Joint-venture integrates Sigma Capital's investment banking unit into Swicorp's regional network and will provide a wider comprehensive range of corporate finance advisory services to both Egyptian and international clients.
Swicorp, a Swiss-headquartered investment banking firm active throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Sigma Capital, a leading Egyptian financial services company, have entered into a joint-venture agreement to create SWICORP SIGMA EGYPT. The new venture’s activities will cover a wide array of corporate finance services, including mergers and acquisitions advice, strategic partnerships and joint-ventures, the raising of debt and equity capital and general financial engineering and restructuring.Swicorp; an independent investment banking firm with focus in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Sigma Capital; an Egyptian financial services company, have successfully entered into a joint venture agreement to create SWICORP-SIGMA EGYPT (SSE). SSE will be 75% owned by Swicorp and 25% owned by Sigma Capital.
“The creation of Swicorp Sigma Egypt marks an exciting addition to our capabilities to offer investment banking services to regional and international companies across the Middle East and North Africa” said Mr. Kamel Lazaar, President and Managing Director of Swicorp. “Egypt represents a strategically important market for Swicorp in view of the significant opportunities offered by its large and growing economy and its prestigious position at the heart of the Arab world. We are delighted to join forces with Sigma Capital and its talented team of professionals who have developed an impressive reputation as one of Egypt’s leading investment banking firms.” said Mr. Kamel Lazaar, President and Managing Director of Swicorp
“We at SIGMA Capital Holdings are very excited about the opportunities that this Joint-Venture brings. I believe it will raise the bar in terms of the service levels to be provided regionally”, “said Mr. Ahmed Marwan, Vice-Chairman and Managing DirectorChief Executive Officer of Sigma Capital. The joint venture will combine both parties’ skills and expertise in corporate finance in Egypt and the MENA region.
Egypt is one of the largest economies in the Middle East with significant investment opportunities for local, regional and international players. SWICORP SIGMA EGYPT brings together Swicorp’s international investment banking expertise, network of relationships and extensive track record of transactions across the MENA region with Sigma’s established presence in the Egyptian market, in-depth local knowledge and broad transaction experience gained in a wide variety of industry sectors.
Working closely Wwith Swicorp’s existing offices in Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and , Tunisia, SWICORP-SIGMA EGYPT will offer its clients a comprehensive range of leading-edge corporate finance services both within Egypt and beyond. With a strong focus on the successful closing of transactions, SWICORP SIGMA EGYPT is committed to enhancing the ability of its clients to meet the challenges of the future.
And planned offices in Dubai and Iran in 2004 - this venture will complement Swicorp’s strong regional network and provide it with an entry point to this high-potential market through an existing and experienced local player. Sigma Capital is a leading Egyptian investment banking Financial Services firmoffering Asset Management, Securities Brokerageand Investment Banking and haswithan extensive track record of corporate finance transactions in a diversified number of sectors in the Egyptian market.
The joint venture between Swicorp investment banking and Sigma’s corporate finance arm will support Sigma Capital in expanding business focus. By utilizing Swicorp’s network and capitalizing on its regionally experienced team, SWICORP-SIGMA EGYPT will provide Egyptian clients with a wider scope of corporate finance services that penetrate beyond the local market.
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About Swicorp
Swicorp is an independent investment banking firm which provides intellectual and financial capital to domestic and international businesses active in the MENA region.
Headquartered in Geneva and with regional offices in Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Tunisia, Swicorp engineers links between business and investors across the MENA region and beyond.
In addition to extensive in-house expertise, Swicorp also benefits from access to a core group of strategic partners to provide their clients with an integrated array of financial and advisory services.Swicorp is an independent investment banking firm which provides a comprehensive range of financial advisory services to domestic and international businesses active in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Founded in Switzerland in 1987 and with existing regional offices in Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Tunisia, Swicorp has substantial experience and expertise in developing strategic partnerships between companies and investors across the MENA region and beyond, backed by a successful track record of innovative and pioneering transactions. Swicorp’s activities comprise: Mergers & Acquisitions; Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances; Debt and Equity Capital raising; Privatisation in Emerging Markets; Financial Engineering and Restructuring; and Private Equity.
About Sigma Capital
Sigma Capital was established to offer quality financial services in the region. The company’s portfolio of services currently includes Investment Banking, Asset Management, Securities Brokerage, Equity Research and Technical Analysis. Sigma Capital’s Corporate Finance division provides strategic financial advice and execution in Mergers, Acquisitions and corporate restructures in addition to fund-raising efforts on behalf of its clients. Sigma Capital’s Asset Management division provides portfolio management services to institutional and high net worth individuals while Sigma Securities provides brokerage services to clients worldwide for securities listed in the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchanges, the US markets, as well as as well as GDRs listed internationally.
Contacts:
Swicorp
Simon Rowe
Executive Partner
David Rey
Executive Partner
Quai Gustave-Ador 8
PO Box 6404,
1211 Geneva 6,
Switzerland
Tel: (+41 22) 737 37 37
Fax: (+41 22) 737 37 00
Email:srowe@swicorp.com
drey@swicorp.com
www.swicorp.com
Sigma Capital
Ahmed Marwan
Vice Chairman and Managing Director
Chief Executive Officer
Ismail Shoukry
Executive Director
1 Gabalaya Street,
Zamalek 11211, Cairo,
Egypt
Tel. (+202) 735 70 70
Fax. (+202) 735 36 30
Email: amarwan@sigma-capital.com
ishoukry@sigma-capital.com
www.sigma-capital.com
© Press Release 2004
