Latest news with #SWIGroup
Gulf Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Swiss-Based SWI Group Targets Europe's AI Infrastructure Gap
Under the watch of Chairman Max-Hervé George, the Swiss investment firm is steering long-term capital toward the backbone of Europe's digital economy. SWI Group, a diversified investment firm headquartered in Switzerland, is repositioning itself to meet the demands of Europe's fast-changing digital economy. With a deep bench in real estate, private equity, and structured finance, the firm is now focusing heavily on artificial intelligence and data centre infrastructure—sectors increasingly viewed as central to economic resilience and technological sovereignty. This pivot reflects a broader realignment within European capital markets, as traditional asset classes face margin compression and geopolitical volatility. For SWI, the opportunity lies in capturing long-term growth at the infrastructure layer of AI and digital services. Max-Hervé George, the firm's Chairman and Co-CEO, sees the shift as essential. 'We are at the start of a secular transformation in how data is processed, stored, and monetized,' he said. 'Our aim is to invest not just in trends, but in foundations.' The move comes as Europe grapples with its digital dependence on non-European cloud providers. Policy momentum—driven by digital sovereignty goals and the Green Deal—is pushing for domestically owned, carbon-conscious data infrastructure. SWI's focus on this intersection of technology and sustainability is timely. While other firms are chasing late-stage AI startups, SWI's thesis is more infrastructure-first. The firm is pursuing green data centre sites, AI-enabled logistics platforms, and software ecosystems that integrate with the European regulatory framework. This conservative yet forward-looking strategy allows SWI to stay above the noise while investing in defensible, long-term assets. Strategically, SWI's multi-sector background gives it an edge in identifying real-world bottlenecks in AI deployment, whether they be latency issues in logistics or lack of processing power in edge computing applications. This intelligence is already informing the firm's pipeline, which includes AI infrastructure hubs in secondary European markets where power availability, land cost, and policy support align. 'SWI is not just moving capital—we're translating vision into infrastructure,' George added. 'We're not reacting to today's headlines. We're investing in tomorrow's reality.' With one foot in the physical economy and one in the digital, SWI Group appears well-placed to bridge Europe's past and future.
Entrepreneur
06-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Strategic Mergers and Global Growth: How Integration and Diversification Built a $11 Billion Investment Platform
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The strategic vision and clear direction behind Icona Capital and Stoneweg's merger to create SWI Group exceeds their USD 11 billion multi-region investment portfolio in Europe, North America, and Asia. The initiative represents more than just rebranding because it transforms modern international investment platforms into a new era of possibilities. The journey began under the leadership of Max-Hervé George at Icona Capital when Stoneweg became the firm's Swiss investment advisory partner in 2020. Their collaboration gained significant media attention with the acquisition of a 211,000 sqm Casbega bottling plant in Fuenlabrada, Madrid. Thor Equities later purchased the property to develop a USD 650 million state-of-the-art data center—an opportunity first identified by George and his team and executed in partnership with Stoneweg. Strategic Synergy and Shared Vision Through his analysis, Max-Hervé George saw how Icona Capital's alternative investment methods would collaborate with Stoneweg's real estate knowledge. George has assumed the Chair role at SWI Group to emphasize that the merged entity expands markets while offering expanded products to draw investment from institutional clients. Through strategic partnership, the venture builds an international investment solution yet stays closely connected to local market dynamics, supported by local workforce expertise. As Co-CEO of SWI Group, Jaume Sabate formerly served as Stoneweg CEO before the teams converged effortlessly. "We established multiple acquisition alliances with Max-Hervé George and his Icona Capital teams; therefore, we look forward to uniting our work locations," he declared. SWI Group was officially formed in 2024 from the combined strengths of Stoneweg Real Estate Foundations and Icona Capital's various portfolio holdings. Icona Capital expanded its operations to luxury hospitality through the acquisition of a Maldivian island that would become an ultra-luxury resort development project prior to the merger. Through its fundamental business strategy, SWI Group continues to develop digital infrastructure and logistics and warehousing systems, which represent prominent growth markets in the modern global economy. Landmark Acquisition and Increased AUM A crucial acquisition moment happened when Redefine Properties, together with Oak Grove, jointly invested USD 330 million to buy Cromwell Property Group's European fund management infrastructure with its associated investments. Under the deal, the company obtained USD 4.2 billion worth of assets under management through a stake purchase in Cromwell European REIT, which amounted to 27.8 per cent. The company took a significant step towards establishing its institutional infrastructure, according to George. The organization enhances its exposure to modern business sectors as well as international markets, which play an essential role in its multi-asset structure. A Global Platform with Local Expertise SWI Group currently has over 350 professionals working in 26 offices distributed across 18 countries. The company unites its international investment ideas with domestic market knowledge through a single operation. The company plans infrastructure-driven expansion through its dedication to the UK market and its goal to enhance data center and logistics operations. The transformation of Icona Capital and Stoneweg into SWI Group is more than a corporate restructuring, it's a case study in how to scale through strategic integration. By leveraging complementary strengths and maintaining an agile, multi-asset investment approach, SWI Group offers a blueprint for converting niche expertise into global dominance.
