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Thursday, 2 March 2023

EAEF wants to invest up to USD 50 mn in Egypt this year

EAEF looking to reinvest Auf Group sale proceeds in our food, healthcare + agriculture sectors: The Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund (EAEF) plans to reinvest some of the proceeds from its sale of a stake in local snackmaker Auf Group in local businesses and funds, Vice President Cornelius Queen told us yesterday. The fund wants to invest USD 20-50 mn in Egypt this year, and hopes to deploy up to USD 100 mn in total within the next two to three years, he said.

Food, agriculture, and healthcare are all on the menu: The fund is in talks with funds and companies of all sizes, he said, declining to disclose potential targets. The food, logistics, agriculture, and healthcare sectors are of particular interest, while emerging, first-time fund managers are also on the fund’s radar, he added.

Auf exit: EAEF had invested in Auf Group through its partnership with Tanmiya Capital Ventures (TCV), which alongside members of the Auf family sold 60% of the company to the ADQ-owned Emirati F&B company Agthia last year. EAEF declined to say how much it netted in the transaction, which valued Auf Group at some EGP 4.9 bn.

We may see more EAEF investment in TCV funds: The firm acts as one of EAEF’s fund managers in Egypt and currently holds EAEF’s remaining 10% stake in Auf Group as well as its stake in Tamweel Mortgage Finance. EAEF has invested a total of USD 30 mn in TCV transactions since 2019, and the fund wants to continue its support for the asset manager as it sets out to fundraise again, Queen told us.

EAEF’s year in review: The fund last year made a fresh commitment to Algebra Ventures’ second fund and made a commitment to private equity outfit Ezdehar Management, Chairman James Harmon wrote in the fund’s annual letter to stakeholders (pdf). Its total portfolio in Egypt now stands at around USD 500 mn following the three EGP devaluations over the past year. EAEF has generated USD 200 mn in profits through its portfolio since 2015.

** ICYMI- We spoke to fund Chairman James Harmon in 2021 as part of our My Morning Routine series.

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