The company’s ongoing focus on the SME segment continues to pay off, delivering significant growth in UAE SME signings, up 20% year on year
Our new market entry and expansion is progressing well with major new client wins in Saudi Arabia and strong interest for our newly launched direct-to-merchant services in Egypt
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 29, 2024/APO Group/ —
Revenue up 15% (CCY[1]) y/y to USD 490 million in 2023, supported by a 30% (CCY[1]) rise in the total value of consumer payments processed by merchant customers (TPV) across the MEA; Very strong performance in the UAE driven by growing consumer confidence and tourism; payments processed at UAE merchants from domestic consumers[5] up 24% y/y and international payments[6] from UAE tourists and visitors up 55% y/y; Significant growth at SME merchants, with UAE SME merchant volumes up 53% y/y; Excellent new business wins, with the addition of major new UAE merchant customers including Talabat, Moncler and additional branches of Carrefour and Lulu; Underlying EBITDA up 13% to USD 200 million reflecting revenue growth and cost discipline; Merchant signups for newly launched direct-to-merchant services in Egypt reached over 2,000.
Group Financial Summary(USD‘000)
FY 2023
FY 2022[7]
y/y change
Total revenue
490,132
435,535
12.5% (15% ccy[1])
Merchant Services
231,942
180,511
28.5% (31% ccy[1])
Outsourced Payment Services
250,719
242,510
3.4% (5% ccy[1])
Other revenue
7,471
12,514
(40.3)%
Underlying EBITDA[2]
200,330
177,653
12.8%
Underlying EBITDA margin[2]
40.9%
40.8%
10bps
Profit for the period
66,507
79,154
(16.0)%
Underlying free cash flow[2]
95,623
81,779
16.9%
Cash flow from operating activities
181,347
119,202
52.1%
Leverage[3]
0.6x
0.7x
(0.1)x
Network International Holdings Plc (LSE:NETW) (“Network” or the “Company”) today announced its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2023. The full Annual Report can be found at https://apo-opa.co/3IXLncr
Nandan Mer, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“Network delivered a robust performance in 2023. Network’s revenue in 2023 increased 15% in constant currency, demonstrating the resilience of our business as well as the very strong underlying growth of our home market in the UAE, despite challenging macro-economic conditions in some of our markets across Africa which impacted consumer spending and customer outsourcing.
We continued to make strides with our strategic focus on high-growth segments such as SME, online and hospitality, enabled by targeted technology investments and industry breadth of payment acceptance. Our new market entry and expansion is progressing well with major new client wins in Saudi Arabia and strong interest for our newly launched direct-to-merchant services in Egypt.”
Strong financial performance
Network delivered revenue of USD 490 million in 2023 up 13% (15% in constant currency) compared to the same period last year, driven by stellar performance from the Middle East, with Merchant Services up 28% (31% in constant currency) and Outsourced Payment Services up 3% (5% in constant currency). The Middle East witnessed significant growth in the value of merchant payments processed from domestic consumers and international visitors, increasing 24% and 55% year on year respectively, reflecting the UAE’s resilient domestic consumer spending and strong influx of tourists in addition to the strength of Network International’s competitive offering. Across the group, which includes African markets, the total value of consumer payments processed with merchants grew 29% (30% in constant currency) year on year, supported by Network International’s strategic focus on the high-growth SME, online and hospitality sectors.
The company’s robust performance despite the challenging macro environment in Africa stemming from a combination of softening economic growth, currency instability and rising inflation, demonstrates Network’s ability to navigate and deliver value in complex market conditions.
Underlying EBITDA increased 13% to USD 200 million in 2023, compared to the same period last year, with an attractive margin of 41%. This reflects Network’s strong revenue performance and cost control, while it continued investing in its product capabilities and future growth.
Profit for the period was USD 67 million, down 16% year on year, impacted by increasing interest rates, higher depreciation and amortisation from increased investments and a higher effective tax rate due to growing profits across Africa. Network generated robust underlying free cash flow of USD 96 million, up 17% year on year.
Significant UAE SME signings and strong momentum in KSA
Major merchant sign-ups and strong SME performance:
Network International continued to attract a significant number of key account and SME merchants, with major new wins during the year including Talabat, Moncler and additional branches of Carrefour and Lulu.
The company’s ongoing focus on the SME segment continues to pay off, delivering significant growth in UAE SME signings, up 20% year on year. The company’s success was supported by additional investments in its sales team and the launch of new capabilities including its digital onboarding process and sector-specific solutions.
Financial institution (FI) wins:
Network secured 16 new customers across acquirer and issuer processing. It also continues to rapidly expand its customer base in Saudi Arabia signing six new financial institutions, taking the company’s total processing customers in the Kingdom to 12.
