Latest from Tahya Masr
Tahya Masr
a day ago
- Business
- Tahya Masr
Crédit Agricole Egypt and Infinity Join Forces to Accelerate Transition to Solar Energy
Crédit Agricole Egypt has entered into a partnership with Infinity to accelerate the transition to solar energy for individuals by making clean energy solutions more accessible and affordable. The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Jean-Pierre Trinelle, Managing Director of Crédit Agricole Egypt, and Mr. Ashraf El Bishry, General Manager of Infinity, along with senior representatives from both entities. Through this partnership, Infinity's customers will have access to Crédit Agricole Egypt's solar loan—a tailored financing solution offering preferential interest rates and repayment terms up to seven years. The loan enables individuals to invest in a range of solar products —including solar home solutions for residential clients — effectively reducing financial barriers and encouraging the adoption of sustainable energy systems. This agreement aims to raise awareness about the environmental and economic benefits of solar energy, empowering individuals to make more eco-conscious decisions and contribute to a greener future. It also aligns with Egypt's Vision 2030 and the Central Bank of Egypt's sustainable finance principles, reinforcing broader efforts to embed ESG principles into financial practices, diversify the energy mix, and reduce carbon emissions. Jean-Pierre Trinelle, Managing Director of Crédit Agricole Egypt said: 'At Crédit Agricole, sustainability is central to our mission, and we are committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 for both our own operations & financed emissions. Through this partnership, CAE continues to reflect its customer-centric approach by offering accessible green financing solutions tailored to meet our customers' evolving needs. By combining our financial expertise with Infinity's leadership in solar energy technology, we are expanding our impact, and advancing our long-term commitment to the energy transition.' Nevine Shokry, Head of proximity Banking of Crédit Agricole Egypt added: 'At Crédit Agricole Egypt, our green finance solutions reflect our commitment to helping customers take meaningful steps towards sustainability. This collaboration with Infinity embodies our shared belief that real success lies in empowering individuals, supporting communities, and protecting our planet.' Commenting on the strategic partnership, Mohamed Ismail Mansour, Co-Founder and CEO of Infinity, said: "At Infinity, we are committed to supporting the widespread adoption of clean, renewable energy solutions that can positively impact people's lives and the environment. This partnership with Crédit Agricole Egypt is an important step in making solar energy more accessible to households across the country. By combining financial innovation with practical, scalable technology, we are enabling individuals to become active participants in Egypt's clean energy future." Eng. Nayer Fouad, Co-Founder and CEO of Infinity, further added: "This collaboration reflects our mission to deliver real, tangible solutions that support Egypt's clean energy goals. By working alongside a trusted partner like Crédit Agricole Egypt, we are not only making renewable energy more attainable but also fostering greater awareness around the benefits of solar adoption at the individual and household levels. It's another milestone in our journey to drive long-term environmental and economic value.' Infinity, established in 2014, is Egypt's leading provider of renewable energy solutions, delivering clean power solutions across all sectors and scales. The company develops, finances, and operates utility-scale and decentralized solar projects. Infinity is the largest Egyptian contributor to the Benban Solar Park, Africa's largest photovoltaic power station, with an estimated capacity of 1,465 MW. Since 2018, Infinity has also built the largest and fastest-growing EV charging network in Egypt, with more than 700 charging points across 16 governorates. Backed by institutional shareholders such as Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Infinity is positioned at the forefront of Egypt and Africa's energy transition journey . Crédit Agricole Egypt is a subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole Group, one of the largest banks worldwide, and is the sole French bank operating in Egypt. Established in 2006, Crédit Agricole Egypt has become an active player in Egypt's financial industry, serving around 500,000 individual, SME, and corporate clients. The bank offers a comprehensive range of banking products & services, as well as state-of-the-art digital banking solutions. Crédit Agricole Egypt's key goal is customer satisfaction, by valuing and prioritizing their best interests. Demonstrating its strong commitment to sustainability, Crédit Agricole Egypt was the first bank in Egypt and North Africa to receive the prestigious Platinum LEED certification for its head office in recognition of its environmentally responsible design, which incorporates a solar panel station that helps reduce CO₂ emissions. Further advancing the green transition, Crédit Agricole Egypt has signed a facility agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) under the Green Energy Finance Facility (GEFF) and the Global Climate Fund (GCF), to support businesses investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects'
Tahya Masr
15-07-2025
- Business
- Tahya Masr
Madinet Masr Receives 2025 Sustainability Award in Recognition of Its Impactful Sustainable Social Initiatives
Madinet Masr (EGX: one of Egypt's leading urban community developers, has been awarded the 'Sustainability Award for 2025' by Amwal Al Ghad newspaper in recognition of its growing role in driving sustainable social initiatives. The award underscores the company's steadfast commitment to integrating sustainability principles across its community-driven initiatives and urban development projects, promoting resource efficiency, reviving heritage, and preserving Egypt's cultural identity, thereby enhancing quality of life and contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable future in the real estate sector. The award follows the launch of Buyut Al-Khalifa project, which aims to restore heritage buildings and rehabilitate the urban fabric through conserving the area's cultural identity and reviving the endangered urban fabric of Al-Rukbiyya Street, located in the heart of Historic Cairo—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The project falls under the 'Reviving Heritage' pillar, one of the pillars of Madinet Masr's 'Cultivating Communities' sustainability and CSR strategy. This marks the second sustainability recognition awarded to Madinet Masr within the same year. The company previously received the 'Heritage Project of the Year' award from Invest-Gate publication for its role