The Cypriot financial market supervisor has withdrawn the Cyprus Investment Firm (CIF) license of PMT Matrix Capital. Though announced on Wednesday, the decision was confirmed by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC ) on December 7, 2021.
Based in Cyprus, PMT is an alternative investment fund manager / UCITS management company. It ‘specializes in providing management services to AIFs and UCITS with various investment strategies: to hedge funds, to private equity funds, to funds of funds and to other funds’.
However, the Cypriot regulator granted authorization as a manager of Alternative Investment funds (AIFs) and company management of undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) to the company.
Gateway to European Financial Market
Cyprus is seen as one of the favorite jurisdictions for financial services companies that are offering services within the European Economic Area (EEA). However, the regulator is vigilant against any lapses by the companies and imposes penalties.
In extreme cases, the regulator is even suspending licenses of financial services companies which sometimes leads to total withdrawal of authorization. Last month, the regulator withdrew the CIF license of the troubled AFX Capital Markets Ltd and even imposed heavy monetary penalties on its directors for compliance lapses.
Other companies that faced a withdrawal of their CIF licenses in 2021 include London Capital Group (Cyprus), Forex4group operator Stocks Forex AF, 24Option operator Rodeler and Globia Wealth.
Furthermore, the regulator temporarily suspended the authorization of several other companies for compliance violations. One such platform was Depaho, but the regulatory decision was recalled last November.
Meanwhile, the Cypriot regulator is allowing United Kingdom-based companies, which are seeking licenses within the EU after Brexit, to operate in the country with temporary permissions.
