About

An annual by-invitation gathering of global investors to share investment ideas & network in a casual setting. 

‘The highest return on investment decision of the year’
–  HNW Private Investor

‘The European Value Investing Conference with the best social events and networking opportunities. You come for the ideas, you go with friends (and ideas).’
–  Swiss Family Office 

‘The combination of the people and the location is something special.’
–  UK Investor 

‘I go to a lot of conferences and usually I don’t hear many interesting ideas. Here I want to dig into most of them!’
–  USA Analyst 

Testimonials, Photos, & Videos:  Gallery
Most similar to:  Guy Spier’s VALUEx Klosters
Past attendants included:  Robotti & Co, Firebird Mgmt, Veraison Capital, LLB Asset Mgmt, Bank Havilland, Crescat Capital, Bireme Capital, Nordic Investment Partners, Vidya Capital, Quo Vadis Capital, Pastel & Associés, Axia Capital, Ambient Sound Inv., Sicart Associates, Stone Forest Capital, Renaissance Group, , Aquitania Capital Mgmt, Thistledown Inv Mgmt, Invesco Perpetual, River Oak Capital, Uguisu Research, Helsinki Partners, Forum Family Office, SIM Ltd, etc
To request an invitation see ‘Application’.
Organizer:  Sophocles Sophocleous, CFA

Why does the event exist?

As investors, we were never satisfied by the conferences and events we have been to.  The topics were too theoretical, the actionable ideas were scarce, the speakers were inaccessible, networking opportunities were either few or too formal and the costs are usually high.  So we decided to do something about it.  We created the Cyprus Value Investor Conference.

The event was organized for the first time in 2016 by Sophocles Sophocleous (fatalpha.com) and Tim du Toit (quant-investing.com).  If you’d like to read a bit about the history of the event please read the May 2018 article “How The Event Was Born And The Resulting Chain Reaction.”

Who should attend?

The event is by investors for investors.  If you are a professional investor, retail investor, family office, wealth manager, academic or otherwise interested in the markets and share our philosophy (see below) then you are welcome.  The quality of the content and participants is second to none and it is the main reason several professionals have been coming back for years.  Money does not buy you a place at this table, and we couldn’t care less if you manage $1m or $1b.  All participants have the opportunity to present regardless of wealth, fame, and AUM.  Do you have an idea worth sharing?

Event Goals & Philosophy

Our goal is to create an environment that is conducive to learning and sharing, the development of friendships between investors, and for everyone to walk away with a tangible benefit.  The event is kept small so as to allow people to get to know each other and for friendships to develop.  As a result, participants hear investment ideas, gain knowledge from the topics discussed and get to meet new and interesting investors from around the world.

As this is an idea exchange, participants are asked to contribute in some way to the event.  This is usually by a presentation on an investment idea, topic or a Q&A session.  In other words some type of sharing of information and knowledge.  This helps everyone become better investors and to benefit directly.  In addition, it allows everyone to get to know the participant which usually leads to further discussion.

Non-solicitation rule

We share a similar rule to Guy Spier’s VALUEx.  The rule regards non-solicitation and is as follows:  During the whole event, please refrain from all unsolicited pitches – whether of investment or of business propositions.  You should of course, feel free to respond to genuine enquiries of interest from other participants.  Our goal in doing this is to create an environment that is conducive to learning and sharing.  We have learned that some of our highest valued participants will not come if they think that they will be accosted by enthusiastic salespeople.  During the event, there are plenty of networking opportunities so once everyone gets to know each other, any future business happens on its own and thus sales pitches are not required.  So no participant needs to worry about their story or business not getting known.  But we frown upon ‘cold-calling’ type pitches.  The small size of the event ensures that everyone will speak to everyone.

F.A.Q.

What's included in the event fee?

Lunches, dinners, and activities over the 2-days.

How do I book a room at the hotel?

We will send you a special hotel link with the special rates. You need to use this link to book your room and settle the cost directly with the hotel. If you need a different room then please feel free to contact the hotel and mention to them that you are coming for the event. They will most likely do their best to satisfy you at an attractive rate. We have reserved a limited number of rooms that will be released past a certain date so book early. Should you not book, we do not guarantee you will find a room. Rooms are filled within a month of the event, hence book at least 2 months in advance. The hotel is flexible and allows changes.

Group Chat

We have a private chat on WhatsApp for participants only. We use it for announcements but also for investors to communicate during the 2-day event and to discuss the ideas presented. We recommend that you join.

How long are the presentations?

We allocated a total of 20 minutes for each presentation which includes a minimum of 5 minutes of Q&A so speakers have up to 15 minutes to present. Speakers are free to shorten their presentation to 10 minutes if they would like to engage in a longer Q&A. In other words, if a speaker presents in 10 minutes then the Q&A will be 10 minutes.

I am presenting for the first time. How should my presentation be structured?

Presentations are investment ideas or topics. 90% of the presentation should be about the idea or topic. That means during a 15-minute presentation, no more than 1-2 minutes must be spent on speaker background, process or company. There are plenty of networking opportunities during the breaks, lunches, dinners, and activities. Speaker profiles are also featured on the website.

How strict is time allocated?

Very strict. We will cut you off at the 15-minute mark. In our experience the majority of participants prefer we keep to the schedule. In our opinion, very few presentations need more time to get the main points across. If you feel your presentation is RARE, has multiple dimensions and may need more time then contact us a minimum of 10 days before the event and we will look into your request. An example of a presentation that needed more time was one that a) had a macro background aspect as it was in an Emerging Market, and b) the investment idea was a holding company with multiple holdings in different sectors. Please assume that your request for more time will most likely be denied.

I'm running late for an activity. Will I miss the bus?

Yes, as noted above we run a tight schedule. We will depart and you will need to find your own transport.

What should I wear?

Whatever is comfortable. This is a small private idea-exchange with investment professionals that gather to discuss the markets in a casual setting. No ties or suits are needed. People usually wear jeans and a polo shirt, but have been even more casual (shorts and a t-shirt).

How do I get to the hotel?

We recommend you take a taxi from the airport. The cost usually ranges from EUR 50-70. You can book a taxi directly from the hotel website. There are always taxis at the airport. Alternatively, you can email practically any local taxi company and get an agreed-upon rate. The rate would be the same for up to 4 people for almost all taxi companies. There is also a bus shuttle company that is cheaper but would require you to then take an extra taxi from the station to the hotel. Shuttle website: https://www.kapnosairportshuttle.com/

Where can I find all the event presentations?

Following the event, we will upload all the presentations to a password-protected page. If for whatever reason you do not want to share your presentation then please let us know and we won’t upload it.

What food will be served?

The hotel lunch is a buffet, while the dinners will vary from year to year (we may do a fish meze one night and a meat meze on another). Both lunches and dinners are very rich, full meals and participants have so far loved them. If you have allergies please speak with the staff at the venue we will be eating at. We assume no responsibility for your health.

What is the currency in Cyprus?

The Euro

Is Cyprus safe?

Very