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SWI Group, formed through the recent merger of Icona Capital and Stoneweg, has established operations across 18 countries with $11 billion in assets under management. This marks a significant expansion of French billionaire Max-Herve George’s global investment footprint.
The newly combined entity employs over 350 professionals across 26 offices spanning three continents – Europe, North America, and Asia. With headquarters in London, Geneva, and Luxembourg, SWI Group has quickly positioned itself to capitalize on investment opportunities across a multitude of markets.
“Our long-term global expansion strategy is centered on building presence in key growth markets,” said Max-Herve George, who serves as Chairman of SWI Group. “We’ve established local teams in strategic locations to identify opportunities that might be overlooked by firms who lack the on-the-ground expertise we possess.”
Their international growth accelerated with SWI’s recent $303 million acquisition of Cromwell Property Group’s European platform. This included a 27.8% stake in Cromwell European REIT, adding $4.2 billion in real estate assets to the group’s portfolio.
“This acquisition substantially enhances our European footprint,” George explained. “We’re now active in several additional markets where we see significant growth potential.”
The group operates through two complementary divisions: Stoneweg Real Assets manages property investments across multiple countries, while Icona Alternatives oversees private equity, venture capital, and specialized investments on a global scale.
SWI has identified several priority markets for expansion, with particular focus on logistics facilities serving international e-commerce networks. The group also maintains an interest in key infrastructure investments, including data centers in markets such as Britain which have favorable regulatory environments.
“We’re building a truly global alternative investment platform,” said a company spokesperson. “Max-Herve’s vision involves connecting capital with opportunities across borders, leveraging our multinational presence.”
