Criteria distributes a dividend of 125 million euros to La Caixa
With the new amount, the distribution of profits so far this year totals 485 million.
BarcelonaCriteria will distribute a new dividend of 125 million euros, as agreed by the board of trustees of the La Caixa Foundation, its sole shareholder. The amount will be paid within two months of its approval. This remuneration will be added to the 360 million euros distributed this year, bringing the figure to 485 million.
The company, which is the main shareholder of CaixaBank (31%), Telefónica (9.99%), along with the State, Naturgy (23.96%), and Colonial (17.32%), among other companies, is working on adapting its strategic plan until 2030. of the dismissal of the CEO, Àngel Simón, and the appointment of Francisco Reynés, president of Naturgy, as vice president and of José María Méndez as general director.
The entity will focus its activity on three pillars: social, research, scholarships, and culture. In this new phase, the explicit mandate is for the foundation and its investment arm, Criteria, to act "in a coherent and coordinated manner," even reinforcing "shared governance" once the change in management has taken place.
The investment holding company controlled by La Caixa—both entities are chaired by Isidre Fainé—has the largest portfolio of business investments in Spain, and the dividends it receives feed La Caixa's social work. The allocated budget this year reaches a record €655 million, a 9% increase compared to 2024. Since 2008, the foundation has allocated more than €500 million annually to social action and has progressively increased the figure since 2017.
Last year, Criteria transferred more than 400 million euros to the foundation. The group's goal is to contribute 700 million euros by 2030. In addition to dividends from corporate investments, the charity's work is also supported by the tax impact of the merger of CaixaBank (the foundation is its largest shareholder through Criteria), the foundation, and Criteria.
As a result, the charity's total budget exceeds Criteria's contributions. A few days ago, the company implemented the agreement with the Belgian company Interparking, which will take over Saba, which was formerly part of Criteria, and this company, in turn, will control 18% of this multinational parking company.