Qalaa Holdings is looking to expand its investments in African mining and energy firms, including in Tanzania, Mozambique and Ghana, Qalaa Chairman and Founder Ahmed Heikal told CNBC on Thursday. Qalaa will look to gradually increase its investments in Africa, which currently stand at USD 500 mn, Heikal said. He added that the investment firm has suspended two of its energy projects in Sudan, one in gas and the other in solar power, until the situation in the country stabilizes.

ALSO- Qalaa subsidiary the Egyptian Refining Company (ERC) is still in talks for a debt restructuring agreement with its lenders and has not yet received preliminary approval to extend the loan’s tenor, contrary to a report in Al Mal that we picked up last week. The story has been updated on our website.

AND- NBE’s Al Ahly Leasing Company is looking to issue EGP 700 mn worth of securitized bonds in its first securitized offering, Al Shorouk reports, citing unnamed sources. No details were provided on an expected timeline for the offering. Dreny and Partners has been appointed as advisor for the issuance, KPMG Hazem Hassan as auditor, and Al Ahly Pharos as financial advisor.