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BlackRock Emerges As Principal Shareholder In Freedom Holding Corp

Strategic Investment Boost

BlackRock has taken a pivotal step by surging to the position of the second-largest shareholder in Freedom Holding Corp, elevating its stake to 0.85 percent with an investment valued at approximately $89 million. This move, which involved the acquisition of an additional 443,965 shares for a total holding of 520,565 shares, strategically positions BlackRock just behind founder and CEO Timur Turlov.

Global Institutional Confidence

The investment by BlackRock underscores a broader trend of growing global institutional confidence in Freedom Holding Corp. This sentiment is shared by other major investors including State Street Corp., Grace Partners of DuPage L.P., and Geode Capital Management. CEO Timur Turlov commented on the positive market reception, stating, “We welcome the growing interest from global institutional investors. The presence of partners such as BlackRock confirms the resilience of our business and the strategic potential of Freedom Holding in international markets.”

Financial Strength and Expanded Horizons

Freedom Holding Corp, which is traded on NASDAQ under the ticker FRHC, continues to demonstrate robust financial performance. For the 2025 fiscal year, the company reported revenue of $2.05 billion—a 23 percent increase year-on-year—and a net profit of $84.5 million, alongside an asset expansion from $8.3 billion to $9.9 billion. As the parent firm of the Freedom24 investment platform, Freedom Holding is also advancing its international footprint by developing a comprehensive ecosystem that includes banking, insurance, brokerage, and a suite of digital lifestyle services.

Conclusion

BlackRock’s enhanced stake not only highlights its confidence in Freedom Holding’s strategic direction but also reinforces the company’s strong market position and growth prospects. As the largest asset manager continues to deploy its significant resources and risk analytics expertise through its industry-leading platforms, the investment marks a clear vote of confidence in Freedom Holding’s ongoing international expansion and innovative financial strategy.

Cyprus Tourism Shows Strength As Clean Monday Hotel Bookings Surge

Hotels Embrace A Bright Outlook

Recent figures point to growing momentum in hotel reservations ahead of the Clean Monday weekend, signaling renewed confidence in Cyprus’ tourism sector. Christos Angelides, Director of PASYXE, emphasized the positive trend while also underscoring the need to gradually extend the tourism season beyond traditional peak months.

Favorable Conditions And Festive Spirit

Angelides noted that bookings recorded during the past weekend reached encouraging levels, a development attributed to multiple converging factors. The return of sunny weather after prolonged rainfall, coupled with the festive aura of carnival events and children’s parades in cities such as Nicosia, Limassol, and Paphos, has motivated many to opt for short getaways. This seasonal momentum is further boosted by the strategic initiatives of local hotels, many of which are curating special menus for Clean Monday events, offering guests an enhanced stay experience by keeping them on-premise.

Positioning For The Off-Season

Despite the positive indicators, Angelides cautioned that average occupancy rates of 25%–30% highlight the need for continued innovation rather than complacency. He described the current period as part of a longer process of building winter tourism and pointed to opportunities in conferences, corporate events and niche travel segments as potential drivers of year-round demand.

Expanding Air Connectivity and Collective Ecosystem

Industry expectations are further supported by expanded air connections from established markets such as the United Kingdom and Israel, alongside increased routes from Armenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia and Poland. While recovery in the German market remains gradual, broader improvements in connectivity continue to strengthen overall tourism prospects. Angelides added that sustainable year-round tourism depends on a wider ecosystem that extends beyond accommodation to include restaurants, museums, cultural venues and community events.

The Path Forward

Cyprus continues to benefit from strong competitive advantages in climate, accessibility and hospitality infrastructure. With coordinated planning across tourism stakeholders and consistent investment in diversified offerings, the sector is positioned to contribute more steadily to the national economy and support a more balanced, all-season travel model.

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