EFG Hermes E : ValU and MARAKEZ Partner up and Offer Exclusive Payment Plans to Mall of Tanta Shoppers

valU and MARAKEZ Partner up and Offer Exclusive Payment Plans to Mall of Tanta Shoppers

• valU, the Leading Buy-Now Pay-Later (BNPL) Fintech Platform, Partners with Marakez, leading Mixed-used developer in Egypt to Offer Exclusive Payment Plans at Mall of Tanta
• Mall of Tanta is El Gharbeya governorate's first internationally-modeled mall featuring family entertainment, the first cinema, as well as local and international retail outlets serving the Delta region and beyond

The partnership further cements valU's presence in the Tanta governorate, allowing it to expand its service offering and grow its consumer base in Egypt and Marakez's unwavering vision focused on providing world-class commercial experiences for customers across Egypt

Cairo, 24 November 2021

valU, MENA's leading buy-now pay-later (BNPL) fintech platform, and Marakez, one of Egypt's leading mixed-use developers, announced today the launch of a strategic partnership that will see valU offer its BNPL services to Marakez' Mall of Tanta. valU will offer mall visitors an exclusive offer that features a payment plan with 0% interest, 0 down-payment, and 0 purchase fees over 12 months for a week, available to valU clients at Mall of Tanta's expansive range of over 60 retailers.

Walid Hassouna, CEO of the Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFI) platform at EFG Hermes and CEO of valU said: "We are delighted to be partnering with Marakez, a longstanding partner, as we continue to expand our network of valued retail partners, hoping to be available in wider geographies offering our clients unparalleled financing experiences that meet their lifestyle needs. Through this collaboration, valU will expand its Egyptian footprint by empowering clients outside our primary markets in Greater Cairo and Alexandria to access our seamless buy-now pay-later solutions. Our agreement with Marakez marks a momentous entry into the retail space in Tanta, one that we hope will anchor our presence in the governorate and allow us to serve more clients."

Mall of Tanta clients will now be able to utilize valU's BNPL services to access offers and brands including Spinney's, Damas, Tradeline, Elaraby, Concrete, Dockland, Miniso, and many more. Pivotal to valU's mission to expand its customer base and market presence such strategic partnerships as this provide clients with access to unmatched BNPL programs across major shopping malls in Egypt enhancing their shopping experience by making their needs more affordable.

Ashraf Maklad, Chief Marketing and Innovations Officer of MARAKEZ, commented: "As the first developer to establish internationally modelled malls outside Greater Cairo and Alexandria, we have first-hand knowledge of the untapped potential found there. Our commitment to supporting and elevating nationwide retail activity will also see MARAKEZ launch Mall of Mansoura in 2023, reflecting our unwavering vision of providing world-class commercial experiences for customers across Egypt. This partnership with valU will further enable visitors' access to our wide range of retail stores."

valU has cemented its leading position in the Egyptian fintech space, serving as a conduit of accessible BNPL solutions across a growing footprint. Having successfully grown its roster of products, valU continues to explore numerous categories including healthcare, education, real estate finishing, sports club financing and many more. Initiatives such as the "valU Family" program, the youth financing program "Ma3ak", and valU's recent partnership with the American University in Cairo are recent testaments to the company's ever-growing commitment to diversifying the scope of its services responding to the needs of different market segments in Egypt. For these efforts, valU has been recognized as the "Fintech Company of the Year" at both Entrepreneur Middle East's Tech Innovation Awards 2021 and the inaugural Gulf Business Tech Awards 2021, as well as being ranked 5th in the Forbes Middle East Top Fintech Apps in the Middle East 2021 listing.

MARAKEZ is implementing a strategic investment plan in Egypt of more than EGP 20 billion focusing on key projects in Cairo and other governorates. It continues to integrate new offerings into its wide range of amenities meeting all their customer needs and making their destinations all encompassing. MARAKEZ establishes developments that are at the heart and soul of the communities they serve being at Mall of Arabia which opened in 2011, Mall of Tanta in 2019, Town Center in 2020 and soon at D5M's wide range of offerings reinforcing their malls as premier destinations in Egypt.

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About valU

A subsidiary of EFG Hermes established in 2017, valU is the leading Buy-Now Pay-Later (BNPL) fintech platform offering convenient and customizable financing plans up to 60 months. With more than 5,000 points of sale and over 200 websites, valU offers access to a wide network of retail and e-commerce providers across a diverse array of categories including home appliances, electronics, home finishing, furniture, residential solar solutions, healthcare, education, travel, and fashion, among others. As the first platform of its kind in the MENA region, valU customers are able to receive instant credit decisions through their devices and gain access to the ever-growing platform's partners.

For further information, please contact:

The EFG Hermes Public Relations Team

[e-mail]

May El Gammal

Group Head of Marketing & Communications at EFG Hermes

[e-mail]

About MARAKEZ for Real Estate Investment

MARAKEZ is a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian conglomerate and largest mall developer and operator in the region - The Fawaz AlHokair Group. MARAKEZ is one of the largest mixed-use developers in Egypt with a portfolio of projects with one of the highest recurring revenue profiles in the country. Anchored by the flagship Mall of Arabia in West Cairo, MARAKEZ projects include the first residential towers in 6thOctober, AEON, as well as D5M, Mindhaus and District Five residential project in New Katameya. In addition to the opening of Mall of Tanta in 2019, Town Center in 2020 and the upcoming opening of D5M in 2022 and Mall of Mansoura in 2023.

For more information, please visit:

www.marakez.net

www.fawazalhokair.com

www.arabiancentres.com

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Note on Forward-Looking Statements

In this press release, EFG Hermes may make forward looking statements, including, for example, statements about management's expectations, strategic objectives, growth opportunities and business prospects. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent only EFG Hermes' belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature are inherently uncertain and are beyond management's control and include among others, financial market volatility; actions and initiatives taken by current and potential competitors; general economic conditions and the effect of current, pending and future legislation, regulations and regulatory actions. Accordingly, the readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made.