SWI Group's Max-Hervé George backs major data centre expansion with AiOnX to power Europe's AI growth
With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, sovereign cloud storage, and cross-border compute demands, George is closely aligned with the vision behind AiOnX - a dedicated platform for high-density, energy-efficient data centre infrastructure across Europe.
With a long-term goal of building a €20 billion platform across five strategic locations, AiOnX is developing sovereign-grade, hyperscale data centres that will span over 313 hectares and deliver up to 2GW of total power capacity. The platform is focused on underpenetrated but policy-aligned markets across Europe, bringing together high-performance infrastructure, modular scalability, and integrated renewable energy.
AiOnX has already initiated one of its UK-based projects in Cambridgeshire, an emerging hub for technology and advanced research. The location benefits from strategic proximity to innovation clusters, grid access, and regulatory stability, making it an ideal environment for AiOnX to execute its sustainability-forward, performance-driven infrastructure model.
"AI and data infrastructure aren't just emerging sectors - they're rapidly becoming foundational pillars of modern economies," said George. "Our role as investors is to anticipate these shifts and position ourselves with conviction."
As data increasingly becomes a national asset, infrastructure like AiOnX is critical to ensuring operational independence, compliance with digital policies, and resilience in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
10 minutes ago
- Al Etihad
UAE tops GCC projects market in Q2 2025
20 July 2025 11:51 A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI) The UAE has emerged as the top-performing projects market in the GCC region during Q2 2025, overtaking Saudi Arabia as the region's leading destination for project awards, according to the latest Kamco Invest report. The UAE's share of total GCC contract awards surged to 49.2% in Q2 2025, up from 38.9% a year earlier, despite a regional downturn in project total value of project awards in the UAE reached $14 billion during Q2 2025. The country maintained its lead in the region, having already overtaken Saudi Arabia in Q1 2025. For the first half of 2025, total contract awards in the UAE amounted to $44.4 billion, down 12.1% year-on-year — a relatively modest decline compared to the broader regional contraction.'This notable shift reflects the successful implementation of wide-ranging structural reforms and carefully targeted investments aimed at accelerating the country's economic diversification agenda,' the Kamco Invest quarterly report sectors, the Gas Sector emerged as the most dominant, accounting for 37.6% of the UAE's total project awards during Q2 2025, with contracts valued at $5.3 billion. Although this marked a decline of $300 million compared to the same period last year, the Gas Sector retained the top spot, followed by the Construction Sector with $4.9 billion and the Transport Sector with $1.7 terms of growth, the Industrial Sector recorded a year-on-year increase of 35.8% in awarded contracts, while the Chemical Sector rebounded to $150 million in Q2 2025 from zero awards a year developments during the quarter included a $400 million, three-year contract awarded to ADNOC Gas to supply 0.7 million tonnes of LNG to Europe's SEFE (Securing Energy for Europe). ADNOC Gas also announced the final investment decision for the $5 billion Rich Gas Development Scheme. The first tranche, worth $2.8 billion, was awarded to UK-based Wood for the development of the Habshan facility, which is expected to generate $400 million in EPCm revenue for the contractor. The other two tranches, valued at $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion, were awarded to Petrofac for the Das Island liquefaction facility and Kent for the Asab and Bu Hasa facilities, respectively. Despite the UAE's gains, the overall GCC projects market saw a sharp 58% decline year-on-year in Q2 2025, falling to $28.4 billion—the lowest in 14 quarters. The decline was led by a 72.5% plunge in Saudi Arabia's project awards, which stood at $9.8 billion during the period. For the full first half, total GCC project awards dropped 38.9% to $86 billion, compared to $140.7 billion in H1 2024.
