"The QIF market is going through a cleansing. The winners will be those with real global assets, independent audits, and a properly chosen valuation methodology."

15/4/2026

Turbulence in the Czech qualified investor fund (QIF) market has triggered a wave of anxiety. While some local projects are struggling with liquidity or lack of transparency, the r2p invest SICAV fund demonstrates stability backed by long-established expertise and partnerships with industry leaders. "Our business model is inherently counter-cyclical," says fund co-founder Petr Žáček in a candid interview about the current state of the market and the fund.

The Era of "Stories" Is Over — Hard Data Takes Over

Petr, the QIF market in the Czech Republic is currently under scrutiny. Several funds have announced their closure, while others are shaken by internal problems. How do you read the current situation?

The market is going through a necessary phase of maturation. The era when a compelling "story" was enough to win trust is over. Today, professional brokers and institutional partners demand hard data. We feel this anxiety, but we are not succumbing to it. These are precisely the moments that reveal the vast difference between funds built on local speculative capital and those that rely on a real, globally diversified business. The pressure now being placed on funds and their managers is something we consider healthy. Tightening processes and more rigorous oversight are exactly the mechanisms that will cleanse the market of unhealthy players.

Know-How as Proof of Stability

You speak of global diversification. What specific steps confirm that your strategy is working even in these times?

The best proof is our long track record and the inflow of real liquidity. Recently, we successfully completed portfolio acquisitions in Mexico and the Philippines — markets with enormous absorption capacity.

Our debt management and receivables acquisition model is by definition counter-cyclical. As the global economy cools and the credit market tightens, the value of our know-how grows. We don't wait for rising property prices or low interest rates — we benefit from market dynamics where efficient debt management is a key commodity.

Deep-Dive Due Diligence and Strategic Partnerships

For professional advisors, "Due Diligence" is a key concept. You recently underwent a review by Swiss Life Select. What was the outcome?

Yes, the r2p invest SICAV fund successfully passed a thorough Due Diligence review conducted by analysts from Swiss Life Select. For anyone working in this field, it is clear what that means: an institution of that size does not risk its reputation on an average product. The review confirmed in detail our internal structure, transparency, valuation model, and the sustainability of returns.

As part of our distribution expansion, we have had a long-standing collaboration with Cyrrus and have decided to deepen that partnership. We are also now very successfully working with selected investment specialists from the Partners network. These steps send a clear signal to our partners: we are vetted, audited, and institutionally accepted.

"In 2026, trust is not built through marketing, but through sharing data with the professional community."

Transparency Under the Hood

There is a lot of discussion about asset valuation within funds. How do you guarantee investors that the figures in your reports reflect reality?

We have done everything possible to ensure absolute transparency. For valuation purposes, we use a professional model from Grant Thornton. We also organized a conference for more than 100 key figures from the business world and the QIF sector, where we literally "opened the hood" of our engine. We presented the details of our business, our valuation methodology, and our predictive models. We have also significantly strengthened VIA shares, which gives us a robust capital base and reinforces the stability of the entire fund.

Geopolitics: Focus on Automotive and Security

Geopolitics is a major topic today. How do these influences affect your exposure in Cyprus or in the Middle East region?

This needs to be put into proper perspective. We do not operate in the Middle East at all, so the ongoing armed conflict there does not affect us in any way. The only thing we monitor from a broader regional perspective is Cyprus, where we have our automotive business.

We keep an eye on the situation in Cyprus, but it is important to emphasize that we have not seen any decline in business — let alone any potential risk — in connection with developments in the surrounding regions. Cyprus remains a stable and secure operational base for us. The stability of the r2p group rests on the fact that we are not dependent on a single economy or a single political cycle.

A Message to Business Partners

What would you say to top brokers who currently bear responsibility for their clients' portfolios?

Look beneath the surface. Funds that have a clear asset base, independent valuation, and international reach will not only survive this situation — they will emerge from it stronger. Over the past year, we have demonstrated that we can generate liquidity even in very demanding markets, and that our structure can withstand even the most rigorous scrutiny. We are here for long-term partnerships built on facts, not emotions.