​The firm was named “African Investment Bank of the Year” at the annual African Banker awards held 23 September 2011 in Washington, DC. EFG Hermes is the first investment bank based in Egypt and the Arab world to win the prestigious accolade. In 2011, EFG Hermes advised on Japan Tobacco’s acquisition of the leading tobacco corporation in Sudan (in final stages). In addition, the firm closed the sale of the second mobile operator to Qatar Telecom in Tunisia and advised the Wind Telecommunications on its merger. Also, the firm closed the sale of Olympic Group to Sweden’s Electrolux.