With a net worth of $4.9 billion, Issad Rebrab ranks as one of Africa’s leading billionaires. As Algeria’s richest man and the founder of Cevital Group, Rebrab has been instrumental in shaping Africa’s business landscape and elevating Algeria to a prominent position among the continent’s top economies.
Rebrab’s business interest extends across several sectors within Algeria and beyond, a testament to his leadership at Cevital Group — where he served as both a prominent founder and former CEO. His impact as a leading industrialist is deeply ingrained in Algeria and North Africa.
Breaking away from his teaching career, Rebrab embarked on an entrepreneurial journey by establishing an accounting firm. This venture later evolved into SOCOMEG, a metallurgical construction company in Algeria, catalyzed by a client’s proposal of shares in a similar enterprise. This pivotal leap set the stage for the creation of additional companies in the steel industry, such as Profilor in 1975 and Metal Sider in 1988.
His strategic vision facilitated the establishment and acquisition of enterprises in the steel industry, including the inception of Profilor in 1975 and Metal Sider in 1988. In 1998, he founded Cevital-Spa, Algeria’s premier food processing company — it has since evolved into the flagship entity of the Cevital Group.
Under Rebrab’s leadership, Cevital Group has grown into a behemoth in the consumer goods and industrial sectors. The company has diversified its operations into automotive, household appliances, transportation, float glass production, and retail — Cevital Group’s global footprint is evidenced by the acquisition of industrial entities in France, Spain, and Italy, solidifying its international presence.
Billionaires.Africa has documented companies and holdings owned by Rebrab— revealing the expansive breadth and scale of his business empire. Rebrab holds direct or indirect stakes in the following companies:
- Founded in 1998 by Rebrab, Cevital Groupe is a leading family-run conglomerate that has significantly shaped Algeria’s industrial landscape. As the nation’s first private company to diversify investments across various sectors, Cevital also ranks as Algeria’s largest private conglomerate, it concentrates on agri-food, retail, industry, and services — its operations span food processing, shopping centers, construction, automobile sales, and glass manufacturing.
- Cevital Agro-Industrie — another subsidiary of the Cevital Group — is Algeria’s largest private complex, encompassing oil refining, margarine production, mineral water packaging, and the production of refreshing drinks. With an annual production capacity of 2 million tonnes, it has played a pivotal role in reducing Algeria’s sugar dependency and generating employment. Thanks to strategic investments by Rebrab, the sector has transitioned from importation to exportation for oils, margarine, and sugar.
- Associated Car & Truck Specialist
- Established in 2004, ACTS is a leading company specializing in the marketing and maintenance of various vehicle types, including commercial, industrial, public transportation, and public works vehicles. Its unique operations include importing and marketing industrial vehicles like trucks, buses, and tractor-trailers — ACTS also assembles RANDON brand tractor-trailers in CKD format at its factory in L’rbaa, Wilaya of Blida.
- Compagnie Générale des Équipements de Travaux Public (COGETP)
- COGETP a company founded in 2008 operates as the sole authorized dealer of Volvo CE and SDLG (China) in Algeria. It also specializes in marketing public works equipment, offering spare parts, and delivering after-sales service aligned with European standards.
- Hyundai Motor Algeria (HMA)
- HMA which was founded in 1997 is a leading distributor of Hyundai Motor Company’s diverse range of products, including light vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, buses, commercial vehicles, and Hyundai Heavy Industries’ public works equipment — with a vast network of over 45 distributing agents across the entire national territory.
- HMA which was founded in 1997 is a leading distributor of Hyundai Motor Company’s diverse range of products, including light vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, buses, commercial vehicles, and Hyundai Heavy Industries’ public works equipment — with a vast network of over 45 distributing agents across the entire national territory.
- A joint venture between Cevital Group and Hyundai, Cevicar has set notable records in car rentals. Known for its diverse fleet and commitment to providing quality vehicles and services, Cevicar is a testament to successful partnerships in the automotive sector.
- Revolutionizing Algerian construction since its establishment, Prainsa Cevico Algeria operates cutting-edge factories supplying prefabricated concrete elements to Cevital Group’s projects. Certified with a Category VIII classification, CEVICO stands as an unparalleled experience in the construction industry.
- Sierra Cevital which was founded in 2011 operates as joint-venture between Cevital Group and Sonae Sierra, specializing in expertly developing and managing shopping centers.
10. Numilog
- As a subsidiary of the Cevital Group, Numilog offers comprehensive global logistics solutions, including land transportation, storage, stock management, packaging, labeling, customs transit, and more.