Pharos Holdings to advise on up to five M&As in 2018

M&A WATCH- Pharos Holding expects to complete advisory on four or five M&A transactions and capital increases in 2018, head of investment banking at the firm Sherif Abdel Aal tells AMAY. The firm also expects to lead a number of IPOs this year, Abdel Aal pointing to potential offerings in the food, healthcare and education sectors. The firm will also be gunning for some of the listings of state-owned companies this year, he added. All in, Pharos is currently managing 15 transactions worth up to EGP 10 bn. Abdel Aal had previously said Pharos would be quarterbacking two IPOs in 1Q2018 worth EGP 1 bn a piece.