Combining performance and responsibility.
PIC1871 is the new name for the Philippson family's activities, embodying an entrepreneurial spirit that has its roots in 1871 and today spans six generations. Proud of our independence and our stable family shareholding, we prioritize a long-term vision, multi-generational responsibility, and a strong, coherent link with our history.
As a private holding company, we rely on an investment strategy focused on private equity and real estate in Europe and Canada, while remaining open to other sectors and regions. We build on solid partnerships with recognized local players, in a logic of alignment of interests. In compliance with our values, profitability guides our strategic choices; it is the guarantor of the durability of our commitments.
With 155 years of family expertise in finance and investment, we make it a point of honor to evolve with modern methods and technologies to ensure effective execution. Impact — combining performance and responsibility — guides each of our approaches.
Based in Nyon, Switzerland, PIC1871 is also active from Paris, Brussels and Montreal, reflecting our international presence. We believe in success through close collaboration and a strong teamwork culture, key principles of our identity.
We invest directly in mature SMEs in traditional sectors, as a reference shareholder. Through our entrepreneurial approach, we work closely with management teams to have a direct impact on strategy and actively support the growth of the company. Our investment horizon is deliberately long, giving each project time to develop fully.
We take minority stakes in the capital of GPs (General Partners) with the ambition to support their management — without replacing it — in the major challenges of governance, strategy and investment policy. We support management teams in their strategic reflections, robust governance and the execution of placement and fundraising operations. PIC1871 also acts as an LP in the funds these GPs create, guaranteeing an alignment of interests.
We invest as Limited Partners in private equity funds — first alongside the General Partners with whom we are already partners, then in funds aligned with our global strategy. An envelope is also dedicated to impact funds, contributing to our vision of responsible entrepreneurship. We favor entrepreneurial funds focused on innovation, growth and the dynamism of management teams.
Our strength lies in remaining agile and seizing ad hoc, entrepreneurial and responsible opportunities without weighing down our operational model. This category lets us support historical participations, seize high-potential entrepreneurial opportunities, and invest selectively in impactful real estate — from heritage properties in major European metropolises to transformative projects in rural areas.
To undertake by accelerating the development of talents and sustainable projects, supported by a family shareholding proud of its values.
To create and share investment opportunities respecting the interests of each and generating value for all.
PIC1871 values family heritage and invests long-term with perseverance, patience and resilience.
PIC1871 acts ethically and in balance to reconcile the interests of all stakeholders.
PIC1871 encourages creativity and innovation to approach the best quality standards in each project.
PIC1871 bases its relationships on transparency, authenticity and mutual trust.
The history of the Philippson family highlights six generations of visionary entrepreneurs, guided by founding words such as autonomy, innovation, prosperity, responsibility, combativeness, transmission and expertise.
In 1871, Franz Philippson founded the Bank in Brussels, laying the foundations for a family success marked by his business intelligence and his mastery of European and international financial markets. A brilliant autodidact, he innovated in the financial and industrial sectors — railways, zinc, telecommunications — while cultivating irreproachable ethics and solid partnerships.
Banque Philippson quickly became a reference institution, characterized by its capacity for innovation and its resilience in the face of crises. Over the generations, the Philippsons perpetuated their vision and know-how, distinguishing themselves by civic engagement in culture, science, social welfare and education.
From the 1980s, the family turned to the international stage with acquisitions and partnerships in France, Luxembourg and Canada. The changes in the banking sector and the loss of direct influence led to the sale of Degroof Petercam bank in 2024. That same year marks the creation of PIC1871, opening a new entrepreneurial chapter.
Our history illustrates the capacity of a family to evolve with its time while remaining faithful to its fundamental values. From banking to industry, from patronage to modern finance, each generation has marked its era by reconciling prosperity and commitment. Today, this entrepreneurial dynamic continues — proof that the spirit of innovation and responsibility remains a powerful engine for writing the chapters to come.
For PIC1871, governance is a structuring force. Within a family-shareholding company, it plays a key role in challenging, guiding and sustaining our action.