[1] § 51 The Compagnie des chemins économiques de l’Est égyptien was founded on 19 May 1897 by the Belgian aristocrat Édouard Empain (born 1852; died 1929) as a PLC.

The concession was given to the banks of the Suarès brothers, Félix de Menasce, Cattaui and Wilhelm Pelizaeus.

The Paribas bank signed for a quarter of the capital, which was shared amongst the founders proportionally and elected a Member of the Board.

[1] § 51 The railway company issued 12,500 stock exchange certificates at 3.5% of the total capital, i.e. 20 GBP (504 F) each, to be paid back within 70 years.

The guaranteed annual net income of 315,000 F for the 350 km of railway track, promised to provide a profitable margin in comparison to the 242,304 F investment.