Stoneshield founders to sell majority stake to Franklin Templeton

Felipe Morenés and Juan Pepa have reached an agreement to sell a majority stake in their investment fund, Stoneshield, to the American giant Franklin Templeton through its real estate platform, Clarion Partners. The transaction, expected to close in the final quarter of 2026, will see Franklin Templeton acquire a 75% controlling interest, while the founders will retain a minority stake and continue to manage the firm's daily strategy.

Separately, Cronje SL, a holding company controlled by Banco Santander President Ana Botín, reported a significant increase in profits for 2025, reaching 4.4 million euros compared to 2.4 million euros in 2024. This growth was driven by the strong appreciation of Banco Santander shares, which rose from 4.465 euros at the end of 2024 to 12.52 euros by late 2026. During 2025, Botín also increased her total shareholding in the bank from 33.4 million to 33.84 million shares.