Cairo – Mubasher: Ahli Capital Holding, the investment arm of the National Bank of Egypt (NBE), announced the signing of an agreement to acquire a 40% stake in Cairo Egypt for Educational Facilities from Elsewedy Educational Services Holding Limited, in a move aimed at enhancing investments in the higher education sector and expanding the scope of partnership with CERA Education.
Under the agreement, Ahli Capital will acquire 30 million shares, representing the entire 40% stake held by Elsewedy Capital in Cairo Egypt for Educational Facilities, while CERA Education retains its 60% stake without change.
The transaction has obtained the approval of the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA), while implementation procedures and the transfer of share ownership are currently underway in accordance with applicable rules and regulations, in preparation for the final completion of the transaction before the end of 2026.
The agreement was signed by Karim Saada, Managing Director and CEO of Ahli Capital Holding, Eng. Ahmed Elsewedy, Chairman of Elsewedy Capital, representing Elsewedy Educational Services Holding Limited, and Mohamed El Kalla, CEO of CERA Education.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mohamed El-Etreby, CEO of the National Bank of Egypt and Chairman of Ahli Capital Holding, Dr. Hassan El Kalla, Chairman of Cairo Investment and Real Estate Development (CERA Education), Soha El-Turky, Deputy CEO of the National Bank of Egypt and Board Member of Ahli Capital Holding, alongside leaders and representatives of the participating parties in the transaction.
Mohamed El-Etreby stated that the acquisition represents a new phase in the strategic partnership with CERA Education, and an important step toward deepening and expanding its scope, noting that the deal reflects both parties' confidence in the promising growth prospects of the education sector, supporting sustainable growth as well as economic and social development.
For her part, Soha El-Turky stated that the agreement marks a significant step in supporting Ahli Capital's investments in the education sector within the framework of the strategic partnership with both CERA and Elsewedy, emphasizing her outlook toward further coordination among partners to achieve the targets of the agreement and maximize its impact on the Egyptian education market.
Karim Saada mentioned that the deal reflects Ahli Capital's vision to invest in sectors with promising growth opportunities and the ability to generate sustainable returns, primarily higher education, amidst growing demand and substantial expansion opportunities in the Egyptian market.
He added that Ahli Capital aims to deploy its investment and financial expertise, complemented by CERA's operational expertise, to support the development of Badr University in Damietta and maximize the project's investment value, while contributing to expanding access to high-quality higher education outside Greater Cairo.
Ahmed Elsewedy affirmed that transferring his stake to Ahli Capital comes as part of continuing the journey of cooperation with CERA Education, pointing out that the project is transitioning to a partner possessing the necessary capabilities to drive it into the next phase.
Hassan El Kalla, Chairman of CERA Education, stated that the new partnership will enable students in Damietta and various regions across the Delta to access advanced education in science and technology fields without needing to leave their regions, noting that having three universities in a single location will provide a broad range of academic specializations.
In turn, Mohamed El Kalla, CEO of CERA Education, stated that the cooperation with Elsewedy resulted in launching three schools and laying the groundwork for establishing a future university in Damietta, expressing his anticipation of expanding the alliance with Ahli Capital to encompass a second joint educational investment platform, building a diversified portfolio of schools, universities, and educational facilities.
The transaction represents an extension of the strategic partnership between Ahli Capital and CERA Education through Ahli CERA for Educational Services, aiming to leverage Ahli Capital's financial and investment capabilities alongside CERA's educational and operational expertise to accelerate the execution of existing projects and explore new opportunities in the higher education sector.
Grant Thornton Egypt acted as financial advisor and conducted the financial due diligence for Ahli Capital, while KPMG handled tax advisory and tax due diligence services. NAMEK Law acted as legal counsel, conducting legal due diligence, drafting legal agreements and documentation, and fulfilling regulatory procedures, while Nexon Partners served as the exclusive financial advisor to the seller.
