Al Mada, formerly the Société Nationale d'Investissement (SNI; lit. 'National Investment Company'), is a private Moroccan holding company.[4] Headquartered in Casablanca, it was established in 1966. The company is mainly owned by the Moroccan royal family.[5]
Al Mada operates across a range of sectors, including banking, telecommunications, renewable energy, mining, and the food industry.[6] The conglomerate holds stakes in several of Morocco’s largest private companies, including Attijariwafa Bank, Inwi, Managem, Nareva, Lafarge Ciments, and Marjane.
In addition to its domestic activities, Al Mada has expanded its investments across several African countries, including Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, and Gabon.[4][7]
Historically, the company was the majority shareholder of the now-defunct ONA Group. Following a restructuring process, the activities of ONA were absorbed into SNI, which was later rebranded as Al Mada.
History
Created in 1966, SNI has been listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange since 1994.
In 2009, The conglomerate registered a consolidated net income of MAD2.3 billion. The company invested nearly MAD5.52 billion, mainly by acquiring 10% of Attijariwafa Bank's capital from the Spanish bank Santander.[8]
Despite the unfavourable global context, the company's performance increased 365% in 2009, with a turnover of MAD3.42 billion, compared to the previous year.
Restructuring and merger with ONA Group
The company planned a merger with ONA (Omnium Nord-Africain), to diversify their investments’ portfolio, in 2009. The merger was only announced by the boards of the two companies on March 26, 2010.[9] With this merger, the group shifted from its conglomerate structure controlling the activities of its subsidiaries to an investment fund company incubating, developing and disposing of companies and projects present in the Moroccan economy. The reorganisation gave the group's subsidiaries a larger autonomy in the management of their affairs.[10]
As a result of the SNI-ONA merger, both companies have been delisted from the Casablanca stock market, forming a new investment holding company. They later list their subsidiaries on the stock exchange market once they reach maturity growth.
According to the Casablanca Stock Exchange chief executive, Karim Hajji, the SNI-ONA merger “will improve greatly the liquidity of Casablanca bourse and spur other companies to relinquish their majority controls and sell shares to investors via the bourse."[11]
On February 22, 2013, the group agreed to sell its stakes in Centrale Laitière (dairy firm) to French partner Danone for $727.23 million.[12]
On November 30, 2014, the SNI appointed Hassan Ouriagli as the new CEO to replace Hassan Bouhemou.[13]
In 2015, the net profit attributable to shareholders rose from MAD3.31 billion to MAD3.56 billion.[14]
In 2016, the group registered a 34% rise in net profit, following the merger with Lafarge Ciments and Holcim Maroc.[15]
Renaming to Al Mada
On 28 March 2018, the SNI adopted its current name, Al Mada, as well as a new slogan, "Positive Impact", as it planned to expand its presence throughout the African continent.[16][17]
In March 2020, Al Mada donated 2 billion dirhams to a COVID-19 emergency fund created by King Mohammed VI.[18]
On 8 September 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 Mw hit Marrakesh-Safi region of Morocco.[19][20] 6 Days after the earthquake has struck, Al Mada under the instructions of King Mohammed VI donated 1 Billion dirhams for relief operations of quake-hit regions.[21][22]
Activities and partnerships
The group has a large footprint in the Moroccan economy, estimated to be worth 3% of its GDP. It holds investments in companies holding #1 positions in banking and mass retail. Its main activities encompass financial services with Attijariwafa Bank, mass distribution with Marjane, telecommunications with Inwi and mining with Managem Group. Societe Nationale d'Investissement has invested as well in renewable energy, tourism and real estate. It has partnered as well with foreign investors such as Lafarge in Lafarge Maroc and Arcelor Mittal in Sonasid.[23]
It has exited in 2012 and 2013 from the historic ONA Group agri-business activities, by selling its stakes in leader companies in edible oil, milk and dairy, sugar and biscuits to international leaders such as, Danone, Wilmar International and Mondelēz International.[24]
Partnership with Lafarge & Holcim Maroc
In 2016, SNI partnered with Lafarge Ciment and Holcim Maroc. The partnership is composed of two separate parts:[25] This operation is beneficial for both partners as they progress towards a Pan-African investment fund. It created the first industrial market capitalization in Casablanca for an amount of MAD40 billion (EUR3.7 billion).[25]
Partnership's implementation process: The partnership also resulted in the creation of a common development subsidiary called LH Maroc Afrique, that targets the Sub-Saharan French speaking Africa (Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Mauritania and Mali...).[25]
- The merging of Lafarge Ciments and Holcim Maroc produced LafargeHolcim Maroc, the second listed cement-manufacturers in Africa.
- The creation of a common development subsidiary in Sub-Saharan French speaking Africa.
