Our History

Advancing real estate development for over 30 years

Générale Continentale Investissements (GCI) is a leading property investment company in France that has been investing alongside renowned international investors since 1975. Independently managed, GCI is focused on real estate investment, asset management and development. The company has been actively involved in adding value to more than 1.7 million square metres of high-grade office space in the main business districts of the Paris region and in major provincial cities.

Award-Winning Properties

GCI’s ventures are considered by market professionals as setting the benchmark in France, regularly winning awards organized by specialist publications. Each GCI development plays an active role in promoting the vitality of businesses, communities and local economies in the districts where they are situated.

 

Des locataires qui nous font confiance

Important Dates

  • 1975

    In the midst of the seventies crisis, Paul Raingold founded GCI to manage real estate portfolios in difficulty.

  • 1978

    GCI set up a property management company to manage properties for other funds and investors.

  • 1986

    GCI acquired income-producing properties including Rond Point 93 and Tour Orion (2002) in Montreuil, and Charlebourg (2002) in La Défense.

  • 1987

    GCI won an important tender when it was chosen by SAEM Tête Défense and the French State to develop Collines de l’Arche in La Défense as part of the Grande Arche development.

  • 1990

    Roissy Pôle business park at Charles-de-Gaulle airport.

    GCI opened a London office. For 5 years, the office acquired several properties in partnership with the insurance company Gan and Caisse des Dépôts. The office closed in 1995.

  • 1991

    GCI formed a partnership with BNP, GAN and Indosuez for the acquisition of a €400-million site in La Défense. In 1996, in the wake of the property crisis, the partners decided to forgo constructing the 160,000-sq m scheme and sold the site to Unibail.

  • 1996

    In a joint venture with GE Capital, GCI acquired a property in La Défense with a high income potential.  An excellent resale opportunity was identified just 6 months later.

  • 2002

    GCI acquiert des immeubles loués tels que la Tour Orion à Montreuil et Charlebourg à la Défense.

  • 2005

    A joint venture with the Whitehall fund (Goldman Sachs) enabled the company to acquire properties worth over €600 million.

    GCI sold its property management business to focus on asset management.

  • 2006

    GCI set up joint ventures for the acquisition of three properties:

    Cité Internationale in Lyon with Kanam Grund
    Capitale Sud in Montrouge with Macquarie Globale Property Advisors.
    The Balthazar building in Saint-Denis (off plan) with Macquarie Global Property Advisors.

     

  • 2007

    GCI acquired more properties in joint ventures.

    City Défense, a building in the centre of La Défense, in collaboration with UBS Global Asset Management
    A fully let portfolio comprising properties in Paris and Issy-les-Moulineaux, in partnership with Benson Elliot Capital Management.
    Le Berkeley, in La Défense, in partnership with Benson Elliot Capital Management.

  • 2013

    In partnership with Rockspring Property Investment Managers, GCI acquired a complex situated at 5-7-9 rue Jacques Bingen, Paris 17e (adjacent to the Parc Monceau). The complex was completely refurbished to form a single, independent building with an increase in floor area to 6,400 sq m. The renovated offices of outstanding quality more than match the expectations of occupiers in the CBD.

  • 2014

    In a joint venture with Infrared Capital Partners, Générale Continentale Investissements bought Tour Hachette at 43 quai de Grenelle, Paris 15e (adjacent to the new Beaugrenelle Shoping Center) from Klépierre.