Egypt Widens Exit Route For Startups, Rolls Out New SPAC Rules
Egypt is about to further increase momentum for its booming startup ecosystem. The country’s stock exchange, the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), has proposed and submitted amendments to the listing rules on the Egyptian bourse to the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA). The rules proposed new regulations for special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), which are companies formed only to raise funds for the purpose of purchasing an operational firm.
“This step came after Dr. Mohamed Farid, Executive Chairman of EGX’s meeting with the Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, and number of entrepreneurs led by Swvl Company, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, Counselor Mohamed Abdel Wahab, CEO of the General Authority for Investment (GAFI)…The proposed amendments come in response to the changes in the business models of SMEs…it could open new growth opportunities for them. It would allow them to expand through the Egyptian capital market, increase the volume of their businesses, and contribute more to the growth of the Egyptian economy,” a statement from the exchange stated.
According to the proposed guidelines, the acquisition proceeds will be deposited in fixed-income savings pools until the transaction is completed. The SPAC will be dissolved and the funds will be returned to shareholders if an acquisition transaction is not completed within two years.
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If adopted, the new rules will open up new chances for startups with tremendous growth potential to expand through the capital market, raise their business volume, and contribute more to Egypt’s economic growth.
Swvl, an Egyptian ride-sharing startup based in Dubai, recently announced that it was going public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). According to The Wall Street Journal, the mobility company is merging with Queen’s Gambit Growth Capital, a SPAC founded by a group of female CEOs early this year (which claims to be the first women-led SPAC). Victoria Grace, the company’s CEO, is the founder of Colle Capital, a venture capital firm based in New York.
Swvl will be the second Middle Eastern business to go public using the SPAC route. Anghami, an Abu Dhabi-based music streaming platform, stated earlier this year that it intended to go public by merging with Vistas Media Acquisition Company, a SPAC.
A SPAC, sometimes known as a blank-cheque company, is founded to obtain funds through an IPO in order to purchase and publicize an existing company. It will be the first Egyptian-born technology company to list on NASDAQ (or outside Egypt), as well as the second Egyptian technology company overall (Fawry being the first one).
According to the report, Queen’s Gambit Growth Capital raised $300 million when it was founded in January and another $45 million afterwards through underwriters’ overallotment option. Swvl’s purchase will also involve a $100 million PIPE (private investment in a public firm) from a consortium of investors including Agility, Luxor Capital, and Zain Group. Swvl will now have $445 million in additional capital to invest in its growth and expansion.
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Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer