Ljubljana, 23 April (STA) - Slovenian asset management companies manage EUR 6.3 billion in mutual funds on behalf of just over 345,000 investors. The net value has been increasing consistently before dipping this year due to uncertainty over US tariffs.
The asset managers NLB Skladi, Triglav Skladi, Sava Infond, Generali Investments and Primorski skladi managed 71 funds at the end of the first quarter of 2025, with equity funds being the most alluring to investors, accounting for 70% of total assets.
Last year saw record new net investments in mutual funds under the management of Slovenian companies. New investments amounted to EUR 873 million and cash-outs stood at EUR 352 million. In December, for example, the average holding per individual investor reached EUR 1,300, which is more than in the previous years.
"Last year was very successful. The net value of assets under management was increasing constantly," Mira K. Veljić, the head of the Association of Asset Managers, told the press on Wednesday as the association presented the performance of mutual funds in the first quarter of the year.
Noting the US tariffs policy, Veljić said that net assets under management decreased this spring. Nevertheless, investments still surpassed withdrawals.
In addition to mutual funds, two companies offer alternative investment funds and four provide clients with individual asset management, above all for legal entities.
These investments reached EUR 2.7 billion at the end of 2024, which means that combined with the EUR 6.3 billion under management in mutual funds, the association members had a total of EUR 9 billion under management.
While investments in mutual funds investments have been increasing steadily, Slovenians still keep most of their savings in banks, Triglav Skladi CEO Benjamin Jošar pointed out. "Cash, sight deposits and other bank deposits account for nearly half of financial assets of Slovenians, which is an immense amount," he said.
Jošar believes that this is a great opportunity for asset management companies, as well as pension funds managers and other financial institutions.
He is optimistic despite the US tariffs policy, noting that significant stock market fluctuations are normal. "The trend always points upward," he noted.
Veljić meanwhile welcomed legislation on individual investment accounts adopted by the government last week. "It is important that the bill promotes long-term saving," she said, expressing the belief that more favourable taxation will lead to a shift in assets from banks to individual investment plans.