Growth in newly launched direct-to-merchant services in Egypt
Having successfully launched direct-to-merchant services in Egypt at the start of 2023, Network’s offering continues to receive a strong reception, having secured over 2,000 merchants. The entry into direct-to-merchant services in Egypt builds on Network’s already well-established presence as a processing services provider in the country.
[1] Ccy – In Constant currency terms. [2] This is an Alternative Performance Measure (APM), financial definitions and further details on financial disclosures are available in the company’s regulated RNS on the London Stock Exchange. [3] Leverage ratio computation and reconciliations are available in the company’s regulated RNS on the London Stock Exchange. [4] TPV: Total Processed Volumes – the aggregate monetary volume of purchases processed by the Group within its Merchant Services business line. [5] Domestic TPV represents spending from consumers domiciled in the region. [6] International TPV represents consumer spending by overseas visitors. [7] Certain comparative figures have been restated, further details on financial disclosures are available in the company’s regulated RNS on the London Stock Exchange.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Network International.
The “Invest in Namibia: Transforming Discoveries into Production” session will examine how Namibia can turn its offshore oil boom into a broader industrial opportunity through local suppliers, skills development, technology transfer and domestic investment
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 27, 2026/APO Group/ –After a series of major offshore discoveries transformed Namibia into one of the world’s most closely watched exploration frontiers, attention is shifting from proving resources to building the infrastructure, partnerships and industrial capabilities needed to bring them into production. At African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, the session “Invest in Namibia: Transforming Discoveries into Production.Orange Basin’s Path to First Oil” will examine how the country can capture value beyond the development of individual oil fields and use the emerging petroleum sector as a catalyst for wider economic growth.
TotalEnergies’ Venus discovery is technically ready to move toward a Final Investment Decision, with negotiations on fiscal terms still underway. The project’s development concept targets around 150,000 barrels per day at peak production, with first oil potentially around 2030. FEED has been completed and major contractors selected, bringing Namibia’s first potential deepwater oil development closer to execution.
The real measure of Namibia’s oil opportunity will not simply be how many barrels it produces, but how much economic value those barrels create at home
Meanwhile, the Orange Basin continues to attract major international players. TotalEnergies and Galp strengthened their positions across the Venus and Mopane discoveries in 2025, with TotalEnergies becoming operator of Mopane and Galp taking a participating interest in Venus. In August 2026, Equinor agreed to acquire a 17.4% stake in Chevron’s PEL 90, marking its first upstream entry into a new country since 2017. The block is expected to see another exploration well before the end of the year.
The scale of investment now being contemplated makes the question of local economic participation increasingly urgent. Namibia’s draft Local Content Policy identifies the development of national capabilities, employment, local procurement and stronger domestic value chains as central to ensuring that petroleum resources generate benefits beyond government revenues. The government has also highlighted technical training and partnerships with universities and industry as priorities for preparing Namibians for the emerging oil and gas sector.
For Namibia, this means moving beyond an export-led model in which capital, equipment and specialist expertise flow in and crude flows out. Developing local suppliers, financing Namibian businesses, building research and training hubs and creating opportunities for joint ventures could help establish capabilities that extend well beyond the life of individual oil projects. The opportunity spans engineering and fabrication, logistics, marine services, environmental management, digital technologies and other areas of the petroleum supply chain.
“The real measure of Namibia’s oil opportunity will not simply be how many barrels it produces, but how much economic value those barrels create at home,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Namibia has a chance to build a competitive African energy industry around its discoveries – one that creates jobs, develops local companies, transfers technology and gives Namibians a meaningful stake in the country’s energy future.”
The session will look beyond first oil itself to the ecosystem required to sustain production and translate upstream investment into long-term industrial development. With Venus, Mopane and further Orange Basin exploration moving toward development, Namibia has an opportunity to establish the commercial partnerships, financing structures and technical capabilities needed to ensure its petroleum boom becomes an economy-wide growth story.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Serving a population of more than 4.2 million people across Greater Casablanca, this project represents a significant step in the region’s transition towards a more sustainable and circular approach to waste management
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, August 28, 2026/APO Group/ –The consortium comprising Nareva, Kanadevia Inova and Itochu Corporation, through its 33.5-year concession agreement with the Municipality of Casablanca, has entrusted BUTEC (www.BUTEC.com) with a major Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for Casablanca’s landmark Waste-to-Energy (WtE) project, leveraging BUTEC’s multidisciplinary engineering and contracting capabilities for one of Morocco’s most significant waste management and energy recovery developments.
For the delivery of this landmark project, BUTEC has joined forces with the Switzerland-based Kanadevia Inova, a global leader in Waste-to-Energy and renewable gas solutions.
Located northwest of the Mediouna landfill in the Casablanca-Settat region of the Kingdom of Morocco, this ultra-large waste incineration facility will process approximately 1.5 million tonnes of non-recyclable waste annually, significantly reducing reliance on landfill.