Arabian Business
24-04-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Max-Herve George heads new $11 billion investment platform
French entrepreneur Max-Herve George's SWI Group, formed through the merger of his alternative investment platform, Icona Capital and Stoneweg, a Swiss-based alternative investment group, has established a presence in the European real estate market. The $11 billion investment platform combines the resources of both organisations at a time when European property markets are experiencing changing dynamics. Savills, a global property consultant, projects European deal volume will reach €50 billion in Q1 2025. The firm forecasts full-year transactions of €216 billion across European markets. 'Our timing aligns with what we believe is a favourable window in the market cycle,' said Max-Herve George, who chairs SWI Group. 'We've built this platform specifically to capture opportunities emerging from the current shift in market dynamics.' According to Savills' data, Germany, France, and the UK are expected to be key destinations for real estate investment this year. Their research indicates logistics and residential sectors—both areas where SWI maintains positions—along with prime office buildings in major cities are attracting investor interest as market participants adapt to workplace trends and sustainability standards. 'With our combined expertise in logistics and residential sectors, we're uniquely positioned to benefit from these market trends,' Max-Herve George pointed out. 'Our long-term strategy has always emphasised these sectors, which are now seeing the strongest investor demand.' The European logistics sector currently shows vacancy rates of approximately 5 per cent across major markets, with limited availability of premium warehouse space in urban-adjacent locations. Similarly, residential vacancy rates in major European cities stand at around 3 per cent, with rent growth outpacing inflation in many markets. 'Our structural advantage comes from combining institutional-scale capital with localised execution capabilities,' Max-Herve George explained. 'This allows us to identify opportunities across diverse European markets.' SWI operates through two divisions: Stoneweg Real Assets, which focuses on traditional property investments, and Icona Alternatives, which handles private equity and venture capital activities. The organisation employs 350 professionals across 26 offices in 18 countries, providing market intelligence across multiple European regions. SWI recently completed a $303 million acquisition of Cromwell Property Group's European platform, including a 27.8 per cent stake in Cromwell European REIT, expanding the firm's European holdings. 'This acquisition gives us immediate scale and diversification,' noted Max-Herve George. 'It accelerates our ability to implement our investment strategy across multiple markets and property sectors as Europe's real estate recovery gains traction.' SWI Group offers institutional investors access to European property markets through a platform with significant scale and geographic diversification. Investing and crypto
Gulf Today
02-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
SWI Group: A new $11 billion titan reshaping alternative investment landscape
Gulf Network French billionaire Max-Hervé George orchestrates landmark merger creating powerful new investment platform The alternative investment sector witnessed a transformative development last week as SWI Group officially launched, marking the culmination of a strategic merger between Icona Capital and Stoneweg. With combined assets under management exceeding US $11 billion, this newly formed entity has instantly positioned itself as a major player across multiple investment categories. French entrepreneur Max-Hervé George, the driving force behind this integration, emphasized that the merger creates unprecedented opportunities for institutional investors seeking diversified exposure. "This key development elevates both organizations into a truly global platform with specialized expertise across complementary sectors," he noted during the announcement. Spearheaded by co-CEOs Max-Hervé George (former CEO of Icona Capital) and Jaume Sabater (former CEO of Stoneweg), SWI Group is poised to leverage its international network of over 350 professionals across 18 countries to pursue investments through two specialized divisions. Icona Alternatives will spearhead activities in Private Equity, Venture Capital, Special Situations, Liquid Strategy, Private Credit, and Sports & Entertainment, while Stoneweg Real Assets concentrates on Hospitality, Logistics, Offices, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Data Centers, and