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.
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2009
- 2007
- 2005
- 1998
- 1988
- 1987
- 1978
- 1975
- 1965-1970
- 1956
- 1950s
- 1938
- 1910
- 1898
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