By diverting the waste from landfill and converting it into energy, this plant is expected to prevent up to 1.0 tonne of CO₂-equivalent emissions per tonne of waste while generating 126 MWe of baseload electricity.
BUTEC is establishing itself as the generalist EPC contractor of choice in this strategic sector
Serving a population of more than 4.2 million people across Greater Casablanca, this project represents a significant step in the region’s transition towards a more sustainable and circular approach to waste management, while supporting Morocco’s broader energy transition and long-term decarbonization ambitions.
BUTEC’s Scope of Work:
While Kanadevia Inova is responsible for the technology and the process part of the EPC works, as well as operations support, long-term maintenance, and financing of the facility, BUTEC will be responsible for civil works for the whole facility and for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of Non-Process buildings, facilities, and associated works, including all civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works, as well as the external infrastructure works required for the Project.
Commenting on the significance of the award, Raymond Daou (SVP Strategy & Business Development) stated:
“Building on our affiliates’ long-standing presence in Morocco, where BUTEC has established itself as one of the country’s leading players in Electromechanical Solutions, the Group is reinforcing, through this landmark contract, its contribution to the Kingdom’s sustainable development ambitions.
Furthermore, with three consecutive large-scale Waste-to-Energy projects across the geographies in which it operates, BUTEC is establishing itself as the generalist EPC contractor of choice in this strategic sector. This latest award confirms once again our ability to combine multidisciplinary engineering expertise, strong local execution capabilities and close cooperation with world-leading process technology partners to deliver complex energy and environmental facilities.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BUTEC Group.
The opening ceremony, themed “The Asante Crown Meets the Diaspora,” convened more than 400 registered delegates, including senior government officials, C-suite executives, and US-based institutional investors
WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, August 28, 2026/APO Group/ —
Asantehene presented a royal vision for Africa’s economic renaissance
Day 1 proceeded under the theme – The Vision Day: Unlocking Africa’s Century, A Diaspora Mandate”
Fireside chat with Boris Kodjoe on The Diaspora Return
The Africa Business Investment Summit 2026 opened this morning at the MGM National Harbor, in Washington D.C. Metro, with a royal keynote by the Summit’s Patron, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, as the Millennium Excellence Week hosts its first event outside of Ghana.
The opening ceremony, themed “The Asante Crown Meets the Diaspora,” convened more than 400 registered delegates, including senior government officials, C-suite executives, and US-based institutional investors. They were drawn together under a single mandate: to facilitate $500 million in structured capital commitments between African deal originators and US institutional capital during the two-day summit.
Delivering his keynote address, His Majesty articulated a vision of African economic sovereignty where the diaspora serves as architects of continental development. Speaking with characteristic authority, His Majesty called on African governments, diaspora communities, and international institutional partners to align capital, policy frameworks, and political will behind a shared agenda for the continent’s economic future.
In his address, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene said: “For too long, Africa has been described mainly in terms of its deficiencies.We have heard of the roads not built, the electricity not generated, the jobs not created, the capital not available, and the institutions not strong enough,”
For too long, Africa has been described mainly in terms of its deficiencies
Speaking further he noted that “Africa must no longer be regarded merely as a continent of future potential. Africa is already becoming a central part of the future global economy, and those who understand this early will position themselves advantageously.”
Honorable Sampson Ahi, Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, who represented the President of the Republic of Ghana, detailed macroeconomic indicators signalling domestic economic recovery and industrial policy priorities: “ Our ambition is transformation. We want an economy that moves beyond exporting raw materials to manufacturing finished products, creating value, jobs, and shared prosperity. We want capital that drives productivity, entrepreneurship, and innovation. This is the philosophy behind the twenty-four-hour economy program, which is a commitment stimulating round-the-clock production, improving productivity, and developing a competitive and export-oriented economy.”
The first day of the summit concluded under the theme “The Vision Day: Unlocking Africa’s Century, A Diaspora Mandate”, exploring through a series of plenary sessions the most pressing deal themes in US–Africa investment today.
Programme spotlights included: The Diaspora Return, a fireside chat with Boris Kodjoe, Beyond Remittances: Building Africa’s Sixth Region, diaspora capital beyond transfers, The New Gold Rush: Africa’s Seat at America’s Critical Minerals Table, Ghana’s Gold Moment: From the Gold Coast to Global Market Power, The Diaspora Dollar: Fintech and the Next Remittance Corridor and Powering the Continent: Energy, Infrastructure and the US–Africa Partnership
The second and final day of the event will continue to explore investment opportunities across the continent through sector spotlights on the Creative Economy, Health & Pharma, Technology, and Digital Financial Services.
Following these plenaries, the event will conclude with bilateral investment meetings that will translate the vision outlined in the plenary hall into concrete investment decisions.
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