THIS EVENING: Stake sales in 2-3 companies in SFE’s pre-IPO fund before end of April, says Soliman + EFG Hermes One on One wraps Day 1
Happy Monday, wonderful people. It’s a brisk news day so far as the EFG Hermes One on One in Dubai wraps its first day — and there’s a slew of privatization stories coming out of Om El Donia.
Just testing you: We mistakenly sent out this morning’s edition of EnterpriseAM from our “test” address. The issue was final and complete. Please accept our apologies for any confusion.
THE BIG STORIES TODAY
#1- Two or three companies in the Sovereign Fund of Egypt’s (SFE) pre-IPO fund are expected to see stake sales before the end of April, SFE CEO Ayman Soliman said, according to CNBC. The SFE is also planning to make an announcement about investments in the seven state-owned hotels bundled into one firm as part of the state privatization program, Soliman said.
#2- New stake sale in TE? The government is reportedly planning to sell a 10% stake in state-owned Telecom Egypt, Reuters reports, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter. The government currently holds 80% in the company.
THE BIG STORY ABROAD
We have a very mixed bag in the international business press this afternoon. Among the front-page stories:
- Harris Associates, one of Credit Suisse’s biggest shareholders, has offloaded its entire stake in the bank. (Reuters | Financial Times)
- Turkey’s opposition party is putting up a united front to face off against incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in upcoming elections. (Bloomberg)
HAPPENING NOW- The EFG Hermes One on One conference in Dubai is winding down its first day, with one-on-one meetings between global investors and execs from top frontier and emerging market companies. EFG Hermes Research Managing Director and head of strategy Simon Kitchen also ran the conference’s customary live poll earlier today. You can catch the results of the poll — along with our full coverage of the first day of the conference — in tomorrow morning’s edition of EnterpriseAM.
** CATCH UP QUICK on the top stories from today’s EnterpriseAM:
- Private sector contracts at a slower pace in February: Activity in Egypt’s non-oil private sector contracted for the 27th consecutive month in February, albeit at a slower pace.
- Egypt needs to “overhaul” its business environment for the latest IMF program to succeed: That’s the conclusion of the Institute of International Finance (IIF), which published a report last month following a visit to Cairo to talk with policymakers and representatives of financial institutions, including the IMF.
- Signs of more investment from ADP? The CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports was in town yesterday for talks with President El Sisi about developing ports and logistics zones.
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We are delighted to share with you that the Enterprise Exports & FDI Forum will be taking place on Monday, 15 May at the Four Seasons Hotel at Nile Plaza.
DO YOU WANT TO ATTEND? The first wave of invites is going out soon. If you’re a C-suite exec, exporter, investor, official, banker, or someone who should be part of the conversation, please TAP OR CLICK HERE to request a spot at this exclusive event.
What’s the Enterprise Exports & FDI Forum? It is the latest in our series of must-attend, invitation-only gatherings for C-suite-level business leaders. The Enterprise Exports & FDI Forum will discuss the critical topics of exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Egypt.
We will be taking an in-depth look into some of the most vital industry topics, including:
- How to effectively break into new export markets
- How to leverage domestic trends in order to create export opportunities
- What foreign investors are looking for
- What the government's role should be
Why now? Exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) have never been more important to our economy — or our businesses — than in the wake of the float of the EGP. We think we have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build an export-led economy that makes us a magnet for FDI, and all the benefits that will come with it for our nation.
Think of the Enterprise Exports & FDI Forum as a hands-on lab for how to turn the devaluation of the EGP into something that will turbocharge your company and our economy.
WANT TO ATTEND? Hit this link to let us know.
WANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY ON STAGE? Drop a note to Patrick here and let’s talk.
WANT TO BECOME A COMMERCIAL PARTNER? Ping a note to Moustafa, our head of commercial, here.
???? CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-
We have a date for CIFF: The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) will kick off at the Cairo Opera House on Wednesday 15 November and run through to Friday 24 November, the festival’s admins said in a statement last week.
Thanaweya Amma exam schedules are out: Thanaweya Amma exams are scheduled to take place between 12 June and 15 July, the Education Ministry said last month.
☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- The mercury in the capital is set to dip in the coming days following a brief balmy spell, with daytime highs falling to 21-23°C through to Wednesday, according to the latest forecast from the Egyptian Meteorological Authority. Temperatures will rise to 26°C by the end of the week.