MCP Invests €100 Million to Fuel Coris Holding’s West African Expansion
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – Mediterrania Capital Partners (MCP), a leading pan-African private equity firm, has announced a €100 million co-investment in Coris Holding, a prominent banking group operating across West and Central Africa. The investment,alongside European growth finance institutions including FMO,BII,BIO,and Impact Fund Denmark,will bolster Coris Holding’s capital base and support its ambitious growth strategy.
Coris Holding, founded by Idrissa Nassa, currently serves over one million customers and employs 2,200 people across ten countries. The group has established a strong reputation for its commitment to financing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs/PMEs), considered vital to the economic development of West africa.
“This investment will consolidate our momentum and strengthen our mission of financial inclusion in Africa,” stated Idrissa Nassa, President of Coris Holding.
MCP, with its West Africa regional headquarters in Abidjan, views the investment as a key component of its strategy to support institutions driving economic change on the continent. “We invest where capital can generate lasting impact,” explained Albert Alsina, Founder and CEO of MCP.
The capital injection arrives at a critical time, as less than 30% of the population in the region currently has access to a bank account.Coris Holding intends to utilize the funds to expand financial service access, increase lending to SMEs, and accelerate the development of innovative banking solutions, including offerings within Islamic finance through its subsidiary, Coris Bank International Baraka.
Coris Holding is currently the second largest banking holding company in the west African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). As part of the agreement, MCP will appoint a representative to Coris Holding’s board of Directors to strengthen corporate governance. coris Bank International SA, listed on the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), had a market capitalization of €503 million as of the end of June 2025, ranking it fourth in the financial sector.
This transaction reinforces Coris Holding’s position as a key player in financial inclusion and SME financing in West Africa, and further solidifies Abidjan’s growing prominence as a regional hub for private equity investment in Africa.
