
Egypt: Catalyst Partners Middle East approves $56mln share swap deal to acquire Qardy, Catalyst Holding
The acquisitions were approved during CPME's extraordinary general assembly, with 99.95% of the issued capital represented at the meeting.
The vote excluded founders and related parties, in accordance with the approved terms and valuation ratios.
The transaction is based on a fair valuation conducted by BDO Keys Financial Consulting, an independent advisor accredited by the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA).
Qardy operates in digital financial solutions, while Catalyst Partners Holding is involved in non-banking financial services.
The acquisitions support CPME's plan to build a unified platform in the non-banking financial services sector that serves a range of businesses, from corporates to SMEs and microenterprises.
The assembly also approved allocating proceeds from CPME's December 2024 private placement, carried out through a capital increase, to expand Catalyst Leasing's and Catalyst Factoring's activities.
The transaction is intended to improve coordination across group companies and support the company's broader approach to financial services, with a focus on fintech and financial inclusion, according to the board of directors.
© 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Business
2 hours ago
- Gulf Business
Dubai's new road plan: Traffic to be eased at Downtown Dubai, Business Bay
Image credit: WAM/Website In line with directives from Dubai's leadership to enhance road infrastructure and public transport in support of urban development, population growth, and quality of life, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a contract for the Al Mustaqbal Street Development Project. Read- The Dhs633m project extends from the intersection with Za'abeel Palace Street to Financial Centre Street. Once completed, it is expected to significantly improve traffic flow, cut travel times, and enhance access to key business and residential districts in central Dubai, The development includes the construction of 1,700 metres of bridges and tunnels, and the widening of Al Mustaqbal Street from three to four lanes in each direction. These upgrades will increase the road's capacity by 33 per cent, from 6,600 to 8,800 vehicles per hour in both directions, and reduce average travel time from 13 minutes to 6 minutes. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, stated that the project is part of a broader plan that includes the ongoing development of the Trade Centre Roundabout. 'Construction began in the last quarter of last year and aims to support several key commercial, residential, and development zones,' he said. Serving key hubs: DWTC, DIFC, Downtown and beyond Al Tayer emphasised the strategic importance of the project for several landmark areas. 'The Al Mustaqbal Street Development will serve the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), which has hosted major exhibitions like GITEX, Arabian Travel Market, Arab Health, Gulfood, and the Transport Exhibition for over four decades.' He added that the project will also improve access to the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a leading hub for the financial sector in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. The upgrades are expected to benefit nearly half a million residents and visitors, and enhance connectivity to prominent districts such as Za'abeel, Downtown Dubai, and Business Bay. Key infrastructure components include: Three new tunnels , totaling 1,200 metres, at the intersection of Al Mustaqbal Street and Trade Centre Street: A three-lane tunnel toward Deira (4,500 vehicles/hour) A two-lane bidirectional tunnel between Deira and Jebel Ali (3,000 vehicles/hour) A single-lane tunnel serving the One Central development (1,500 vehicles/hour) A 450-metre two-lane bridge for traffic from DWTC to Za'abeel Palace Street Widening of Al Mustaqbal Street over a 3.5-kilometre stretch to four lanes in each direction Additional upgrades will include the construction of free-flowing ramps to improve traffic at intersections with Exhibition Street and Trade Centre Street, as well as a pedestrian bridge over Al Sukook Street and upgrades to existing junctions along the corridor. Creating safer, more connected urban spaces Beyond vehicle traffic improvements, the project also introduces enhancements to the urban environment. These include upgraded pedestrian walkways, a dedicated cycling track, and decorative lighting—all aimed at promoting safety, accessibility, and visual appeal. The plan also features new public spaces designed to foster community engagement and support vibrant, inclusive urban living. Al Tayer noted that the development integrates with a larger master plan that includes the full reconstruction of the Trade Centre Roundabout—one of Dubai's most critical intersections. 'This junction connects Sheikh Zayed Road with five key arterial roads: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Sheikh Rashid Road, 2nd December Street, Za'abeel Palace Street, and Al Mustaqbal Street,' he explained. The roundabout upgrade will include: Five new bridges totaling 5,000 metres Conversion of the existing roundabout into a surface-level intersection to improve traffic between Sheikh Zayed Road and 2nd December Street, and between Al Mustaqbal Street and Sheikh Zayed Road (southbound) A second-level bridge for free-flowing traffic from Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street These changes aim to improve connectivity for key destinations including DWTC, DIFC, and the wider Deira area. Part of a broader network expansion The Al Mustaqbal Street and Trade Centre projects are being developed in tandem with several other major road infrastructure initiatives. In Q4 of 2024, the RTA also launched the Oud Metha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project, which involves upgrading four key intersections through the construction of bridges totaling 4,300 metres and 14 kilometres of roadway. This parallel development is designed to serve residential and commercial zones where the population is projected to exceed 420,000 by 2030. It is expected to reduce average travel time by 50 per cent, from 20 minutes to just 10 minutes. In addition, the RTA recently completed phases of the Al Khail Road Development Projec t , which included 3,300 metres of new bridges and the widening of lanes across 6,820 metres. Spanning seven locations, the project has cut travel times by 30 per cent and boosted capacity by nearly 19,600 vehicles per hour. Together, these interconnected projects reflect Dubai's broader commitment to building a smart, efficient, and future-ready transport network capable of meeting the city's ambitious urban growth and mobility goals.


Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Galadari Brothers champions workplace wellness on International Yoga Day
Galadari Brothers brought its commitment to employee wellbeing into focus on International Yoga Day with a dedicated session of yoga and sound healing. Headquartered in Dubai, Galadari invited employees from across its businesses to participate in a guided practice that supported focus and relaxation. The session was led by Anish Shah, CFO of the engineering division of Galadari Brothers and a certified yoga practitioner, who guided participants through breathing exercises and movement. It concluded with a sound bath led by wellness guide Twinkle Shah, providing a quiet moment to reset amidst a busy workday. Wellness as a global and national priority Globally, stress-related health issues are estimated to cost billions of dollars in lost productivity and healthcare expenses, according to the World Health Organisation, which identifies mental wellbeing as a critical factor in economic and social development. Closer to home, the UAE Vision 2031 places strong emphasis on 'Quality of Life,' which includes emotional, physical and mental wellbeing of all residents. In this context, Galadari Brothers' Yoga Day event reflects the leading conglomerate's effort to align with the UAE's National Wellbeing Strategy, which encourages organisations to actively support wellness in the workplace. For many employees, the session was a welcome pause from the day-to-day routine, offering space to slow down and reconnect with themselves and with those around them. The event was supported and guided by representatives from SRMD Yoga, an international yoga school and hosted at TYB Gym with the support of Yasir Khan, the UAE's leading transformation coach and mindset mentor with over two decades of experience in the fitness industry. Yasir Khan is the founder of Transform Your Body (TYB), the largest fitness facility in the UAE, which redefines the concept of a traditional gym by offering a comprehensive approach to fitness and wellness. From awareness to action: Galadari Brothers' broader ESG commitment This initiative is part of Galadari Brothers' broader commitment to environmental and social responsibility. In 2025 alone, the group has sponsored the plantation of 10,000 mangrove trees in the UAE and led beach clean-up drives to help restore natural ecosystems. Employees have also taken part in various volunteering activities, including Ramadan food distributions as well as clothes and toy donation campaigns. This aligns closely with the 2025 International Yoga Day theme, 'One Earth, One Health', which underscores the link between human well-being and the health of the environment. Galadari Brothers recognises that caring for people and protecting the planet are deeply interconnected. As the organisation continues to advance its ESG efforts, it remains committed to creating conditions where both individuals and ecosystems can thrive together.


The National
5 hours ago
- The National
Saudi Arabia signs renewable energy deals worth $8.3bn with Acwa Power consortium
Saudi Arabia has signed agreements worth more than 31 billion riyals ($8.3 billion) for seven renewable energy projects with an Acwa Power -led consortium to boost the kingdom's green energy capacity. Power purchase agreements for new solar and wind energy projects with 15 gigawatts capacity signed by the state-owned company Principal Buyer in the presence of the Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman are part of the country's National Renewable Energy Programme, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday. 'The signing of these agreements represents the largest capacity globally signed for renewable energy projects in a single phase,' SPA said. 'It confirms the kingdom's continued leadership in developing renewable energy infrastructure and achieving globally competitive costs of electricity production per kilowatt-hour, due to efficient financing and development models, as well as growing investor confidence in the Saudi investment environment.' Acwa Power is the main developer for the developments in partnership with the Public Investment Fund-owned Water and Electricity Holding Company (Badeel), and Aramco Power, a subsidiary of state-controlled oil and gas giant Saudi Aramco. Principal Buyer is responsible for preparing feasibility studies and tendering electricity generation projects, SPA added. So far, it has launched renewable electricity generation projects with a total capacity of 43 gigawatts. Of these, Principal Buyer has already signed power purchase agreements for projects with a capacity of 38 gigawatts. The remaining 10.21 gigawatts have already been connected to the national grid. Saudi Arabia expects the capacity connected to the grid to reach 12.7 gigawatts by the end of this year and rise to more than 20 gigawatts by the end of 2026. The solar deals signed on Sunday include a three-gigawatt Bisha project in Aseer, a three-gigawatt development in Madinah, the Khulis Project in Makkah with a capacity of two gigawatts, and Afif 1 and Afif 2 in Riyadh, each with a two-gigawatt capacity. The wind energy projects include two in Riyadh: the Starah development with a capacity of two gigawatts and the one-gigawatt Shaqra project, SPA reported. Backed by the PIF, Acwa Power is one of the largest renewable energy developers in the Middle East. It currently has operations in 14 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South-East Asia. It is an investor in and operator of 101 power generation and water desalination projects in operation, construction and advanced development with an overall portfolio size of about $107.5 billion as of February this year. The company has grown quickly over the years, capitalising on the rising demand of green energy in the Middle East and the 14 countries it operates in. Renewable energy generation in the Middle East is forecast to grow by about 14 per cent per year from now until 2027, with its share of the overall energy mix rising from 5 per cent to 7 per cent, according to the International Energy Agency. Beyond the region, Acwa Power is eyeing markets including China to further strengthen its global footprint. The company plans to grow its business in China despite concerns of a trade war with the US, chief executive Marco Arcelli said in March. The company has already entered China's renewable energy market with agreements for projects that will generate one gigawatt of electricity. By 2030, it aims to invest up to $30 billion in China – the world's largest renewable energy market – in line with its plans to triple its overall assets under management to about $250 billion. 'We take a long-term view, and we see China as a very strong economy,' Mr Arcelli told The National. 'China has a programme of installing 250-300 gigawatts of renewables per year, and the commitment there is very strong. The scale is such that even if, in theory, it slows down by 10 per cent, it is still a gigantic market.'