Middle East: Finance and Banking

In acquisition transactions, valuation is no longer limited to estimating standalone fair value based on historical performance and forecasted cash flows. In modern transaction environments, especially in emerging markets such as Egypt, the observed transaction price is often driven by a combination of intrinsic value, strategic considerations, and market inefficiencies.

Foreign companies that successfully obtain judgments in Egypt in their favour, sometimes even where the award is expressed in foreign currency pursuant to the underlying contract, frequently discover that enforcement does not automatically translate into payment in that currency. Instead, the central issue becomes how the awarded value is actually realized in practice within the framework of judgment enforcement and foreign currency limitations in Egypt.

In Egypt’s evolving transaction landscape, the ability to determine a reliable fair value and successfully execute deals increasingly depends on the effective integration of due diligence and valuation processes. As economic conditions become more complex characterized by inflationary pressures, currency volatility, and regulatory developments relying on standalone valuation models without thorough verification of underlying assumptions can lead to inaccurate conclusions. The interrelation between due diligence and valuation therefore represents a critical foundation for producing credible and defensible transaction outcomes.