- Merging of Holcim Maroc and Lafarge Ciment
- Assigning 50 percent to SNI of LafargeHolcim Maroc shares
- Contributing the new shares held by SNI and LafargeHolcim Maroc to Lafarge Maroc to retain the major part of the shares and control
Subsidiaries
Attijariwafa Bank
SNI initially held 48% stake in Attijariwafa bank. In January 2015, The conglomerate hired the Goldman Sachs and Rothschild banks to advise them on finalizing the deal of selling 19% of Attijariwafa bank to reduce SNI's debt.[26]
Nareva
Nareva holding is fully owned by SNI and focuses on renewable and coal energy.[27]
Cosumar
In 2013, SNI started collaborating with Cosumar only to resell the majority of its shares in 2014. In 2015, the firm completely sold the remaining shares to the stock market.[28]
Centrale Laitière and Bimo
SNI sold its share of 37.7% in Centrale Laitiére to the French firm Danone. It also sold its 50% share of Bimo to Kraft Foods.[12]
Lesieur Cristal
In 2014, the group sold its remaining stakes of Lesieur in a public sale.[29]
Other Subsidiaries
Société Nationale d'Investissement (SNI) owns several other firms :[30][31]
- Agma Lahlou-Tazi
- Lafarge Maroc
- Managem
- Marjane
- Nareva
- ONAPAR
- OPTORG
- SOMED
- SONASID
- Sotherma
- Wafa Assurance
- Wafa Cash
- Wafa Capital
- (Inwi)
- Aviation unit called Africaplane[32]
Controversy
The SNI and its former holding arm the ONA have been accused of monopolistic market practices and of corruption on several occasions. The fact that the holding's largest shareholder remains the Moroccan royal family has enabled it to exert significant political and economic pressure on its rivals and acquisition targets. A series of Wikileaks cables divulged in December 2010 revealed the reports of US diplomats casting doubts on the integrity of the dealings of the SNI (and ONA) and on the transparency of the King's business affairs.[33]
See also
- ONA Group
- List of Moroccan companies
References
- Noufissa Kessar nouvelle présidente-directrice générale d’Al Mada Le 360 Français, retrieved 2026-01-27^
- SNI_2012 cdvm.gov.ma, retrieved 24 December 2013^
- Attijariwafa bank retrieved 1 July 2013^
- Morocco's new African ambition the-report.com, retrieved 2017-05-19^
- Al Mada Arabian Gulf Business Insight, retrieved 2026-01-27^
- Societe Nationale d'Investissement S.A.: Private Company Information – Bloomberg bloomberg.com, retrieved 2017-05-19^
- Maroc : l’année où le groupe royal Al Mada est devenu panafricain JeuneAfrique.com, retrieved 2026-01-27^
- Santander vend 10% de ses parts d'Attijariwafa Bank yabiladi.com^
- Radical shift in strategy www.moroccobusinessnews.com, retrieved 2017-08-24^
- ONA, SNI merger audacious operation www.moroccobusinessnews.com, retrieved 2017-05-19^
- Merger of ONA-SNI to energise Casablanca bourse: CEO Reuters, 2017-04-07, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- Morocco's SNI sells stakes in dairy, biscuit companies Reuters, 2017-02-22, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- SNI: L'empreinte Ouriagli fr.le360.ma, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- UPDATE 1-Moroccan royal holding firm SNI reports 7.7 pct drop in 2015 profit Reuters, 2017-03-31, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- Morocco's SNI says 2016 profit up 34 pct - local media Reuters, 2017-03-29, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- SNI devient Al Mada, et nourrit des ambitions panafricaines Telquel, 2018-03-28, retrieved 2022-08-03^
- La holding royale SNI change de nom et devient Al Mada Le Desk, 2018-03-28, retrieved 2022-08-03^
- La holding royale Al Mada accorde 2 milliards de dirhams au Fonds de lutte contre le coronavirus H24info, 2020-03-17, retrieved 2022-08-03^
- Morocco earthquake: More than 2,000 dead as tremors felt in several regions BBC News, 2023-09-08, retrieved 2023-09-11^
- Over 2,000 dead as powerful earthquake hits Morocco near Marrakesh www.aljazeera.com, retrieved 2023-09-11^
- Royal holding company donates 1 billion dirhams to quake fund HESPRESS English - Morocco News, 2023-09-14, retrieved 2023-09-14^
- Oussama Aamari. King Mohammed VI Makes MAD 1 Billion Donation to Earthquake Victims Morocco World News, 14 September 2023, retrieved 15 September 2023^
- Arcelor Raises Interest in Morocco Steelmaker Sonasid in Association with SNI and Local Partners www.businesswire.com, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- DairyReporter.com. Danone ups stake in Moroccan dairy Central Laitière to 90% DairyReporter.com, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- SNI Reinforces Historical Partnership with LafargeHolcim retrieved 2017-05-22^
- Morocco's SNI Plans to Sell Stakes at Attijariwafa Bank Morocco World News, 2015-02-09, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- UPDATE 1-Nareva-led group wins $1.2 bln wind power deal af.reuters.com, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- La SNI: un holding (presque) sans sucre Al Huffington Post, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- Morocco's SNI to sell its 23.6 pct stake in Lesieur Reuters, 2017-05-17, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- UPDATE 1-Moroccan royal holding firm SNI reports 7.7 pct drop in 2015 profit Reuters, 2017-03-31, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- UPDATE 1-Moroccan royal holding firm SNI's 2014 profit falls 42 pct Reuters, 2017-03-30, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- African Aerospace - SNI establishes own passenger charter unit africanaerospace.aero, retrieved 2017-05-22^
- US embassy cables: Moroccan sacking exposes king's business role the Guardian^