Our history

1898-2021

Founded more than 120 years ago as an engineering conglomerate, Sofina is now a listed investment company with equity holdings in Europe, the United States and Asia, and across many sectors with a particular focus on consumer and retail, digital transformation, education and healthcare.

  • Issuance of EUR 700 million senior bonds

    Tenth anniversary of the SofinaBoël Fund for Education and Talent, Sofina's philanthropic project

  • Launch of the Sofina Covid Solidarity Fund
  • Shareholders’ equity exceeding EUR 7bn
  • Shareholders' equity exceeding EUR 6bn Exit from Flipkart
  • More than half of Sofina’s portfolio is invested outside Europe
  • The fifth anniversary of the ‘Platform for Education and Talent’, Sofina’s CSR project The investment team comprises 20 professionals
  • The Singapore office opens and Sofina Growth is reinforced, mainly in India, China and the United States
  • First direct investment in the United States through a shareholding in Mérieux NutriSciences Sir David Verey CBE becomes Chairman
  • Investment in Flipkart
  • First investment in e-commerce
  • Strategic move towards growth and more international exposure
  • Investment in bioMérieux
  • Partnership with the Forestier family for the delisting of Petit Forestier
  • First investments in venture and growth capital funds in India and China
  • Investment in SES
  • Reinforcement of the family shareholders following the acquisition of Société Générale de Belgique’s stake
  • Investment in Danone
  • First investments in venture and growth capital funds in the United States
  • Investment in Colruyt
  • Sofina becomes an investment company

  • Yves Boël is appointed as Sofina’s Managing Director

    Since 1956, Sofina has increased its annual dividend per share without interruption

  • The current family shareholders enter the share capital
  • The Luxembourg office opens
  • Initial Public Offering
  • Foundation of Sofina (‘Société Financière de Transport et d’Entreprises Industrielles’), an engineering conglomerate, active in the energy and transportation sectors