
Egypt’s Qardy Acquired by Catalyst Partners ME in $23 Million SPAC Merger
Catalyst Partners Middle East (CPME) has acquired Egyptian fintech startup Qardy in a $23 million deal.
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AgDevCo has invested $7 million in Planting Naturals, a Sierra Leone-based producer of certified organic palm oil.
The financing is designed to bolster the company’s expansion across its cultivation, milling, and logistical operations.
Planting Naturals, which combines produce from both its own estates and a growing network of smallholder farmers, specializes in generating organic crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel oil for export markets.
The new capital will support a broad range of enhancements, from increasing harvested fruit volumes and processing throughput to improving the logistical chain.
Accompanying the investment, AgDevCo will also supply technical assistance aimed at enhancing farmer support initiatives, particularly those focused on digital tools and supply-chain traceability.
Kweku Koranteng, AgDevCo’s West Africa regional director, emphasized that the investment embodies the firm’s long-term approach to building resilient agricultural supply chains.
“We are delivering patient, flexible capital that links rural communities to growing demand for sustainably produced palm oil—generating jobs and inclusive economic growth along the way,” he said.
Jan Hein De Vroe, Chief Executive of Planting Naturals, welcomed the partnership, calling AgDevCo a “long-term ally” in the company’s ambition to modernize Sierra Leone’s palm oil sector.
He stated that the funding will fuel expansion, deepen ties with thousands of smallholder producers, and elevate Sierra Leone’s standing as a hub for traceable, certified organic palm oil.
“Our collaboration demonstrates how palm oil production can deliver shared value—boosting farmer income, empowering rural communities, and upholding environmental integrity,” De Vroe added.

Catalyst Partners Middle East (CPME) has acquired Egyptian fintech startup Qardy in a $23 million deal.

The British International Investment (BII) has announced an additional $4 million investment in SunCulture, a Kenya-based company specializing in solar energy solutions and irrigation equipment.

Logidoo, a leading player in the African logistics and e-commerce space, has announced a significant seed funding boost of $1.55 million.