Experiential Ventures. The formation comes on the heels of a significant $303 million acquisition of Cromwell Property Group's European fund management platform and affiliated co-investments, which includes a 27.8% stake in Cromwell European REIT. This has added $4.2 billion in real estate assets under management, thereby substantially broadening SWI Group's European footprint. According to Max-Hervé George, SWI's strength lies in the union between its two companies, for it now provides enhanced efficiency and expanded international reach that delivers more attractive investment opportunities than either organization could offer independently. "Our approach centers on diversification and long-term value creation through expertise across multiple asset classes," he explained. Industry analysts view this coalition as particularly timely, arriving amid growing institutional demand for alternative investments with strong risk-adjusted returns. The merger's scale enables SWI Group to offer institutional-grade investment products with the agility typically associated with boutique investment firms. Max-Hervé George's vision for SWI Group reflects his broader investment philosophy of combining a global perspective with specialized local knowledge—a philosophy that is further reflected in the new brand's USP: a global presence anchored by local talent who are veterans in their chosen fields and who boast unparalleled local knowledge and networks that are extremely pertinent to such specialized jobs. The group's dual-division structure allows for specialized focus while maintaining coordinated strategic direction, positioning SWI Group to capitalize on cross-sector investment themes that increasingly characterize the alternative investment landscape.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Icona Capital and Stoneweg Unite to Form $11 Billion SWI Group
LONDON, UK / / April 1, 2025 / Icona Capital and Stoneweg have announced they will now operate under the unified SWI Group brand, managing over US 11 billion in combined assets under management (AUM). The integration of Icona Capital, a London-based alternative investment group, with Stonweg, a Geneva-headquartered real estate investment group, marks the creation of a significant new player in the alternative investment space. French billionaire Max-Hervé George leads strategic merger creating major alternative investment platform The newly formed group will operate across European and US markets, spanning multiple sectors but operating across two distinct business lines. Stoneweg Real Assets will focus primarily on strategies across Living, Hospitality, Logistics, Offices, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Data Centers, and Experiential Ventures. Meanwhile, Icona Alternatives will concentrate on Private Equity, Venture Capital, Special Situations, Liquid Strategy, Private Credit, Sports & Entertainment. Max-Hervé George whose vision has been instrumental in orchestrating this ambitious merger, shared his perspective: "This key development elevates both companies and creates a highly attractive institutional investment platform with global reach and local talent, across diverse complementary sectors." George will helm the group as co-CEO with Jaume Sabater, former CEO of Stoneweg. A cornerstone of this coalition was the recent acquisition of Cromwell Property Group's European fund management platform and associated co-investments for $303 million. This strategic move included a 27.8% stake in Cromwell European REIT, adding $4.2 billion of real estate assets under management. "SWI provides the benefits of a larger integrated business, increasing AUM, efficiency, international presence, and essentially delivering more attractive investment opportunities," Max-Hervé George added. "Our strategy emphasizes diversification and long-term value creation across multiple asset classes." With over 350 professionals working across 26 offices in 18 countries, SWI Group boasts substantial global reach. The company identifies its combination of international presence and local expertise in the form of their employees as a key competitive advantage. The scale achieved enhances SWI Group's appeal to institutional investors seeking diversified alternative investment opportunities. With the formation of SWI Group, Max-Hervé George continues to expand his influence in the alternative investment space, creating a platform that combines global reach with specialized expertise across multiple asset classes and geographies. Media DetailsCompany Name: Icona CapitalContact Person: Alexander MaxwellMail: harry@ London, United KingdomWebsite: SOURCE: Icona Capital View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
