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Bank Of Cyprus Delivers Robust Profitability And Strong Shareholder Returns Amid Resilient Economic Conditions

The Bank of Cyprus has reported an impressive profit after tax of €353 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025. This result, which underscores the bank’s resilience in the current interest rate environment, is supported by a robust net interest income, strong liquidity, and improved cost efficiency.

Steady Growth And Lending Performance

In the third quarter alone, the bank recorded a profit after tax of €118 million, while maintaining a cost-to-income ratio of 35 per cent and a return on tangible equity (ROTE) of 18.4 per cent. New lending surged to €2.2 billion, reflecting a 31 per cent year-on-year increase driven largely by international and corporate demand. Gross performing loans increased by 6 per cent to reach €10.71 billion, supported by steady growth in both the domestic and international markets.

Enhanced Capital Strength And Risk Management

The bank has demonstrated strong capital generation, with organic gains of 326 basis points over the period. A robust capital position is evident with a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 20.5 per cent and a total capital ratio of 25.4 per cent. Furthermore, the non-performing exposure (NPE) ratio improved to 1.2 per cent, while the cost of risk remained contained at 35 basis points. The successful refinancing of €300 million in Tier 2 notes at a favorable coupon rate of 4.25 per cent further enhanced the bank’s funding profile.

Commitment To Shareholders And Strategic Outlook

In line with its commitment to generating shareholder value, the Bank of Cyprus declared an interim dividend of €0.20 per ordinary share in October 2025 and reaffirmed its target of a 70 per cent payout ratio for the year. CEO Panicos Nicolaou emphasized the bank’s strong performance, noting the 6 per cent year-on-year growth in tangible book value per share to €5.86, complemented by total cash dividends of €0.68 per share in 2025.

Economic Resilience And Future Targets

Nicolaou highlighted that domestic economic growth in Cyprus is outpacing the Euro area average, with projections from the Finance Ministry indicating a 3.2 per cent real GDP growth for 2025. This dynamic environment has motivated the bank to raise its ROTE target for 2025 to the high-teens, with expectations to surpass 20 per cent ROTE at a 15 per cent CET1 ratio. The Bank of Cyprus remains committed to executing its strategic plan, ensuring robust support for its customers and the broader Cypriot economy while continuing to deliver attractive returns to its shareholders.

Capital Maritime Finance Raises €300 Million In Athens IPO

Capital Maritime Finance has raised €300 million through its stock market debut in Athens, marking Greece’s largest maritime equity offering and the first primary listing of a shipping company exclusively on Euronext Athens.

Strong Investor Demand For Shipping Shares

The initial public offering attracted strong interest from Greek and international investors, with demand exceeding the shares available by 4.34 times, according to Euronext. Shares were priced at €7.50 each, giving the container shipping company a market capitalisation of €1.05 billion on its first day of trading under the ticker CMFC.

The response highlights investor interest in shipping companies with modern fleets, predictable earnings and long-term charter agreements, which can provide greater revenue visibility in a cyclical industry.

Fleet Expansion Supports Growth Strategy

Capital Maritime Finance currently operates 13 vessels with a combined capacity of 27,891 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). A further 23 container ships are under construction and will add 120,874 TEU to its fleet.

Once all vessels have been delivered, the company will operate 36 fully owned container ships, all covered by long-term charter agreements extending to 2038. These contracts provide greater visibility over future revenue, helping mitigate some of the uncertainty associated with fluctuations in vessel values and freight rates.

IPO Increases Share Capital

The offering included the issuance of 40 million new shares, bringing the company’s total share capital to 140 million shares. All shares have been admitted to trading on Euronext Athens.

A Milestone For Greece’s Maritime Market

Capital Maritime Finance chairman Gerasimos Kalogiratos described the strong investor response as “a vote of confidence” in the company’s business model, modern fleet and expansion strategy. He added that the listing “strengthens Greece’s position as a global maritime hub.”

The transaction marks the third shipping company listing on Euronext Athens in 2026 and the 70th listing across Euronext’s markets this year. It also highlights the role of equity markets in financing capital-intensive industries such as shipping.

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