Exits MENA Expands Egyptian Footprint with Avanz Capital Acquisition

Abdelrahman Amr

Last updated 19-08-2026

4 min

Exits MENA bought Avanz Capital Egypt in a multi-seven-figure deal, widening its Egypt play.

Avanz will become Exits Manara, its private capital and asset management arm.

The current team stays, with leadership and ownership kept closely aligned.

The group will combine advisory, private equity and asset management, with governance kept separate.

The deal could boost capital inflows and support SMEs, exporters and tech founders.

Exits MENA is widening its play in Egypt after acquiring Avanz Capital Egypt in a multi-seven-figure deal, a move that brings private equity and asset management into the same broader platform. For anyone following startup finance in the region, it feels like one of those steps that could quietly matter a lot later on.

The Cairo-based investment platform and advisory firm signed the agreement with Avanz Capital Egypt’s local management, and the transaction has already secured initial approval from Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority. Once completed, Avanz Capital Egypt will be rebranded as Exits Manara, becoming the group’s private capital and asset management arm.

What stands out here is that the existing team is not being shown the door. Haytham Wagih, CEO and Managing Director of Avanz Capital Egypt, is staying in place with the current management team to continue leading operations and investments. The ownership structure also keeps management aligned: Dr. Nader Elsayed is coming in as a shareholder and Executive Director, while Investment Director Masa Arafa will continue in her role with ownership participation as well.

Wagih said the team will remain in place and continue expanding, while the investment process itself will not change. He added that joining Exits MENA gives the firm a wider regional platform while also helping it develop how it manages both the company and its portfolio. That is pretty spot on for the kind of consolidation many firms chase, though it can be a bit of a faff to pull off in practice.

Exits MENA was founded in 2022 by Mohamed Abuelnaga Nagaty, Ayman El Tanbouly and Ahella El Saban. Since then, the company has focused on startups and SMEs across more than seven global markets. It says it has advised on over 15 investment transactions and 45 consultancy engagements, while also supporting more than 2,000 businesses around the region. At Arageek, readers tend to notice these numbers because they show whether a platform is building real reach or just making noise, and in this case the footprint is hard to ignore.

The structure after the acquisition will combine advisory, private equity and asset management under one group, while keeping advisory mandates separate from investment decision-making. That separation matters. I reckon it is one of the more sensible parts of the setup, especially in a market where governance details can sometimes get brushed aside when everyone is chuffed to bits about deal headlines.

Exits Manara is expected to keep managing Manara 1, a fund of funds focused on SMEs. It is also planning Manara 2 for Export Investments, aimed at mid-sized exporting companies looking to grow into international markets. And believe it or not, that export angle may end up being one of the most intersting pieces here, because it links capital not only to local growth but also to hard-currency earning businesses, which Egypt’s market has been keen on.

There is also a wider regulatory backdrop. Eight companies operating across Egypt’s non-banking financial sectors have recently received new licences and approvals from the FRA, suggesting activity is picking up in adjacent parts of the market too.

One more detail worth watching: the deal is described as one of the first secondary LP investments in Egypt. On the flip side, it is still early to say how much this will reshape the local investment scene, but it does appear likely to support stronger capital inflows and, eventually, better backing for tech founders. I’m not a fan of overhyping any single transaction, well... I mean, the region has seen plenty of big promises before, but this one does look like a serious attempt to build a more complete investment platform rather than simply add another badge to the door.

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