in restoring the roof of Bayt Al-Razzaz, a significant historical landmark in Cairo's Darb Al-Ahmar district. In collaboration with the Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation, the company has made a financial contribution to the restoration of the decorative ceiling in its main hall. Commenting on the award, Eng. Abdallah Sallam, President and CEO of Madinet Masr, said: 'We are proud of this recognition, which reaffirms Madinet Masr's deep-rooted commitment to a clear path of sustainable development and social responsibility across both the real estate sector and broader Egyptian society. For us, building communities is not limited to developing new urban spaces; it is a holistic approach grounded in understanding the real needs of people and communities. We believe sustainability is essential to shaping the future and addressing its challenges. It is not simply an environmental goal but the foundation of any successful, purpose-driven real estate developer. Our vision combines urban innovation with developmental purpose to present a balanced and integrated model that drives lasting, positive change.' From her side, Dena Habib, Vice President of Corporate Relations at Madinet Masr, commented: 'Madinet Masr follows a robust, purpose-driven approach to sustainable development through our 'Cultivating Communities' strategy, which aims to create meaningful and lasting impact in the communities we serve. This award reflects our ongoing commitment to a development model that balances urban growth with community empowerment, resource optimization, and cultural preservation. By reviving heritage, improving quality of life, and enhancing social inclusion, we remain dedicated to implementing tailored initiatives that respond to local needs and foster more inclusive, sustainable urban environments. Our role as a real estate developer goes beyond construction; we strive to create added value and elevate community well-being.' Madinet Masr's approach to sustainability and social responsibility is grounded in a comprehensive strategy centered on three primary pillars: shelter, reviving heritage, and community uplift, which encompasses philanthropic initiatives addressing essential needs such as food and healthcare. The approach reaffirms the company's commitment to creating a positive and lasting impact in the communities it serves. This strategy has been translated into tangible partnerships, such as the company's continued collaboration with the Egyptian Food Bank, distributing thousands of food boxes that benefited 50,000 individuals in Giza and Qalyubia. In addition, through the 'Together in Goodness' initiative, in partnership with Al Joud Foundation, Madinet Masr provided Iftar meals for 36,000 people during the holy month of Ramadan at its flagship projects, Taj City and Sarai, thereby strengthening local food security and community solidarity. On the healthcare front, Madinet Masr, in partnership with Baheya Hospital, provided full coverage of treatment costs for several patients, alleviating the financial burden on families in need. In addition to a community health initiative, offering free medical screenings and awareness seminars for female employees, focusing on the importance of early detection and prevention of breast cancer. In support of entrepreneurship, Madinet Masr partnered with Orange Corners Egypt, an initiative by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, to support young Egyptian entrepreneurs in building profitable and sustainable businesses. This partnership places special emphasis on empowering youth in Upper Egypt and the Delta, promoting innovation, inclusion, and competitive business growth. Through its sustainability and CSR initiatives and partnerships, Madinet Masr reaffirms its growing investment in creating long-term impact and value for Egyptian society. By focusing on people, reviving heritage, and enhancing quality of life, the company implements holistic initiatives that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Egypt's Vision 2030, and its own core institutional values.
Tahya Masr
08-07-2025
- Business
- Tahya Masr
EFG Hermes Advises on the Signing of Landmark $190 Million Investment in Alameda Healthcare by DPI
EFG Hermes, an EFG Holding company and the leading investment bank in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today that its investment banking division acted as the Sole M&A Financial Advisor on the signing of binding agreements for a $190 million minority stake investment in Alameda Healthcare (' Alameda '), Egypt's leading private healthcare group, by Development Partners International (' DPI '), in partnership with a consortium of leading institutional investors and prominent development finance institutions. Dr. Fahad Khater, Chairman of Alameda, will remain the group's majority shareholder following the transaction. The transaction, which is primarily a capital increase, is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in Q3 2025 . This cornerstone foreign direct investment, currently in its final stages, represents the largest of its kind in Egypt's healthcare sector, reinforcing investor confidence in backing resilient and fast-growing businesses across the country. The transaction, primarily being a capital increase in Alameda, will result in foreign currency proceeds entering Egypt's local banking system and support the company's growth in Egypt and GCC markets. Commenting on the transaction, Maged El Ayouti, Co-Head of Investment Banking at EFG Hermes, said : ' We are honored to have led this landmark transaction as the Sole M&A Financial Advisor, attracting $190 million for a significant minority stake in one of the leading and fast-growing healthcare platforms in the region. The transaction marks a proud moment for EFG Hermes as we support a national healthcare champion led by Dr Fahad Khater in executing a transformative capital raise that will enable the platform's journey to grow and scale across the region. This transaction underscores our capabilities to deliver on our advisory to our clients on landmark M&A transactions across Egypt and the broader region, as it follows a series of M&A deals that we have advised on in the last 18 months with an aggregate value exceeding $2.5 billion.' Since the beginning of the year, EFG Hermes has advised on 4 M&A transactions, 7 DCM transactions, and 7 ECM transactions across the region, including landmark transactions in Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, underscoring its leadership in regional markets . This investment aims to consolidate Alameda's position as a national healthcare leader while enabling its strategic expansion across Egypt and the wider region. The capital increase will allow the Group to deliver and invest in expanding its hospital operations and clinical capacity, particularly in Egypt and regionally in key markets such as KSA, UAE, and other GCC markets .
