from each cohort receiving a 50% discount on the program fees. Lamise Negm, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of RoboGarden Egypt and Advisor to the Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Authority, expressed her pride and appreciation for launching this initiative, noting that it transcends traditional digital education to represent a deeply human mission. Negm stated: "What makes this initiative truly special is its focus on traditionally marginalized groups—women, people with disabilities, and youth in remote areas—by opening doors to the tech sector without requiring them to abandon their daily lives or overcome insurmountable barriers. It offers real opportunities for professional growth and economic empowerment by building solid bridges between education and employment. This reflects a conscious collaboration between the private sector and development partners to create a more just and inclusive tech landscape—one where no one is left behind." Engy El Sabban, CEO and Co-founder of RoboGarden Egypt, added: 'Through this initiative, we aim to extend RoboGarden's reach to the underserved youth, women, and people with disabilities — empowering them with remote work opportunities and flexible career paths. Our hybrid model proves scalable in the local market. We target more than 1,000 trainees across Egypt by the end of the year. Early pilot groups, delivered in collaboration with both local and international organizations, have shown strong support across sectors — and Valu's contribution will be instrumental in scaling our impact.' El Sabban noted that five training cohorts will be held under this partnership, with 25 participants in each — reaching a total of 125 learners. She emphasized that vocational and skills-based training is key to enhancing labor market competitiveness in Egypt, especially amid global economic shifts and the growing reliance on technology. Statistics show that around 60% of Egyptian university graduates struggle to secure employment immediately after graduation due to the gap between educational outcomes and market needs. About Valu: Valu is the leading universal financial technology powerhouse offering customers and businesses convenient and comprehensive financial solutions. Under its product universe, Valu pioneered Buy-Now, Pay-Later (BNPL) solutions in the MENA region through U, providing customizable financing plans for up to 60 months across more than 8,500 stores and online platforms – covering a diverse array of categories, including home appliances, electronics, home finishing, furniture, residential solar solutions, healthcare, education, travel, and fashion, among others. Valu also offers investment products, an instant cash redemption program, and a financing solution to facilitate the purchase of big-ticket items up to EGP 60 million in the luxury space through the AZ Valu fund and EFG Hermes ONE, Sha2labaz, and Ulter, respectively. In addition, Valu offers business-to-business solutions through Valu Business. Valu had recently introduced its prepaid card and co-branded credit card in collaboration with Visa. As an award-winning fintech player in the MENA region, Valu embraces a progressive mindset with an agile workforce committed to architecting innovative financial solutions.
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Valu receives regulatory nod to launch BNPL services in Jordan
Cairo – The Central Bank of Jordan has granted its initial approval for U Consumer Finance (Valu) to launch buy now, pay later (BNPL) services in Jordan, according to a recent press release. This step marks a significant leap in Valu's regional expansion, reflecting Jordan's dynamic market potential and growing demand for flexible and accessible financial solutions. Valu's advanced BNPL platform offers flexible installment plans for everyday purchases, whether for retail, electronics, healthcare, or other sectors. For merchants and businesses, the BNPL solutions provide an opportunity to expand sales, attract new customers, and build loyalty through seamless integration. Over recent months, Valu entered into strategic partnerships with leading merchants and financial institutions across Jordan to meet regional demand for its BNPL offerings. This expansion into Jordan positions Valu as a regional fintech leader committed to boosting economic vitality, promoting financial inclusion, and empowering communities through responsible, flexible credit solutions. Habiba Naguib, Chief Market Expansion and Strategy Officer of Valu, said: 'Expanding into Jordan with our BNPL services represents a major leap forward, unlocking new opportunities for consumers and merchants alike.' Naguib added: 'The recent listing on the EGX and Amazon's strategic investment reinforce our confidence in our growth trajectory and our commitment to transforming digital finance across the region.'
