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Investment Management Landscape In Q2 2025: Declining Firms And Stable Asset Performance

Overview Of The Industry

The latest quarterly report from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission highlights a notable contraction in the number of collective investment management firms. At the end of the second quarter of 2025, a total of 319 management companies were registered, down 2.74% from the 328 firms recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

Asset Under Management And Performance

Collective investment schemes reported a total managed asset value of €10.6 billion, reflecting a marginal decline of 1.03% compared to the first quarter of 2025. The net asset value currently stands at €9.8 billion, underscoring a steady yet subdued market performance.

Managerial Composition And Structure

Of the 319 entities, 222 are externally managed, 30 are managed internally, and 67 are operated by external managers. The total cohort comprises 45 DOEEE, another 45 operating below regulatory thresholds, 2 OSEK-controlled management companies, and 5 firms holding dual licenses (DOEEE and OSEK-controlled).

Investment Allocation Breakdown

The distribution of assets reflects a diverse investment strategy. Specifically, 62% of the assets are sourced from DOEEE, 17% derive from a combination of DOEEE and OSEK-managed companies, 11% from solely OSEK-managed firms, 9% from lower-threshold DOEEE, and 1% from OSE under management by non-Cypriot firms. Furthermore, 85.7% of OSEK’s assets are invested in securities, 9.1% in OSEK and OSE shares, and 4.1% in bank deposits.

Further Insights Into Sectoral Allocations

Asset allocation among OEEE, OEEE-PAP, and KOEEE indicates a targeted approach, with 31.6% invested in private equity, 17.8% in real estate, 10.3% in hedging strategies, and the remaining 30.6% spread across other asset classes. The private equity segment itself is diversified into multiple strategies (33.7%), growth capital (31.1%), entrepreneurial investments (16.2%), and mezzanine financing (4.4%). Additionally, other investments are allocated with 38.2% in equity capital, 14.4% in fixed-income securities, 6.6% in cash equivalents, alongside investments in infrastructure (2.9%) and commodities (2%).

Domestic Focus And Investor Demographics

Approximately 73.7% of the assets are managed by 208 Cypriot OSE entities, which include 12 OSEK, 54 OEEE, 40 OEEE-PAP, and 102 KOEEE. Out of 230 active OSE firms, 170 deploy investments partially or wholly in Cyprus, with total investments exceeding €2.75 billion and representing 25.89% of overall assets. Notably, these are predominantly focused on private equity (70.4%) with a significant allocation also in real estate (13.3%). On the investor front, private investors command a staggering 99.1% of OSEK’s base (totaling 8,819 investors), while among the 3,639 investors in OEEE, OEEE-PAP, and KOEEE, 62.9% are well-informed, 25.3% are professional, and 11.8% are private individuals.

Sector Specific Performance

Sector-wise, the assets under management recorded €446.1 million in Energy (4.2%), €106.3 million in Financial Technology (1%), €581.7 million in Shipping (5.47%), and €96.5 million in Sustainable Investments (0.91%) during the second quarter of 2025. These figures underscore a measured yet diverse approach to sectoral investments across the board.

Bank of Cyprus Upgrade Signals Fresh Optimism For Greek And Cypriot Banks

Regional Banks Enter A More Favorable Cycle

Bank of Cyprus and Eurobank are well positioned to benefit from a renewed re-rating of Greek and Cypriot bank stocks, according to Cyprus-based investment firm Roemer Capital, which upgraded Bank of Cyprus to a buy rating and reaffirmed its positive view on Eurobank.

The firm cited easing geopolitical tensions, resilient economic growth in Greece and Cyprus, lower funding costs and Greece’s expected transition to developed-market status as the main factors supporting the sector.

Roemer Capital also lowered its cost of equity assumptions, updated its forecasts following first-quarter 2026 results and extended its valuation horizon to the end of 2027, raising target prices across its banking coverage.

Bank Of Cyprus Gets The Largest Upgrade

Bank of Cyprus received the biggest revision, with Roemer Capital upgrading the stock from hold to buy and setting a target price of €11.10, implying potential total upside of 27%.

The firm highlighted the bank’s strong capital generation, profitability and projected 100% dividend payout, describing it as the strongest capital-return story among the banks under coverage. Roemer Capital maintained its buy rating on Eurobank, assigning a target price of €4.90 and forecasting potential upside of 28%. The report said the bank is well placed to benefit from loan growth, improving operating performance and merger-and-acquisition synergies.

National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank also retained buy ratings, with expected returns ranging from 25% to 36%. Optima Bank was upgraded to buy, while Alpha Bank remained at hold on valuation grounds.

Why Growth Still Sets The Region Apart

According to Roemer Capital, Greek and Cypriot banks continue to benefit from stronger economic fundamentals than many western European peers. The report pointed to faster economic growth, healthier balance sheets, low levels of non-performing exposures, capital ratios approaching 20% and strong customer deposit bases.

Analysts expect performing loans across the sector to grow at a compound annual rate of 6% to 8% through 2028, supported by private investment, digitalisation, green manufacturing, supply-chain expansion and a gradual recovery in household lending.

The report also said the conclusion of lending under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility is unlikely to materially affect credit growth, as banks have already shifted back towards traditional commercial lending. Roemer Capital expects Euribor to remain between 2.2% and 2.5%, a level it believes should support both lending activity and net interest margins.

Geopolitics, Valuation And Market Structure Support The Case

The report said improving geopolitical conditions have strengthened the investment outlook, noting that Brent crude prices have largely returned to pre-war levels while Greek government bond yields have stabilised at around 3.5%. Although geopolitical risks remain, Roemer Capital believes the likelihood of a major inflationary shock or significant pressure on bank profitability has eased.

Another important catalyst identified by the firm is Greece’s expected promotion to developed-market status by FTSE Russell, STOXX and MSCI over the coming months.

According to the report, the reclassification should improve liquidity and attract a broader base of international investors. Roemer Capital also said Euronext’s acquisition of the Athens Exchange is expected to strengthen market infrastructure and increase international visibility, particularly for Bank of Cyprus and Optima Bank.

The firm noted that Bank of Cyprus has already benefited from its Athens listing, with average daily trading value increasing from less than €400,000 before its September 2024 move to nearly €6 million afterwards.

Economic Momentum Remains A Core Tailwind

Roemer Capital said both Greece and Cyprus have moved beyond post-crisis recovery and are now supported by private-sector-led growth. For Cyprus, the report highlighted recent tax reform and efforts to simplify the legal and regulatory framework, while also noting that limited foreign banking competition continues to support domestic lenders.

Overall, Roemer Capital expects Greek and Cypriot banks to remain well-positioned for profitable loan growth over the coming years.

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