Tahya Masr
03-07-2025
- Business
- Tahya Masr
Oriental Weavers Launches OW Haptech Store — The World's First-Ever Phygital Carpet Retail Experience
Oriental Weavers, the world's leading manufacturer of woven carpets, announces the launch of the OW Haptech Store, the world's first-ever phygital carpet retail store, now open in Mivida, New Cairo. By integrating physical product exploration with interactive digital technologies, the store sets a new global benchmark for the carpet industry, reinforcing Oriental Weavers' commitment to innovation and craftsmanship while redefining the future of carpet retail. Spanning 250 square meters, the state-of-the-art store introduces a new retail model that merges real-time visualization tools, immersive environments, interactive displays, and AI-driven customization to meet the evolving expectations of today's consumers, who value creativity, convenience, and personalization. Moreover, It features exclusive, limited-edition international pieces from Oriental Weavers' global portfolio. Commenting on this, Ms. Yasmine Khamis, Chair of Oriental Weavers Carpets, said: 'OW Haptech Store represents a breakthrough for the global carpet industry, introducing the world's first-ever phygital retail carpet store right here in Egypt. This innovation underscores Oriental Weavers' global leadership. With a presence in over 118 countries and operations spanning 27 factories in Egypt and the US, we are proud to be a symbol of 'Made in Egypt' excellence, driving industrial growth, creating jobs, and supporting the state's vision to position Egypt as a global manufacturing hub.' The launch of OW Haptech store brings together tactile sensory interaction and digital innovation in a seamless in-store experience, derived from 'haptic' and 'technology.' It invites customers to reimagine their homes through a variety of interactive features. Using full-scale projection, the Phygital Preview allows them to visualize designs directly on the store floor and explore wall-mounted sampling sections that showcase the look and feel of each rug before finalizing their choices. In the OW Studio, customers can co-create customized rugs with Oriental Weavers' experts using AI-powered design tools. The store reflects OW's strategic vision to modernize retail while staying rooted in quality and heritage. This is part of a continued investment in smart manufacturing, digital retail solutions, and sustainable materials, further reinforcing Oriental Weavers' long-term commitment to efficiency, innovation, and leadership in the global carpet market.
Tahya Masr
29-06-2025
- Business
- Tahya Masr
Valu Closes its 16th Securitized Bond Issuance, Worth EGP 858.9 Million
Valu, MENA's leading universal financial technology powerhouse, announced today the successful closing of its 16th securitized bond issuance, valued at EGP 858.9 million, in collaboration with EFG Hermes, an EFG Holding company and the leading investment bank in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The issuance is the sixth under Valu's EGP 16.0 billion ongoing securitization program. The bond is backed by a receivables portfolio assigned to EFG for Securitization, which acts as the special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the issuance. It is a 12-month bond, rated Prime 1 (sf), and carries a fixed interest rate. Building on this remarkable momentum, Valu has officially embarked on securing regulatory approval from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) for its highly anticipated new short term multi-issuances securitization program, with a total value of EGP 10.0 billion that will be backed by Valu's portfolios amounting to 13.0 billion for two years. Set to be executed through up to nine issuances. The new program marks a significant milestone in Valu's ambitious growth journey, reinforcing its market leadership and commitment to delivering innovative, market-shaping financial solutions. Karim Riad, CFO of Valu, commented, 'Following our commencement of trading on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), combined with Amazon's transaction, and as part of our continuous expansion, securitizations remain a vital pillar of our financial strategy, enabling us to unlock greater capital efficiency and accelerate our growth trajectory. By leveraging securitizations, we are diversifying our funding base and driving strategic growth. This latest issuance underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and maintaining our position as the preferred fintech partner in Egypt.' Maie Hamdy, Managing Director – Debt Capital Markets at EFG Hermes, added, 'This issuance marks another successful chapter in our long-standing partnership with Valu, reflecting our deep commitment to providing dynamic financing solutions that support Egypt's rapidly evolving fintech landscape. Our ability to consistently structure and close high-impact transactions is a testament to the strength of our capital markets franchise and our client-centric approach . EFG Hermes acted as the sole financial advisor, sole transaction manager, bookrunner, underwriter, and arranger on the issuance. Arab African International Bank (AAIB) served as both the underwriter and custodian. Arab Banking Cooperation (ABC) and Industrial Development Bank (IDB) were the subscribers to the issuance. Dreny & Partners acted as the legal advisor, and Baker Tilly as the auditor.
