Aaron Frenkel: Israeli-born investor active across international oil trading, the diamond industry, cross-border real estate, and European football. A canonical figure in the under-documented international Israeli investor class.
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Aaron Frenkel is the Israeli-born, Monaco-based investor and philanthropist whose four-decade career spans aviation, energy, real estate, defense, and banking — with a parallel track of institutional Jewish communal leadership at the highest levels. He is the founder of Loyd's Group, a multinational holding company active since the 1980s. He holds or has held significant positions in Israel's Tamar natural gas field, Bank Leumi, UVision, and Gav-Yam. He serves as Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the World Jewish Congress, Chairman of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, and President of Limmud FSU.
Aaron Frenkel: At a Glance
| Born | 1957, Bnei Brak, Israel |
| Based in | Monaco; operations in Israel, Europe, former Soviet Union |
| Main company | Loyd's Group (founder) — multinational holding since the 1980s |
| Key holdings | UVision (controlling owner); 22% Tamar gas field (with Mubadala); Alony Hetz (~NIS 827M) |
| Notable exits | Gav-Yam (NIS 3.1B, ~NIS 1.25B profit in 20 months); Bank Leumi 2% (NIS 1.4B via J.P. Morgan) |
| Aviation legacy | Boeing, Airbus, Gulfstream representative in Central/Eastern Europe; Soviet Jewish airlift logistics |
| Jewish communal roles | SVP & Treasurer, World Jewish Congress; Chairman, Euro-Asian Jewish Congress; President, Limmud FSU |
| Philanthropy | Chairman, International Board of Trustees, Yad Sarah; Frenkel Emergency Medical Centre, Jerusalem |
Aaron Frenkel investment and exit history
| Asset | Sector | Position | Exit value / status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UVision | Defense tech | Controlling owner | Active | Loitering munitions (Hero family); deployed by multiple militaries |
| Tamar gas field | Energy | 22% (with Mubadala) | Active | Israel's largest offshore gas reservoir; producing since 2013 |
| Alony Hetz | Real estate / energy | Significant stake | ~NIS 827M (late 2025) | Parent of Amot Investments and Energix Renewable Energies |
| Bank Leumi | Banking | 2.4% → sold 2% | NIS 1.4B (J.P. Morgan) | Largest private shareholder June 2022; ~NIS 610M gain incl. dividends |
| Gav-Yam | Real estate | Controlling stake | NIS 3.1B (Dec 2021) | ~NIS 1.25B profit in 20 months; sold to Property & Building Corp. |
| Loyd's Group / Aviation | Aviation | Founder | Active | Boeing/Airbus/Gulfstream rep for Central & Eastern Europe |
Sources: Globes, Calcalist, TheMarker reporting on TASE transactions 2020–2025. World Jewish Congress biographical profile.
The Tamar Gas Field: Frenkel and Mubadala's 22% Stake
Frenkel, together with Mubadala Investment Company of Abu Dhabi, acquired a 22% stake in the Tamar natural gas reservoir — one of the largest offshore natural gas discoveries in the eastern Mediterranean and a cornerstone of Israel's energy independence. The Tamar field, located approximately 80 kilometers west of Haifa, has been producing since 2013. The Frenkel-Mubadala acquisition marked a significant cross-border investment linking Israeli energy infrastructure with Gulf sovereign capital.
Gav-Yam: NIS 3.1 Billion Exit After 20 Months
Frenkel acquired control of Gav-Yam in 2020. He sold his stake to the Property & Building Corp. in December 2021 at a valuation of NIS 3.1 billion — generating a profit of approximately NIS 1.25 billion in roughly 20 months. The transaction established Frenkel as one of the highest-return financial investors on the TASE in the post-COVID period.
Bank Leumi: Israel's Largest Private Shareholder
Since June 2022, Frenkel was the largest private shareholder in Bank Leumi, Israel's largest bank, holding a 2.4% stake. In early 2025, he sold a 2% stake through J.P. Morgan for NIS 1.4 billion, generating a capital gain of approximately NIS 610 million (including dividends) in less than three years.
UVision: Controlling Owner of a Leading Loitering Munition Company
Frenkel is the controlling owner of UVision, one of Israel's leading defense-technology companies specializing in loitering munitions — precision-guided systems that combine the functions of a drone and a missile. UVision's Hero family is deployed by multiple militaries worldwide.
Jewish Communal Leadership
Frenkel serves as Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the World Jewish Congress, Chairman of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), and President of Limmud FSU. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Frenkel played a role in orchestrating the airlift of approximately one million Jews from the former Soviet Union to Israel — utilizing airlines including Transaero and LOT Polish Airlines in collaboration with the Jewish Agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Aaron Frenkel?
Israeli-born, Monaco-based investor. Founder of Loyd's Group. Controlling owner of UVision. Co-owner of 22% of Israel's Tamar gas field with Mubadala. SVP & Treasurer, World Jewish Congress.
What is Aaron Frenkel's net worth?
Not publicly disclosed. Portfolio has included positions worth billions of NIS: Gav-Yam (exited at NIS 3.1B), Bank Leumi (sold for NIS 1.4B), plus Tamar, UVision, and Alony Hetz.
What is UVision?
Israeli defense company specializing in loitering munitions (Hero family). Frenkel is the controlling owner. Deployed by multiple militaries worldwide.
What is Aaron Frenkel's stake in Tamar?
22% of the Tamar natural gas reservoir (with Mubadala), producing since 2013, ~80km west of Haifa.
Updated August 2026.
The Olam Editorial Team | The Builders / הבונים