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
NBK marks milestone with $800mln additional Tier 1 Bond listing on the London Stock Exchange
The listing underscores NBK's deep-rooted relationship with one of the world's most prominent stock exchanges Robust investor appetite reflects global confidence in NBK's strong credit fundamentals and regional leadership National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) celebrated the listing of its US$800 million Additional Tier 1 bond on the London Stock Exchange. This milestone highlights the Bank's strong and growing presence in global capital markets and reaffirms NBK's expansive global footprint, with a branch network spanning four continents across 13 countries. Among its key international markets, London holds strategic importance through National Bank of Kuwait (International) PLC (NBK - London), which delivers a full spectrum of banking products and services to its clientele. The listing ceremony took place at the London Stock Exchange—one of the world's leading financial marketplaces—with the participation of senior executives from NBK and NBKI (NBK-London), Leading the occasion were Mr. Zaid Al-Sager, Deputy CEO – International Banking Group at NBK; Mr. Meshari Bin Salamah, EVP - Global Head of Corporate Banking and Commercial Real Estate and Mr. Bassem Boustany, Managing Director of National Bank of Kuwait, London (NBK International) and Mr. Abdul Amir Fadel EVP - Global Head of Consumer Banking – IBG. The event underscores the Bank's strategic commitment to diversifying its funding base and reinforcing its footprint across international capital markets. The listing of the bonds on the London Stock Exchange reinforces NBK's ongoing commitment to deepening its long-standing relationships with leading global exchanges. It also reflects the growing confidence in the Bank's robust credit profile, as demonstrated by the consistently strong demand for its debt issuances across international markets. The successful issuance and listing of the bonds on the London Stock Exchange underscores NBK's leadership in the regional banking landscape and reflects its strategic vision for global expansion. It is a testament to the Bank's long-standing legacy of excellence, innovation, and prudent growth. This issuance marks the Bank's largest to date under this tranche, driven by robust investor demand that enabled an upsizing beyond initial expectations. Following a brief pause in GCC bond activity within the first tranche of additional capital—after a wave of issuances in May—NBK's transaction drew robust interest from a globally diversified investor base. Investor appetite for the issuance was exceptionally strong, with subscription orders reaching US$2.2 billion, representing a 2.75x oversubscription rate. Demand was driven by a broad and diversified base of global investors and financial institutions, with private banking platforms playing a pivotal role in the placement process. The results underscore investor confidence in NBK's robust credit profile and reaffirm Kuwait's standing as an appealing investment destination. MENA-based investors represented the largest share of the allocation, accounting for 47% of total demand, followed by investors from the United Kingdom at 19%, the United States at 18%, Europe at 13%, and Asia at 3%. By investor type, asset managers and investment funds accounted for 48% of total demand, followed by banks and private banking services at 44%, while sovereign entities, insurance companies, and pension funds represented the remaining 8% of total subscription applications. Robust investor demand enabled NBK to achieve highly favorable pricing for the issuance, with the final yield set at 6.375% (% (equivalent to UST+240.3bps), representing a 50 basis point tightening from the initial price thoughts (IPTs) of 6.875%. The investment-grade credit rating of the issuance, including a Baa3 rating from Moody's, further enhanced its appeal—driving strong interest from international private banking platforms and global asset managers. Citigroup, J.P. Morgan, HSBC, and Standard Chartered acted as Global Coordinators for the issuance, while the Joint Lead Managers included Citigroup, J.P. Morgan, HSBC, Standard Chartered, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, KAMCO Investment Company, and National Bank of Kuwait.
The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Egyptian-American economist vying to be next Chancellor of Cambridge
Dr Mohamed El-Erian describes the University of Cambridge as his 'happy place'. The Egyptian-American economist, known to millions as a globe-trotting economist who has shaped thinking about historic twists in the world's fortunes, graduated from Queens' College in 1980. After a successful career – working at the International Monetary Fund, as a bond trader, adviser to US President Barack Obama, author and columnist – he returned to his alma mater as president in 2020. He's genuinely one of the kindest people that I've ever met Georgia Box He now hopes to be elected chancellor of the university, an 800-year-old role that has been held by princes and prime ministers. In a ballot of alumni, he is pitted against two lords, a TV presenter, an anti-Brexit campaigner and several academics and business leaders, with the result due to announced by July 23. Dr El-Erian, who was named in the Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine and made Worth magazine's list of 100 Most Powerful People in Finance, he has endorsements from former UK prime minister Gordon Brown, Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis and businesswoman Arianna Huffington. He was born in New York to Egyptian parents, and his father worked as an ambassador, judge and at the United Nations. He grew up in the US and Egypt, as well as being educated at boarding school in England. He won the economics category of the Great Arab Minds awards in 2023. He has run a vigourous social media campaign, mixing his serious message about the transformation he believes is needed at Cambridge with light-hearted interviews gently ribbing rival university Oxford. Dr El-Erian has been seen wearing a Queens football shirt and also gave a tour of his home office which features a giant poster of Cambridge. 'I am happiest here, just ask my daughters,' he says in that video. He sets out his proposals for how the chancellor's role should change: making it less ceremonial and more practical, ensuring the university is on a sound financial footing and open to the international community. As co-chairman of the Cambridge Capital Campaign he has helped bring in £2.2 billion of investment to Queens. 'Cambridge must redouble its efforts to attract funding and donations,' he said in his campaign statement. 'I've seen first-hand how innovation and philanthropy help to support vital research, expand opportunities, and better secure our future. 'If elected chancellor, I'll intensify these efforts by helping to tap into global philanthropic opportunities and to attract the investment Cambridge needs.' He has also spoken about the need to understand how Cambridge can give students a foundation for life. 'Throughout my time here it's been about identifying what the problem is and fix[ing] it,' he said in a video discussing the need for flexible scholarships. In footage filmed on the grassy bank of the River Cam as punts glide past, Georgia Box, an associate at Deutsche Bank, was interviewed about why she was supporting Dr El-Erian. He explained how she was under pressure to start earning, using her new degree, but not continue her studies at a higher level. He helped to design a scholarship that would not just pay for fees and living accommodation, but also 'something extra'. Ms Box said: 'He cares a lot about each and every student. He's genuinely one of the kindest people that I've ever met. I think he's just an excellent leader and I can't think of anyone else that's better for the job.' In her submission to be chancellor, broadcaster Sandi Toksvig points out: 'The first known chancellor of Cambridge was Richard of Wetheringsett who served sometime between 1215 and 1232. After that we have had a plethora of other Richards, many Johns and an awful lot of Stephens. 'After 800 years I wonder if it isn't time for a change,' she asks. Dr El-Erian will be hoping to add the name Mohamed to that list.
