Egypt has postponed the initial public offering (IPO) of Banque du Caire, the country’s third-largest state-owned bank, to the end of 2026, instead of the previously planned launch before the end of June, according to a senior government official speaking to Al Arabiya Business.
The official said the investment banks managing the deal, in coordination with Banque Misr and the Central Bank of Egypt, agreed to delay the offering by three to four months due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, as well as weaker market activity during the summer period.
Under the revised timeline, investor roadshows are expected to begin in October, paving the way for the listing to be completed and trading to start before the end of the year, subject to market conditions.
The IPO has been delayed multiple times over the years, reflecting shifting global and domestic conditions. Previous postponements were linked to the 2008 global financial crisis, lack of market readiness in 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022, and valuation and market timing issues in 2025.
The official confirmed that the fair valuation process has already been completed, noting: “The fair value assessment is fully finalized. The timing now depends on launching marketing efforts and testing investor appetite under more favorable conditions.”
He added that the committee established under Egypt’s state-owned enterprises framework has approved the valuation methodology, while the current phase is focused on executing investor roadshows led by the appointed investment banks.
The official also denied reports that the government has finalized the size of the offering, including speculation of a 40–45% stake, stressing that no final decision has yet been made by Banque Misr or the Central Bank of Egypt regarding the stake size.
Separately, preparations continue for the IPO of Misr Life Insurance, which remains under review by the Egyptian Sovereign Fund and the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, with financial advisers currently conducting valuation studies and assessing potential offering structures.
The government is also pushing ahead with its broader state IPO programme, planning to list four additional state-owned companies on the Egyptian Exchange by the end of this month, bringing the total number of listings since April to 20.
Officials said up to 10 petroleum-sector companies are being prepared for listing during June and July, as part of a wider state asset monetisation strategy, with further offerings expected in the final quarter of the year.