CI Capital exits $23.6 million investment in Taaleem Management services

Omokolade Ajayi -
Key Points
  • CI Capital exits $23.6-million Taaleem investment, achieving a fourfold return and 50% IRR after five years.
  • The firm played a key role in scaling Taaleem’s operations and expanding its educational presence in Egypt.
  • CI Capital continues to diversify, expanding services in leasing, microfinance, and investment banking across multiple regions.

CI Capital, the leading diversified financial services group, led by Mohamed El-Etreby, has successfully exited from its $23.6 million investment in Taaleem Management Services, marking a significant milestone after a five-year holding period.

The exit underscores CI Capital’s robust track record of delivering impactful investments across key sectors. In 2019, the firm, alongside co-investors, acquired a 60 percent stake in Taaleem with a strategy focused on scaling operations and expanding its educational footprint.

The divestment yielded an impressive four times return on invested equity, with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of approximately 50 percent. CI Capital’s hands-on approach and strategic oversight played a pivotal role in accelerating Taaleem’s growth while cementing its long-term contribution to Egypt’s higher education landscape.

Expanding capacity and shaping Egypt’s educational landscape

“We are immensely proud of the remarkable transformation Taaleem has undergone over the past five years,” said Hesham Gohar, Group CEO of CI Capital. “This partnership not only delivered strong financial returns but also positioned Taaleem for sustained growth, contributing significantly to Egypt’s higher education ecosystem.”

Gohar credited Taaleem’s executive leadership and partners for their role in the success. “Together, we established Taaleem as a top-tier provider of higher education services in Egypt,” he added.

Record-breaking IPOs and expansion across financial services

CI Capital is a diversified financial services group and Egypt’s leading provider of leasing, microfinance and investment banking products and services. CI Capital has transitioned from a core investment bank to a diversified financial powerhouse, offering services in leasing, microfinance, and a full suite of financial solutions across Cairo, New York, and Dubai.

Under Mohamed El-Etreby, who controls 92.3 percent of the company, CI Capital has executed significant capital market transactions, including an $80 million securitized bond issuance for Capital for Securitization. The firm also played a pivotal role in Taaleem's 2021 IPO on the Egyptian Exchange, successfully raising 49 percent of the company’s shares, which attracted robust international interest and elevated Taaleem's profile in the education sector.

CI Capital's strategic guidance has been instrumental in Taaleem’s growth, driving a nearly fourfold increase in EBITDA. The company has also expanded its student base from 5,398 to over 12,000, while boosting campus capacity to accommodate 23,000 students. Among its notable achievements are the launches of Badya University in partnership with Palm Hills Developments in West Cairo, and the upcoming Memphis University in East Cairo.