Colonial

The story begins in 1946, when Banco Hispano Colonial established Inmobiliaria Colonial to manage the bank's significant real estate holdings. This move created a new entity focused purely on property assets. For decades, Colonial grew steadily within the Spanish property sector. A pivotal moment arrived in 1991 when "la Caixa" acquired a majority stake, injecting a portfolio of over 500,000 square meters of new assets. This led to a strategic shift, focusing the company on prime office rentals in Madrid and Barcelona. This new direction culminated in a successful IPO in 1999. The 2000s marked a period of European expansion. In 2004, Colonial acquired the French company Société Foncière Lyonnaise (SFL), doubling the group's asset value and establishing a major presence in Paris. This was a pioneering move for a Spanish real estate company, diversifying its portfolio internationally. More recently, in May 2024, CriteriaCaixa, the holding company of "la Caixa" Foundation, increased its stake to become the largest shareholder. This deal, valued at €622 million, involves a capital increase and the transfer of several properties, aiming to reinforce Colonial's leadership in the European office market and support its growth strategy.