The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investing $100 million in Banque du Caire’s initial public offering (IPO), acquiring a 6.9% stake in the Egyptian lender as part of Egypt’s privatisation programme.
The investment comes alongside a separate $100 million commitment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), bringing the combined participation of the two multilateral development banks in the offering to $200 million.
Banque du Caire’s IPO involves the listing of 45% of its common shares on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), marking a significant step towards expanding private-sector participation in Egypt’s banking sector and supporting the development of the country’s capital market.
The EBRD said its investment would support Banque du Caire’s transition to listed-company standards, with a focus on strengthening corporate governance, accelerating digitalisation, enhancing cybersecurity, and improving environmental, social and climate-related practices.
The bank will also provide technical cooperation to help strengthen Banque du Caire’s digital transformation, cybersecurity systems and environmental and social risk-management capabilities.
Francis Malige, EBRD Managing Director for Financial Institutions, described the IPO as a milestone in the development of Banque du Caire and Egypt’s privatisation programme, stressing that the EBRD would participate as a long-term institutional investor.
For his part, Hussein Abaza, CEO and Managing Director of Banque du Caire, said the offering reflected investor confidence in the bank’s business model and strategic direction. He added that the EBRD’s participation would support the lender’s next phase of growth and development.
As of 30 June 2026, Banque du Caire ranked as Egypt’s fourth-largest bank by total assets, excluding state-owned Banque Misr and the National Bank of Egypt. The lender provides a broad range of financial services, including corporate banking, SME financing, retail banking, microfinance, private banking, investment banking and brokerage services.
The IPO raised nearly EGP 36.4 billion through the sale of a 45% stake in the bank, adding approximately EGP 81 billion to the Egyptian Exchange’s market capitalisation. The listing represents a major development in the government’s efforts to expand private-sector ownership and advance its divestment programme.
The EBRD has invested more than €16 billion in 238 projects across Egypt since beginning its operations in the country in 2012, reflecting its continued role in supporting private-sector development and economic reform.
